Pinkerton’s Adds Bonafide to Private Security Arsenal

The private security industry’s giant, Pinkerton’s Inc., said Thursday that it has acquired Bonafide Security Service Inc., a regional firm based in Santa Ana. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Bonafide, which provides uniformed security officers, patrols and alarm-response services primarily to commercial clients and gated communities in Orange County, had estimated 1998 revenue of nearly $4 million.

The acquisition “will expand our presence in the gated community segment of the security market” in Southern California, said Denis R. Brown, president and chief executive officer of Westlake Village-based Pinkerton’s. The company, founded in 1850 and known as the original private investigative service, has a large business providing security to private communities in Nevada, Florida and several other states.

Bonafide, founded in 1971 by William C. Bertsche, a former Ohio police officer, has about 200 employees.

Bertsche said Bonafide Security is being absorbed by Pinkerton’s. He said he will retain ownership of Bonafide’s alarm and closed-circuit surveillance business, Bonafide Systems Inc., also headquartered in Santa Ana. That business, started in 1997, has about 15 employees, Bertsche said.