For the past ten years, Mark Rouland, an attorney in our Livonia office, has provided Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards (MCOLES) training to police departments and security personnel. The classes are required by the MCOLES for companies whose security personnel have police arrest authority under P.A. 300 of 1968. The security personnel work in a variety of environments such as shopping malls, hospitals, colleges and manufacturing facilities.
During the class, Mr. Rouland spoke on a variety of legal topics, such as constitutional law, criminal law, laws on arrest of adults and juveniles and civil liability issues. In addition to legal instruction, the security personnel trainees also studied the use of firearms, defensive tactics, report writing and many other topics.
Because some police departments may face shrinking budgets, which can lead to fewer officers on patrol, an increasing number of companies find it beneficial to equip their own security personnel with the ability to take action when necessary.
These private police agencies face unique challenges though. For example, unlike a municipal police department, a shopping mall is in the business of retail profit, so anything that may negatively impact profit, customer service or public perception must be taken into consideration. At the same time, a shopping mall is a frequent and convenient target for criminals and terrorists, so visible presence and enforcement activity is also important. Private police agencies cannot avail themselves of governmental immunity in the event of civil litigation, therefore consistent and frequent training based upon sound policy is essential.
Mark A. Rouland is an attorney in our Livonia office where he concentrates his practice on law enforcement defense and municipal law. He has two decades of law enforcement experience and is a retired police officer. Mr. Rouland can be reached at (734) 261-2400 or mrouland@cmda-law.com.
 
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