Armed security hired to protect Philly neighborhood

[jonnyec]

Sorry .... meant to say cops CAN'T be everywhere at all times.
Clearly my typing fingers aren't working this morning.
J.

[jonnyec]

Just thought I'd share this interesting story that ran on Philly.com today:

http://www.philly.com/philly/hp/news...wn_hands_.html

It appears as though people are finally starting to get it: cops be everywhere at all times.
J.

[ChamberedRound]

I love how the media, and most people in Philly, appear to have no problem with this, but a regular resident exercising their right to carry characterized as the "Wild West".

[PocketProtector]

Well of course.....

Excerpt:
But the neighborhood's police captain and local leaders, six months after the fatal shooting of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin by a neighborhood watchman in Sanford, Fla., are uncomfortable with Northwood's private guard.

"Any time you have an armed security guard working with the public, you just don't know what can happen," said Capt. Frank Bachmayer of the 15th Police District. "It's definitely a concern.

[Yellowfin]

"Any time you have an armed security guard working with the public, you just don't know what can happen," said Capt. Frank Bachmayer of the 15th Police District.

Well no sh*t that's why we individuals are armed, dumbass, because you just don't know what can happen.

[PocketProtector]

Well of course.....

"Any time you have an armed security guard working with the public, you just don't know what can happen," said Capt. Frank Bachmayer of the 15th Police District. "It's definitely a concern[/COLOR][/I].

Uhhh Frankie dear.......anytime you get outa bed you don't know what can happen....dohhhhh
Seriously IQ challenged.

[ViperGTS19801]

I wonder how he would react to seeing someone open carrying.

[American1776]

I actually don't see a problem with this. I'm generally in favor of letting market forces take their effects, and I'd wager to say that a private security firm would do a better and more effective job (all things being equal) than a government firm. Private firms really do serve their customers; not only are you more likely to be treated professionally, but they know that if they don't do a good job, they are out of the job.

I think the only real reason the local police are so 'wary' of this becoming a trend is that it could eventually lead to market competition.

Finally; all of the concerns voiced from the side of LEO's in this article (we don't want another Zimmerman/Martin, it's scary to have armed citizens), don't all those concerns apply with equal force TO LEO's in general?

[knight0334]

I actually don't see a problem with this. I'm generally in favor of letting market forces take their effects, and I'd wager to say that a private security firm would do a better and more effective job (all things being equal) than a government firm. Private firms really do serve their customers; not only are you more likely to be treated professionally, but they know that if they don't do a good job, they are out of the job.

I think the only real reason the local police are so 'wary' of this becoming a trend is that it could eventually lead to market competition.

Finally; all of the concerns voiced from the side of LEO's in this article (we don't want another Zimmerman/Martin, it's scary to have armed citizens), don't all those concerns apply with equal force TO LEO's in general?

Yep. There are some cities in other states that hire private police forces. Each firm places bids for the contract. San Francisco is one of them -> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patrol_Special

South Carolina has something similar. Private security guards have the same power of arrest as the sheriff(who is a full LEO).

[ChamberedRound]

Well of course.....

Excerpt:
But the neighborhood's police captain and local leaders, six months after the fatal shooting of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin by a neighborhood watchman in Sanford, Fla., are uncomfortable with Northwood's private guard.

"Any time you have an armed security guard working with the public, you just don't know what can happen," said Capt. Frank Bachmayer of the 15th Police District. "It's definitely a concern.

Well OF COURSE the local police captain is going to have a problem with it. The police hate competition. The entire paragraph, and the captain's quote, reads as follows (emphasis by me):

Northwood residents sing the guard's praises. They complain that the Police Department is slow to — and in some cases fails to — respond when called. But the neighborhood's police captain and local leaders, six months after the fatal shooting of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin by a neighborhood watchman in Sanford, Fla., are uncomfortable with Northwood's private guard.

"Any time you have an armed security guard working with the public, you just don't know what can happen," said Capt. Frank Bachmayer of the 15th Police District. "It's definitely a concern."

Further in the article, there are "concerns" from an councilwoman as well. So it seems the only people that have a problem with the private guard are the police who he might put out of a job, and a city councilwoman who's just knee-jerk reacting to a private citizen, hired by neighborhood residents, to do the job police are supposed to be doing anyway.