A Note About Event Security ...

This is a big issue for parents who want to assure their
students are safe throughout the event. And, there has
been a question among some as to which is better to
use: Police Officers or Licensed Security Personnel.

Based on years of research and experience, West Coast
Entertainment believes that Licensed Security Personnel
may be the best choice. Here's why …

 

Q. Are Police Officers allowed to perform pat-downs on
students as they enter a facility? If not, when are they
allowed to perform this procedure if at all?

A. Police Officers are NOT allowed to perform pat-downs
unless they have reasonable suspicion of a crime, such
as if they notice a weapon, suspect drugs, etc.

B. Licensed Security Personnel are required by West Coast
Entertainment (WCE) to perform pat-downs as each student
enters a facility – virtually eliminating the possibility of any
illegal substances or items not allowed (such as weapons,
drugs, alcohol or cell phones) from entering the venue.
WCE provides male and female security personnel at
each event to perform the pat-downs in a respectful
manner.

 

Q. In what type “situation” is a Police Officer allowed
to intervene with action? (i.e. when a student is dancing
on a table; appearing to be intoxicated; mouthing off to
a chaperone, etc.) And, what happens in such instances
when a police officer finds it necessary to take action?

A. A Police Officer may take action only when a crime is being
committed (such as if a student were threatening or assaulting
someone, defacing or damaging property, or is proven to be
intoxicated). In those cases, the Police officer may arrest the
student, but most of the time they will release the student to
the parent's custody at the precinct. The arrested students
seldom go to jail.

B. Licensed Security Personnel are present to PREVENT a
situation from elevating to the level of damage or injury.
If an incident should escalate, a Licensed Security Officer
would hold the student in a separate area (just as a Police
Officer would) and may release the student directly to a
parent's custody. If arrest is necessary, Security Personnel
may call for a Police Officer to take the student to the
precinct – However, in WCE's 30-year history the need
for Police Officer back-up has never occurred.

 

Q. What is the usual ratio of Police Officers to students
at a typical school event?

A. The Police Guild uses a ratio of 1 Police Officer for every
100 students.

B. The ratio of Licensed Security personnel to students at
an event is at the discretion of WCE. The WCE policy is to
have a minimum of two Licensed Security Personnel at each
event (one male officer and one female), with a security
ratio of one Security Officer per 50 students. So, if you had
an event with 200 students, there would be at least 4
Licensed Security Officers there.

 

As a standard, WCE will include Licensed Security personnel
for your event. If you want, WCE will gladly add Police Officers
to compliment your Security Personnel for a nominal fee.

For more information, please call WCE at: 206.938.0569 or toll-free 1.888.915.8555

or e-mail WCE at: jebidiah@wcent.com