Private Policing Consulting
Rethinking Public Safety in an Era of Constrained Policing
Rising threats of terrorism, extremism, and violent crime—combined with sustained defunding and re-imagining of policing—have placed unprecedented strain on law enforcement agencies. As these pressures reshape how police departments operate, communities and corporations are increasingly required to reassess how they protect people, maintain order, and secure critical assets.
For organizational and political leaders, this shift is not theoretical. It has direct implications for duty of care, operational continuity, reputational risk, and legal exposure.
A Vision That Anticipated Today’s Reality
Dr. Pastor has been an early and consistent advocate for alternative and supplemental public safety service models. As early as 2001, his doctoral dissertation examined the implications of these approaches—years before they entered mainstream discussion. Titled: Assessing the Functional & Constitutional Implications of Private Security Patrols on Public Streets, his doctoral dissertation foreshadowed the challenges organizations face today as traditional policing capacity is reduced and public expectations remain high.
That early vision now informs SecureLaw LLC’s work with organizations operating in environments where municipal resources are constrained, fear and crime are increasing, and leaders must identify innovative, lawful, and defensible solutions.
Those willing to engage thoughtfully with models such as private policing are not reacting to change—they are shaping the next phase of public safety and organizational resilience.
Private Policing as a Strategic Option
Dr. Pastor’s pioneering work introduced the concept of using alternative service providers to perform defined public safety functions, including order maintenance and service-oriented duties. This framework was first comprehensively articulated in his early, groundbreaking book, The Privatization of Police in America, which remains one of the most thorough examinations of private policing from conceptual, historical, economic, legal, and functional perspectives.
Notably, Dr. Pastor conducted “ride-along” research in the Marquette Park community, making him one of the first researchers to observe private policing from inside daily operations on public streets. This work provided rare insight into how private policing functions in practice—and how it intersects with constitutional, legal, and community considerations.
These ideas were further developed in Security Law & Methods, a widely respected casebook that integrates legal and constitutional analysis with practical security methods designed to reduce or mitigate crime and misconduct.
Industry Leadership and Credibility
As a recognized thought leader in the security industry, Dr. Pastor has contributed extensively to the field, including:
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Protection of Assets Manual (POA) – authored chapter on “Private Policing within Public Environments, published by ASIS International and widely regarded as the definitive reference for security professionals.
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Oxford University Press – Privatization of Policing Bibliography, a comprehensive, annotated reference guide designed to serve as the authoritative source on private policing literature.
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Illinois Institute of Technology – Engaged to evaluate public safety services provided by a private security firm, Dr. Pastor conducted in-depth research including interviews, document analysis, ride-alongs, and survey implementation. His work assessed operational effectiveness and the long-term viability of privatized public safety models within a college environment.
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San Francisco Special Police- Previously contracted with the, the oldest private policing arrangement in the United States, established during the Gold Rush era of the mid-1800s—providing firsthand exposure to one of the longest-running models of private policing in the country.
Understanding Alternative and Supplemental Models
Alternative public safety providers are often described as “para-police”—a category that includes private police officers, reserve officers, and auxiliary officers. While many municipalities rely on auxiliary or reserve officers with limited powers and intermittent deployment, private policing represents a distinct and growing option.
Across the country, some communities and business districts now contract directly with private security providers to patrol public spaces. These providers may include retired or off-duty police officers, sworn special police, armed or unarmed security personnel, or community ambassadors.
Each model differs in important ways, including:
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Scope of authority and police powers
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Training and qualification requirements
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Funding mechanisms
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Contractual structure and liability exposure
Each option carries unique strengths and limitations. Private policing, however, offers strategic appeal: organizations and property owners can directly contract for public safety services without increasing municipal budgets, while maintaining flexibility to adapt services to financial, operational, political, and situational needs.
Advisory Support for Leaders
If your community, business association or organization is evaluating private policing or other supplemental public safety arrangements, SecureLaw LLC provides the legal, strategic, and operational guidance necessary to make informed, defensible decisions.
The issues are complex—but with foresight and disciplined analysis, they can be translated into actionable solutions.