Private merchant guard service, guard service, patrol service, security officer, and watchman- means any person, firm or corporation who engages in a business for hire to provide a protection service for the property of others and whose duties and activities in that connection include patrolling, guarding or watching the property of a subscriber, purchaser or client under contract or agreement to provide a protective service.

For the purpose of this article, private merchant guard service, guard service, patrol service, security officer and watchman will be referred to as “private security services.”

(Code 2015)

It shall be unlawful for any person, either as owner, agent or otherwise, to operate, conduct, maintain, advertise or otherwise engage in private security services without first registering with the Chief of Police and without paying the registration fee hereinafter provided for.

(Code 2015)

Every person desiring to engage in private security services, either individually or in conjunction with others, must complete and return to the Chief of Police a registration form furnished by the Chief which shall require the following information:

A.    Applicant’s full name, date of birth and sex.

B.    The business address of the applicant.

C.    The name under which the applicant intends to do business.

D.    A statement as to the general nature of the business in which the applicant intends to engage.

E.    A full set of the applicant’s legible fingerprints.

F.    A photo of the applicant which accurately depicts his/her current appearance.

Registration hereunder shall not give the registrant any greater powers of arrest or restraint than any citizen.

(Code 2015)

Every person engaging in private security services shall pay an annual registration fee of twenty-five dollars ($25.00).  A receipt indicating that:

A.    The applicant has duly registered.

B.    Paid an annual fee.

C.    The effective dates of the registration will be issued to, and shall be carried by, the registrant while he/she is on duty.

(Code 2015)

No private security service registered hereunder may contain the words “police” or “law enforcement” in a business name.  Nor may any individuals or businesses registered to provide private security services either wear uniforms, carry or wear badges or drive vehicles with colors or markings which represent them to be, or appear substantially similar to, officers of the Ottawa Police Department, Franklin County Sheriff’s Department, or the Kansas Highway Patrol.

(Code 2015)

The provisions of this article shall not apply to any commissioned law enforcement officer or to any private detective licensed by the State of Kansas.

(Code 2015)

Violation of any of the provisions of this Chapter shall be deemed a misdemeanor and any person shall, upon conviction thereof, be fined in a sum not to exceed five hundred dollars ($500.00), or imprisoned in jail for not more than six (6) months, or be both so fined and imprisoned.

(Code 2015)