On Guard

Publicity about crimes allegedly committed by private security guards has prompted concerns about effectiveness of regulations governing the industry. Most recently, a Pacific Palisades private guard was accused of kidnaping and murdering a teen-age girl.

In California, guards are licensed by the state Department of Consumer Affairs. The state requires that guards must not have state or federal criminal records. The state also requires that applicants get a perfect score on a two-hour, open-book exam on powers and limits of private guards, pass a written gun test and a firing-range test and complete 32 hours of classroom training.

The city of Los Angeles also requires that companies patrolling city streets obtain a permit from the Los Angeles Police Department. In addition, the city regulates the types of uniforms and badges worn, and specifies how patrol cars should be marked.

Both the state and the city of Los Angeles review complaints about private guards and have procedures to revoke licenses and permits.

Residents who can’t afford alarm systems and private security patrols can get basic protection tips at no cost from local police departments. In Los Angeles, the service is provided through the community relations section of various area divisions of the LAPD.

Crime prevention officers will survey homes and businesses and give anti-burglary and anti-shoplifting tips. Officers will also provide pointers on how neighborhood residents can watch out for each other. The department also provides tips to thwart auto thefts.

Block clubs and neighborhood associations have proven to be handy sales vehicles for private security patrol companies. Although companies offer a variety of patrol services to individual homeowners, companies say working with neighborhood associations promotes efficiency and effectiveness.

Victor Parker, president of the United Homeowners Assn. in View Park--an unincorporated area near Culver City, said his group decided to contact Westec Security after the neighborhood was showered with Westec fliers. The homeowners association invited Westec sales executives to make a presentation at its meeting and introduced company officials at block club meetings. Several residents signed up for a $35-per-household monthly fee, Parker said.

A concern of residents was that the neighborhood is served by the Marina del Rey station of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, he said. The station is far away, and sometimes it’s difficult to get a response for minor problems. “We’ve been extremely satisfied with Westec,” he said. “There was a robbery on Ladera once, and the Westec officers caught the robbers before the sheriff’s department got there,” Parker said.