The National Association of Security Companies (NASCO), representing firms that employ nearly 400,000 security officers nationwide, also plans to promote legislation that would provide incentives for private security companies to better support the Department of Homeland Security’s National Strategy for Critical Infrastructure initiative.
The announcements came at the association’s general membership meeting at which it outlined its 2006 legislative agenda. Specifically, the agency will:
•Continue work in Colorado, New Jersey, the District of Columbia and Mississippi to create licensing requirements
• Monitoring state and federal legislation and regulatory activity to proactively and publicly raise the standards for private security services.
NASCO has long been a proponent for raising the standards of service and employment for the private security industry.
In addition, NASCO representatives identified the following strategic objectives that will be supported through its business plan:
•Advocate the interest of private security firms
•Provide opportunities for the exchange of ideas, information and best practices
•Promote and sustain professional integrity and competence throughout every aspect of the private security business
•Promote higher standards, consistent regulations and ethical conduct for private security businesses
"Private security officers are the true first responders and the backbone of our nation's security. They protect 85 percent of our country's critical infrastructure," says Joseph Ricci, NASCO's executive director. "We strongly support higher standards for security officers, including screening, training, licensing and wages, and we will be a strong voice for the security industry as we advocate for change."
