Colorado: Unarmed Security Officers
Legislation and Details for Colorado
Chapter 2 – Business Licensing, Liquor Regulation and Taxation
Article 3 – Sales of Goods and Services
Part 2 Private Security Services
Note: Colorado: There are no state level requirements to obtain a security guard license in Colorado. Information on working as a security guard in Colorado can be found at the local county clerk’s office. This is an example of security guard requirements for Colorado Springs, Colorado
In Colorado Springs no person shall act as a private security officer within the City limits without first obtaining a license.
See: Colorado Springs City Code 2.3.203
The application for licensure must be completed by the employer and submitted to the City Clerk’s Office.
See: Application Form
Fees
• Annual license fee: $110
• Late renewal fee: $55
• Duplicate license fee is $5
Security Licenses are valid for one year from the date of issuance or renewal.
See: Security License Website
See: Colorado Springs City Code 2.3.211(B)
ARMED GUARDS:
The applicant shall be certified annually by the applicant’s employer to carry a firearm and/or CEW during the course of employment. Prior to annual renewal of the firearm endorsement, the applicant shall provide proof of a minimum requalifying range proficiency score of seventy five percent (75%) acquired no more than six (6) months prior to the renewal application. The firearm requalification course shall, at a minimum, include the training standards established in subsections 2.3.213B3 and B4 of this part. Prior to annual renewal of the CEW endorsement, the applicant or the applicant’s employer shall certify completion of continuing training and education regarding the use of CEWs. The applicant must have no convictions of Federal, State or local laws relating to domestic violence or weapons, firearms, domestic abuse violations or offenses related to unlawful sexual behavior.
The firearm/CEW endorsement shall authorize a licensed private security officer to carry a firearm/CEW only when providing or performing security services as a duty of the officer’s employment with a contract security agency.
See: Colorado Springs City Code 2.3.210
No person shall operate a contract security agency or act as a private security officer within the City limits without first obtaining a license.
See: Colorado Springs City Code 2.3.203 (A)
Colorado Springs City Code 2.3.204
Applicant must be 18 years of age to become a PSO and 21 years of age to receive a firearm endorsement.
Every application for an original or renewal private security officer license shall contain the following:
1. A list of the residence addresses of the applicant for the five (5) years prior to the date of application;
2. A statement of the work history of the applicant for the five (5) years prior to the date of application.
No baseline requirement
Colorado Springs City Code 2.3.203:
B. The provisions of this section shall not apply to the following persons while engaged in the performance of their duties:
1. Sheriffs, undersheriffs, deputy sheriffs, police officers, Colorado State patrol officers, POST certified corrections officers, marshals, deputy marshals, district attorney investigators, investigative agents employed by the Colorado Bureau of Investigation or Federal law enforcement officers who are employed full time in that capacity, including any time that full time law enforcement officers are employed as private security officers with the approval of their departmental superiors.
2. A reserve police officer who performs duties for a local unit of government which granted the reserve commission, while within the jurisdiction of that unit of government.
3. Any person who performs airport predeparture screening services regulated by the Federal Aviation Administration.
ARMED GUARDS:
According to Colorado State Law Title 18:
Colorado allows a person to carry a firearm in a vehicle if its use is for lawful protection of such person or another’s person or property. [C.R.S. 18-12-105(2)] Colorado law also allows a person to possess a handgun in a dwelling, place of business, or automobile. However, when you carry the weapon into your home, business, hotel room, etc. it must be in plain view. Local jurisdictions may not enact laws that restrict a person’s ability to travel with a weapon. [C.R.S. 18-12-105.6]
The Act permits the nationwide carrying of concealed handguns by qualified current and retired law enforcement officers and amends the Gun Control Act of 1968 (Pub. L. 90-618, 82 Stat. 1213) to exempt qualified current and retired law enforcement officers from state and local laws prohibiting the carry of concealed firearms.
None required
ARMED GUARDS: No permit required, but there is a “firearm endorsement” required to be an armed security guard.
The holder of a temporary permit shall be prohibited from obtaining a firearm endorsement until the private security officer license is issued.
See: Colorado Springs City Code 2.3.212(A)
Colorado Springs City Code 2.3.211 Private Security Officer Licenses
A. Each private security officer shall be issued a license in the form of an identification card. The identification card shall contain the name, a recent photograph of the private security officer, the expiration date, the number of the license, the signature of the private security officer, and the name of the private security officer’s employer. Every licensed private security officer shall keep the City Clerk’s Office informed of the correct name, residence address, and employer and shall notify the City Clerk’s Office within ten (10) days of any change in name, residence address or employer.
C. Each identification card shall be on the person of the licensee at all times the licensee is working in the capacity of a private security officer and shall be exhibited upon request by a peace officer, the Deputy Licensing Officer or the Deputy Licensing Officer’s designee.
Each applicant shall be of good moral character verified through
• License History
• General Personal History
Not required
The legislation does not mention this.
