05/22/1978 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

Vote was taken on the motion, which carried with Delay, Smith, Haws, and Lieuallen voting aye; Hamel and Obie voting no. c. Code Amendment re: Merchant Police Licensing Manager noted the code amendment had been requested by the Police Department to provide more adequate public protection. The ordi- nance as presented provides for agency license, two classes of merchant police (one armed, M-l, and one unarmed, M-2). It would provide for a firearms certification requirement to ensure proper handling of same, and establishes 18 years as minimum age require- ment. Except for unarmed on-premise personnel, police background checks would be required for each applicant and principals of an agency for each license renewal. Firearms proficiency certification would be required for licensing or renewal for each armed merchant police. The ordinance differs from current practice in that there is now no minimum age requirement, only one class of license, and no distinctions in licensing requirements for armed and unarmed merchant police. Currently, bond requirements apply only to the agency, and there is no liability insurance for either agency or individuals. The present ordinance would require $2,500 bond for each individual. A fee schedule would be implemented with the ordinance. Under current procedures, an individual or agency may secure a license by paying a $15 application fee, with the license fee an additional $50 per year. Under the new fee schedule, an agency would pay a $10 appli- cation fee, plus a $25 annual license fee. In addition, the agency would be required to pay a $25 application fee, plus a $25 annual ~ license fee for each merchant police employed, as well as the annual ~ $25 certification or recertification fee for armed merchant police. The fees would be required for any employees hired after issuance of the initial license to 'the agency. An individual not employed by an agency would pay the $25 application fee, $25 annual license fee, and $25 certification or recertification fee, if applicable. If adopted, the ordinance would not invalidate any currently issued licenses. However, upon their expiration, all licensees would be required to comply with these new provisions, including certification requirement for the armed merchant police. - Sergeant Mel Olson, Eugene Police Department, noted there had been some incidences resulting in death and injury because of improper arms handling by armed security officers. Thus, the Police Department wished to eliminate such happenstance in Eugene by requiring certi- fication for armed merchant police. Certification programs are available at lCC, at a cost of $8/course. He said the emphasis was not on how to shoot, but when and when not to shoot. . 5/22/78--6 ~8