ICN Community News
Indiana Central News
Terre Haute, Indiana
Terre Haute, Indiana
Office of the Indiana Attorney General INDIANAPOLIS – The Indiana Private Investigator and Security Guard Licensing Board ordered unlicensed security guards operating in Boone, Johnson, Marion and Morgan counties to Cease and Desist, following allegations brought by Attorney General Greg Zoeller’s Office that the individuals were deceiving the public by offering security guard agency services without the required licensing, certification and training, and by posing as legitimate law enforcement officers.
“It is important that the public can clearly identify law enforcement officials and licensed security guards who are trained and equipped to protect themselves and the public,” Zoeller said. "Having unlicensed individuals out in the field practicing as security guards creates confusion with our law enforcement officers should an incident occur and places the general public at risk, as well as deceives customers expecting a certain level of protection." During the course of four hearings in Indianapolis, the Board ordered the following unlicensed security guard agencies to immediately stop advertising themselves and acting as security guard agencies or private investigator firms without the required licensure. The Board also voted to refer two of these cases – Abney and Robinson – to county prosecutors for criminal consideration regarding police impersonation allegations.
The Attorney General’s Office collaborated with local, county and other state law enforcement agencies on these and similar cases. Zoeller worked with the Indiana General Assembly this year to pass legislation, Senate Enrolled Act 174, which closes gaps in state law that made it difficult for the Attorney General’s Office and other law enforcement agencies to prosecute police impersonators who deceive and put the public at risk. Zoeller thanked the bill’s author State Sen. Mike Young (R-Indianapolis) and the bill’s sponsor State Rep. David Frizzell (R-Indianapolis) for their work on this issue. Zoeller also thanked Deputy Attorney General Derek Peterson and Investigator Ed Hutchinson for their work on these cases. Members of the public can confirm that a security guard agent or agency is licensed by contacting the Indiana Professional Licensing Agency at (317) 232-2980. Members of the public can verify that someone is actually a police officer by calling their local law enforcement agency's non-emergency phone number to verify that an officer is at their location. For IMPD, that number is (317) 327-3811. Comments are closed.
|
CommunityArchives
December 2020
|
© Indiana Central News. All rights reserved. Terre Haute, Indiana
|
News Writer: Lucy Perry
EMAIL: lperrynews@gmail.com |