Did You Know? - Proprietary Private Security Officer - Bureau of Security and Investigative Services

Did You Know? - Proprietary Private Security Officer

The definition of a Proprietary Private Security Officer ("PSO") is an unarmed individual, (1) who is employed exclusively by a single employer, (2) whose primary duty is to provide security services for that employer, (3) whose services are not contracted to any other entity or person, (4) who is not exempt pursuant to Section 7582.2 of the Business and Professions Code, and (5) who meets both of the following criteria:
1. Is required to wear a distinctive uniform clearly identifying the individual as a security officer, and
2. Is likely to interact with the public while performing his or her duties.
Due to the enactment of Senate Bill 194 (Stats. 2005, ch 655), a person who meets the definition of a PSO must register with the Bureau of Security and Investigative Services (BSIS). A person hired as a PSO on or after January 1, 2006 must be registered on and after July 1, 2006. A person hired as a PSO before January 1, 2006 must be registered on and after January 1, 2007.
Any person wishing to register as a PSO must be at least 18 years of age, undergo a criminal history background check, submit an application to BSIS, and pay all necessary fees.
While PSO registration candidates need not provide any proof of training, employers of PSOs may find that appropriate, job-specific training can provide significant benefits, including, increased awareness, shortened response times, overall improved security effectiveness and correspondingly improved customer satisfaction.