Across America, public safety is undergoing a seismic shift. Police departments are understaffed, budgets are stretched thin, and response times are climbing. Nationwide, sworn officer numbers are down 7% since 2019, with many agencies operating at 10–15% vacancies. The result? A growing vacuum in community protection that private security is increasingly stepping in to fill.
At the forefront of this transformation is Covered 6, a premier security and training firm that has partnered with the City of Beverly Hills since 2020 to create the nation’s first fully integrated public-private community policing model. But Beverly Hills is no longer an outlier. From Santa Monica to Detroit, cities are adopting similar strategies—deploying highly trained private security personnel to supplement sworn officers, handle non-emergency calls, and maintain visible deterrence in high-need areas.
For security professionals, this isn’t just a trend—it’s the new direction of public safety. And it’s creating unprecedented opportunities for those with the right training, mindset, and credentials.
The Beverly Hills Blueprint: A Model That Works
In October 2020, amid election unrest and rising crime concerns, Beverly Hills turned to Covered 6 and Nastec International to provide 40 armed officers each for surge protection. What began as a temporary measure has evolved into a five-year partnership that now includes:
- Armed mobile patrols in residential and commercial zones
- Real-time integration with BHPD dispatch and CAD systems
- Community engagement and intelligence gathering
- Rapid response to active threats, including Mobile Field Force deployment during protests (e.g., UCLA 2024)
By 2022, the city had invested over $7.3 million in private security, with $1.7 million allocated to Covered 6 alone. The results speak for themselves: faster response times, reduced property crime, and greater community confidence—all without expanding the sworn police force.
“This isn’t about replacing police,” says Covered 6 leadership. “It’s about augmenting them—giving officers the bandwidth to focus on violent crime while we handle deterrence, de-escalation, and routine calls.”
A National Movement: Private Security Steps Into the Breach
Beverly Hills was first—but it’s far from alone. Dozens of cities are now contracting private security firms to address the same challenges: understaffing, budget constraints, and rising demand.
| City | Private Security Role | Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Santa Monica, CA | Armed/unarmed patrols in retail districts | ↓ 25% smash-and-grab incidents |
| Portland, OR | $10M+ in contracts for crowd control & business protection | Handles nonviolent calls, frees PD |
| Chicago, IL | BIDs deploy guards in Fulton Market & South Side | ↓ response times for low-priority calls |
| Detroit, MI | Private firms handle 40% of non-emergency calls | Renewed contracts in 2024 |
| Oakland, CA | Foot patrols + body cams integrated with OPD dispatch | Ongoing since 2010s |
Nationwide, private security guards now outnumber police 2:1—over 1.2 million strong. And 75% of U.S. cities outsource at least one police function, from alarm response to parking enforcement.
Why This Matters to Security Professionals
This isn’t a side gig. It’s a career-defining shift.
Cities aren’t just hiring bodies—they’re seeking professionals who can:
- Operate under police oversight
- Use CAD/dispatch systems
- De-escalate volatile situations
- Conduct lawful detentions
- Write reports that hold up in court
And they’re paying for it. Private security in these roles often earns $35–$60/hour—sometimes more with overtime—compared to $10–$15 for traditional guard posts.
But the bar is rising. Departments now require:
- POST-equivalent training
- Firearms proficiency
- Crisis intervention certification
- Clean background & BSIS guard cards
This is where PDS Classes comes in. Our programs in Active Shooter Response, Tactical Patrol, De-Escalation, and Public-Private Integration are designed to get you mission-ready for these high-impact roles.
The Future Is Hybrid
Public safety is no longer “police only.” It’s a hybrid model—and it’s here to stay.
For security personnel, this is your moment. The vacuum exists. The demand is real. The opportunity is now.
