Mistaken Identity

By Jeff — Jeff Wilson

Isn’t there some law against making your private security vehicle look like a legitimate law enforcement vehicle?

Another view here.

And just for comparison:

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Same six pointed star, similar type and color.

I’m sure it’s great for this security company’s clients that their security vehicles look like cop cars, but for the public?

Comments (21)

GangFangMarch 30, 2010 at 8:01 am

Thanks for posting this Jeff. I’ve noticed this over the years, and I think it’s kinda disturbing. There should be a clear delineation between rent-a-cops and actual policeman.

VictoriaMarch 30, 2010 at 8:16 am

This company patrols the Lakeshore condos. They actually give (fake) “tickets” for things like parking violations.

GobstopperMarch 30, 2010 at 8:34 am

I also think that sirens and horns should not be allowed on radio commercials and programs.

mike cMarch 30, 2010 at 8:38 am

What is worse are the guys who drive the motorcycles and wear the black/white helmets…if you notice the LAPD vehicles now, they have a large city of la painted on the front of the bikes. As for the patrol cars, I think the sirens on top for the security patrol are orange only.

WanderingJewMarch 30, 2010 at 8:43 am

Especially when the number listed on the side of the vehicles is a cell phone number assigned to Nextel in Santa Clarita. At least, the rent-a-cops are able to walkie-talkie each other with that annoying Nextel “chirp” feature while they resolve major incidents of crime. The chirp sound alone will certainly scare away the perps! Does anybody use Nextel phones anymore?

Timothy MyersMarch 30, 2010 at 8:54 am

Nextel was absorbed by Sprint a few years back specifically because of the Push to Talk (“PTT”) technology favored by people in the construction business and other dispatch heavy industries. Years ago they actually combined the PTT with a Blackberry phone in what became the most ghastly and ugly pieces of hardware ever invented.

mikeMarch 30, 2010 at 8:47 am

When I was much younger, the prank was that when you noticed a security guard trailing you, you cranked the stereo (they were very loud in the bass-heavy 90s) and turn on the alarm and cruise at about 8-9 MPH. Maybe some hazards too. Good times.

Timothy MyersMarch 30, 2010 at 8:51 am

They are obviously doing this because the “bad” guys are more likely to scatter if they think it is a real cop, plus there is a certain part of the culture that likes to hassle the rent a cop. I have personal experience with this. About 25 years ago my Nebraska bride’s younger brother became a night security guard for awhile, and on his first day on the job the handed him, along with his uniforme, a LOADED sidearm without any training, background check or anything. Really scary!!!

AndyMarch 30, 2010 at 8:52 am

Oh whoa. These guys were helping hold down the rear entrance of CalArts during the Halloween party. That new trend with rent-a-cops is so lame. I actually thought they were real City of Santa Clarita employees till I saw this post.

cashMarch 30, 2010 at 9:49 am

Damn you guys. I was hoping to get a job with The Agency. I have no qualifications or training and would be a shoe in. It is my understanding that Bob Kellar does night patrols looking for illegals.

mike cMarch 30, 2010 at 11:43 am

There are security folks with the fake tickets etc and then there are security, folks who are armed and ready…If you go to some of the larger courthouses these folks run the metal detectors and are armed, I think they might be county employees..I know at City Hall in LA, 3 to 4 lapd officers are on the lobby floor and then you have armed security guards on all of the levels after that

ToddMarch 30, 2010 at 12:01 pm

The company in question here patrols my community as well, and they have some of their staff armed I’ve noticed. From a legal perspective, they comply. No red or blue lights, and nowhere does it say “police” or “sheriff” on their vehicle or person.

ElizabethMarch 30, 2010 at 3:49 pm

They too patrol my private HOA, and are “VERY PROFESSIONAL” and always willing to help out, and on issues that are too much for them they advise us to call the Sheriff’s because they’re just private security and can only observe and report. So, kudos to them for doing a great job and keeping our community safe, that’s all I care about!!

Spineflower2March 30, 2010 at 3:53 pm

I bet the private security guys in Riverside don’t dress up as real cops anymore…

Spineflower2March 30, 2010 at 3:54 pm

The use of such a similar logo should not be allowed. It invites abuse and perhaps dangerous misunderstandings by the public.

ReaderMamaMarch 31, 2010 at 8:18 am

Lots of businesses use “Santa Clarita Valley” in their names. It doesn’t mean they are official city departments. This particular company patrols several different developments in Santa Clarita and many of their employees are off-duty or former police officers who are permitted to carry weapons. They are also authorized to ticket those who violate HOA rules (which may lead to HOA fines) and have cars towed when they are on HOA property.

Spineflower2March 31, 2010 at 10:21 am

With so many look-alikes, I question the wisdom of pulling over when you see a black and white and a fladhing light. There have been “posers” in Newhall Pass pulling over and ropbbing or harassing drivers in past years. Very dangerous! I would be tempted to pull out my cell phone, dial 9-1-1, and tell the operator I am being followed but do not know if it is legit or not, especially at night. All of that would be avoided if they didn’t try to deceive us with a disguise like this.

ReaderMamaMarch 31, 2010 at 12:34 pm

I think the pictures above may have mislead you. The SCV Safety patrol vehicle is an all-white SUV. It isn’t a black and white sedan.

Spineflower2March 31, 2010 at 2:15 pm

That logo is so close to the official Sheriff;s logo that it should be banned for falsely posing as an officer. LA banned the “near” nadges some PIs carried for that reason a few years ago. If you have to put on reading glasses to tell the diference, it’s a dangerous phoney! Also, the Sheriff uses cars other than Crown Vics, including trucks and SUVs. There should NEVER be any confusion allowed over who is or isn’t an officer. It’s just plain dangerous policy. But hey, it’s not like they could get into the White House or anything…

ReaderMamaMarch 31, 2010 at 5:39 pm

I guess I don’t look at logos to identify who I’m dealing with; I look at the actual words on the side of the car or i.d. badges. Now if it were a black & white car with the words “sheriff” or “police” and they used flashing lights and tried to pull people over, I would be concerned. All these guys do is patrol, respond to residents’ complaints and give tickets to rule breakers within the confines of the HOAs they patrol. They also provide security at private events. In my experience with them they have been far more effective at dealing with troublesome residents than some of the “name brand” security companies who simply drive by and never take a proactive approach to discouraging drug dealing and gangs. The people who pose as officers and pull people over to rob them are criminals who are breaking the law. Making legitimate security companies refrain from using similar logos will not keep that problem from happening.

ElizabethMarch 31, 2010 at 11:52 pm

I totally agree, they’ve done a great job in my community, and have cleared out the “gangs, drug dealers, and residents who constantly violate the rules & regulations” too! I am going off this subject now because I have better things to do like work . I hope you all take care and be safe out there in this great City we live in.