TO: SECURITY COMPANY LICENSEES
SUBJECT: Applications for security officer registration
Approximately 40% of applicants for registration as security officers have arrest records. At least 60% of those applicants falsify their application forms by stating that they have never been arrested or charged with a violation and/or by failing to list traffic violations, as instructed.
Registration as a security officer confers law enforcement authority, on property he/she is hired to protect, to detain and arrest. Security officers are placed in unique positions demanding integrity, superior judgment, honesty, dependability, and respect for law, authority and training. By law, SLED must set standards and determine applicant competency and integrity.
Many in the industry want to improve their image by further professionalizing personnel and operations. Reasonable registration standard will assist that effort.
Applicants should understand that new and re-registering applications require full disclosure of any arrest, or criminal charge, and traffic citation. These offenses should be reported whether or not: the applicant was convicted, went to court, or forfeited bond; the record has been previously reported to SLED; and the arrest occurred in South Carolina or elsewhere.
Beginning immediately, our staff will initially deny new, renewal, and transfer applications with significant criminal records and applications containing false information. Significant criminal record means a record that contains or involves (A) charges for crimes reflecting on an applicant’s honesty, integrity, or judgment, and respect for law and authority; (B) charges for use of violence or threat of violence against another person; (C) charges for crimes involving moral turpitude; (D) charges for crime of violence as classified in SC Law; or (E) multiple arrests. Each criminal record will be analyzed to determine its applicability under this program. Applicants may be requested to locate and submit disposition information concerning charges.
Initial decisions concerning applications are issued by SLED staff members. Applicants will be instructed in denial letters concerning the procedure for requesting review of a denial.
An Accredited Law Enforcement Agency
P.O. Box 21398 / Columbia, South Carolina 29221-1398 / (803) 737-9000 / Fax (803) 896-7041