CHAPTER 21
SECURITY PATROLMEN AND PRIVATE DETECTIVES
SECTION:
6-21-2: Unlawful Acts Against Person Or Property
6-21-4: Security Patrol Vehicles And Equipment
6-21-5: Reports To Police Department
6-21-1 DEFINITIONS:
The words and phrases used herein, unless the context otherwise indicates, shall have the following meanings:
DETECTIVE AGENCY: Any business enterprise which as principal or employer engaged in or who advertises or holds itself out as being engaged in the private detective business.
PRIVATE DETECTIVE: Any natural person of either sex who engages in, or advertises or holds himself out as being engaged in the private detective business or private detective agency as agent or employee of a duly licensed business or such agency.
PRIVATE DETECTIVE BUSINESS or PRIVATE DETECTIVE AGENCY: The business of or the representation of being engaged in the business of making for hire or reward investigation or investigations with reference to any of the following matters:
A. Detecting, discovering or revealing crime or criminals, or securing secret information or evidence relating thereto;
B. Discovering or revealing the identity, whereabouts, character or actions of any person or persons, thing or things;
C. The habits, conduct, movements, whereabouts, associations, transactions, reputations or character of any person;
D. The credibility of witnesses or other persons;
E. The location or recovery of lost or stolen property;
F. The causes, origin or responsibility for fires or accidents or injuries to real or personal property;
G. The affiliation, connection or relation of any person with any union or nonunion organization, with any official member or representative thereof, or with any person or persons seeking employment in the place of any person or persons who have quit work by reason of any strike;
H. The truth or falsity of any statement or representation;
I. The business of securing for hire or reward evidence to be used before authorized investigating committees, boards of award or arbitration, or in the trial of civil or criminal cases.
SECURITY PATROL AGENCY: Any business enterprise which as principal or employer engages in or who advertises or holds itself out as being engaged in the merchant patrol business.
SECURITY PATROL BUSINESS: The business of, or the representation of being engaged in the business of guarding or protecting persons or property, or patrolling streets, districts or territory for such purpose, for hire or reward, as a business, or as an independent contractor.
SECURITY PATROLMAN: Any natural person of either sex who engages in, or who advertises or holds himself out as being engaged in the security patrol business as agent or employee of a duly licensed merchant patrol agency. (Ord. 3778, 12-19-83)
6-21-2 UNLAWFUL ACTS AGAINST PERSON OR PROPERTY:
It shall be unlawful for any licensee under this Section to knowingly incite, encourage or aid in inciting or encouraging any person or persons who have become a party to any strike, to commit unlawful acts against the person or property of anyone, or knowingly to incite, stir up, create or aid in inciting discontent or dissatisfaction among the employees of any person, firm or corporation with the intention of having them strike, or to send letters or literature to employers offering to eliminate labor unions, or for any person to falsely state or represent that he is or has been a private detective or employed by a detective agency, or for any licensee hereunder or employee thereof to assume to act as an officer of the law without proper authority. (Ord. 3778, 12-19-83)
6-21-3 UNIFORM AND BADGES:
The City, acting by and through the Chief of Police or his duly designated representative within the Police Department, shall designate and approve the type, color and character of uniform to be worn by all licensed security patrolmen and/or private detectives in accordance with the provision of this Section. The wearing or display of any badge, star or other identifying insignia shall likewise have the prior written approval of the City as aforesaid. Any such uniform or other identifying apparel and/or insignia shall in no event be similar to or identical to that worn or displayed by any duly commissioned law enforcement officer such as member of police, public safety or like governmental agencies primarily concerned with law enforcement. It shall be unlawful for any licensee hereunder to at any time wear or display any uniform, badge, star or similar insignia except those expressly approved and authorized by the City as herein provided. It shall be unlawful for any licensee hereunder to publish, announce, act or in any way profess himself to be associated or connected with any bona fide law enforcement agency of any governmental unit but such licensee shall clearly indicate to members of the public that he or she is an independent contractor or agency, privately owned and operated and in no way connected with any governmental agency except for the fact of such personal agency being licensed hereunder. (Ord. 3778, 12-19-83)
6-21-4 SECURITY PATROL VEHICLES AND EQUIPMENT:
Special lights, light bars and sirens shall not be authorized or used by any licensee hereunder unless previously approved by the City, acting by and through its Chief of Police or other duly designated representatives, and all of such equipment shall be in full compliance with provisions of RCW 46.37.190 through 46.37.194 and as same may be amended from time to time. The use of a spotlight as approved in RCW 46.37.180 shall be permitted. (Ord. 3778, 12-19-83)
6-21-5 REPORTS TO POLICE DEPARTMENT:
Every licensee hereunder shall make a report to the Police Department of the City of Renton immediately upon determining by such licensee that any irregularity tending to show that a crime has been committed or may be committed whenever such licensee has determined such facts or circumstances to exist during and while in performance of his duties. (Ord. 3778, 12-19-83)
6-21-6 PENALTY:
Any person violating or failing to comply with any of the provisions of this Chapter shall, upon conviction, be guilty of a misdemeanor. (Ord. 4662, 7-25-94, eff. retroactive to 7-1-94)