No baseline requirement
Colorado Springs City Code 2.3.214 Denial, Suspension or Revocation of License:
A private security officer license may be denied, suspended or revoked if the applicant or a principal of the applicant:
1. Has been convicted of a felony in this State or any other state, or of a crime in any other state which, if committed in this State, would be a felony;
2. Has been convicted of three (3) or more criminal misdemeanor violations within a five (5) year period;
3. Has made a willful misrepresentation in applying for and obtaining a license;
4. Has been previously denied a license under this part or has had a license issued under this part suspended or revoked;
5. Was a principal of a contract security agency whose license was revoked, unless the Deputy Licensing Officer determines that the principal was not responsible for the misconduct underlying the revocation;
6. Has been convicted of operating without a license under this part or performing any act for which a license is required under this part; or
7. Has violated any of the provisions of this General Licensing Code.
ARMED GUARDS: The applicant must have no convictions of Federal, State or local laws relating to domestic violence or weapons, firearms, domestic abuse violations or offenses related to unlawful sexual behavior. (See Colorado Springs City Code 2.3.210 B1)
The legislation does not mention this requirement.
Every contract security agency shall be responsible for ensuring that all private security officers have received adequate, basic, firearm, CEW, on the job, and any other training necessary to perform security services or other duties for which they were hired.
Further, no contract security agency shall hire or assign any person to perform the duties of a private security officer until all training has been completed and the officer has been appropriately licensed.
See: Colorado Springs City Code 2.3.213(D)
Private security officers are required to complete an officer training program which consists of the following:
3. Basic Training Requirements: A private security officer basic course of training shall, at a minimum, include:
a. Nature, role and duties of the private security officer (1 hour);
b. Private security officer professional conduct and ethics (1 hour);
c. Principles of communication (1 hour);
d. Observation and incident reporting (1 hour);
e. Preservation of evidence, investigation and crime scene security (0.5 hour);
f. Federal, State and local laws, codes and ordinances (0.5 hour);
g. Use of force as it relates to legal powers (1 hour);
h. Legal limitations and liability implications (1 hour);
i. Interaction and cooperation with local law enforcement (0.5 hour);
j. Emergency response procedures, to include basic principles of first aid (0.5 hour).
See: Colorado Springs City Code 2.3.213(A)
ARMED GUARDS:
Training: According to Colorado Springs City Code 2.3.213. B:
1. Prior to issuance of a firearm endorsement to a private security officer license, the applicant shall provide a certificate of completion of a firearm safety and familiarization course provided by a National Rifle Association (NRA) or Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) certified instructor. The firearms training certificate shall identify the courses taken, the number of training and range hours obtained, identify the issuing contract security agency, the applicant’s name, name of the NRA or POST instructor providing the training and the dates of training.
2. A firearm endorsement shall only be issued to individuals obtaining a minimum qualifying written and range proficiency score of seventy five percent (75%) acquired within the last six (6) months and a letter of authorization to carry a firearm from the contract security agency.
3. The firearm safety and familiarization certificate shall indicate the applicant completed at least sixteen (16) hours of basic firearms training which includes a minimum of nine (9) hours of classroom instruction, a minimum of four (4) hours of live fire practice, followed by a minimum of three (3) hours on the weapons qualification course. If the applicant desires to carry a concealed weapon, the certificate shall indicate the applicant completed at least an additional four (4) hours of concealed firearms training which includes a minimum of one hour of classroom instruction which may include practical application instruction and a minimum of three (3) hours of live fire practice utilizing the concealed carry holster that the private security officer will carry on duty.
4. In addition to the training required by subsection A of this section, private security officer firearm and familiarization training shall, at a minimum, include:
a. Criminal procedure law;
b. Moral and legal aspects of firearm use;
c. Use of physical and deadly force;
d. State and local laws, codes and ordinances relating to weapons and the use of force;
e. Handgun safety, nomenclature, operation and maintenance;
f. Emergency procedures;
g. Weapons handling;
h. Marksmanship fundamentals; and
i. Range instruction, qualification and examination.
Renewal: The applicant shall be certified annually by the applicant’s employer to carry a firearm and/or CEW during the course of employment. Prior to annual renewal of the firearm endorsement, the applicant shall provide proof of a minimum requalifying range proficiency score of seventy five percent (75%) acquired no more than six (6) months prior to the renewal application. The firearm requalification course shall, at a minimum, include the training standards established in subsections 2.3.213B3 and B4 of this part. Prior to annual renewal of the CEW endorsement, the applicant or the applicant’s employer shall certify completion of continuing training and education regarding the use of CEWs. The applicant must have no convictions of Federal, State or local laws relating to domestic violence or weapons, firearms, domestic abuse violations or offenses related to unlawful sexual behavior.
Certificate Of Completion: Prior to issuance of a private security officer license, the applicant shall provide a certificate of completion of a basic security officer training program with a minimum seventy five percent (75%) score. The training certificate shall identify the courses taken, the number of training hours obtained, identify the issuing contract security agency, the applicant’s name, name of the instructor providing the training and the dates of training.
See: Colorado Springs City Code 2.3.213(A)(1)
Armed Guards: A firearm endorsement shall only be issued to individuals obtaining a minimum qualifying written and range proficiency score of seventy five percent (75%) acquired within the last six (6) months and a letter of authorization to carry a firearm from the contract security agency.
See: Colorado Springs City Code 2.3.213(B)(2)
Under Colo. Rev. Stat. § 26-13-123, the state may take away any occupational or professional license if child support has not been paid