If you are looking for an Albuquerque security company- watch out! This blog will provide you with sold proof of many people or businesses who have chosen the wrong company. Think about what is at stake. Potential injuries, lawsuits, violence or theft. You are hiring a security guard to protect your property and please don't take for granted the fact that the company is licensed, trained, the guard has a clean criminal record, has insurance to protect you (the consumer) or many other assumptions.
Many of us would just assume that if an Albuquerque security company has an ad in the Yellow Pages or a list ing in the Better Business Bureau that everything is OK.
Read this blog to find out why that is a big mistake. Unfortunately, the security industry in New Mexico is basically unregulated and un-enforced by RLD or the Private Investigator Board. Felons security company owners and employees operate openly and the PI Board and RLD knows about it. Since its inception, this blog has investigated and uncovered scores of violations, prompted the arrest of criminals in the New Mexico security industry, uncovered dozens of security companies that had no worker's compensation insurance, documented companies using forged documents such as insurance certificates, located felons working on-duty carrying loaded guns, located felons on PROBATION OR PAROLE working in security guard uniforms, etc, etc.
This blog has been recognized by law enforcement, radio, TV, Internet information sites and other blogs for the good that it has done. By my count, 7 arrests have been made by the "free" investigations provided by me and others helping me in our efforts to clean up the security industry. At least a dozen other people are under criminal investigation or have had the cases fully investigated and turned over to the District Attorney for presentment to Grand Jury in part, to the information this blog has provided. Since this blog's inception I have sent hundreds of e-mails to regulatory officials and at least a dozen packets of information. I have had many meetings providing all of this information to the powers that be.
There has not even been so much as one Cease and Desist letter sent to an illegal, unlicensed or out of compliance companies by NM RLD or the NM PI Board! Not even one! I learned this on a recent document request provided by NM RLD.
To my knowledge, Sheriff Darren White was the first law enforcement official to recognize the unlicensed security company problem as a stand alone issue. He directed the investigation of George Davis of National Security, which culminated in Davis' arrest and pending court case for unlicensed activity under the Private Investigator's Act. Our industry was truly grateful for his willingness to stand up for what was right when RLD and the PI Board (the entities supposed to regulate the industry) turned a blind eye on the problem.
New Mexico RLD has turned out to have no ability or motivation to clean up this industry. The NM Private Investigator's Board seems to be unaware of how bad this problem is and hasn't done anything constructive to enforce the NM security laws or put illegal or unlicensed companies out of business. As far as I can see, complaints still aren't being addressed other than by acknowledgement letters or e-mails. Personally, I feel like I have wasted a lot of time sending information to RLD when I could have directed my time in dealing more with law enforcement or the media to expose the problems and get the industry cleaned up.
It should be noted that the New Mexico Private Investigator's Board is made up of one citizen and private investigators, private patrol operators and a polygrapher. This is called for by law and NM statute. There was a vacancy in the Board due to Butch Cassidy of Pro-Force Security in Silver City resigning months ago. His position was filled by Mark Smith. This man was (by law) supposed to be a Private Investigator licensee and he had no experience in the industry. None. How he got appointed to the Board- we will never know. Steve Herrera, PI Board Administrator, pointed this out to me in a meeting that I had with him. Even he knew it was wrong. There continues to be a vacancy on the Board and a vacancy in enforcing our laws to the detriment of the public and employees of the security industry.
This problem is not going away. New Mexico government is going to have to step in at some point...
How can RLD clean up the industry? They're to busy pushing bad laws on LEGITimate companies. How could the PI Board possibly have the time, I mean killing competition from the inside is probably tiring.
Mr. Hamic should obviously have secured a position on the board by now, I think he's done more investigating on this blog than I think RLD has ever done.
I wonder where the money from PPO/PI Application Fees, Security Guard & Private Investigator Employee application fees are going? Does it really cost $200 to review a DPS background (previously DPS that is) and say pass or go.
As far as I know the board or the RLD seeks no verification of application for PPO/PI's, if they had i'm sure that even more companies would not have a license.
I wonder if RLD had ever looked into a private company to process backgrounds/issue guard cards and PPO/PI Licenses. Similar to MVD Express, although it is a private company its contracted by the state, I'm sure that the governor could get some funding for swinging the contract to someone.
RLD and the PI Board are bad jokes at best, something needs to be done about their incompetence. It is a sad day where private citizens need to risk their safety to stand up against what is wrong. I sure feel that my taxes are well used providing funding for RLD.
Posted by: NM_Government_Is_A_Joke | August 23, 2008 at 05:26 PM