PRIVATE SECURITY SERVICES, PRIVATE SECURITY GUARDS AND PRIVATE INVESTIGATORS

Hattiesburg Code of Ordinances ch. 32, art. VII

in effect

Hattiesburg Code of Ordinances § 32-156 Short title.

Sec. 32-156. - Short title. This article shall be known and may be cited as the "Private Security Ordinance of the City of Hattiesburg, Mississippi." (Code 1989, § 18-55; Ord. No. 2380, § 1, 8-6-1991)

Hattiesburg Code of Ordinances § 32-157 Terms.

Sec. 32-157. - Terms. The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this article, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning: Chief of police means the chief of police, or his/her official designee, of the police department of the city. Permit means a permit as required by this article. Private investigator means any person employed by or as a private security service, in uniform or in plain clothes, who, for a consideration, or otherwise, guards or watches any property, or performs any service usually and customarily performed by the regular patrol officers of the city, or conducts any such criminal or civil investigations. Private security guard means any person employed by or as a private security service, in uniform or in plain clothes, who, for a consideration, or otherwise, guards or watches any property, or performs any service usually and customarily performed by the regular patrol officers of the city or conducts any such criminal or civil investigations. Private security service means any person who, for a consideration, or otherwise, provides to others, any security patrol, or guards or watches any property, or performs any service usually and customarily performed by the regular patrol officers of the city, or conducts any such criminal or civil investigations. (Code 1989, § 18-56; Ord. No. 2380, § 2, 8-6-1991)

Hattiesburg Code of Ordinances § 32-158 Permit required.

Sec. 32-158. - Permit required. It shall be unlawful for any person to engage in, participate in, or otherwise perform any services as a private security service, private security guard, or private investigator, unless a private security permit shall have been issued by the city, and upon proof of all appropriate taxes, licenses and fees being paid. (Code 1989, § 18-57; Ord. No. 2380, § 3, 8-6-1991)

Hattiesburg Code of Ordinances § 32-159 Exclusion from article.

Sec. 32-159. - Exclusion from article. This article shall not apply to the following: (1) Duly sworn, full-time law enforcement officers employed by any city, county, state, or federal law enforcement agency. (2) Loss prevention employees employed specifically for in-house security (i.e., utility company investigators, retail investigators, etc.). (Code 1989, § 18-58; Ord. No. 2380, § 4, 8-6-1991)

Hattiesburg Code of Ordinances § 32-160 Application requirements for permit.

Sec. 32-160. - Application requirements for permit. Any person seeking the issuance of a private security permit to perform services as a private security service, private security guard, or a private investigator shall file an application with the chief of police on forms provided by the chief of police and containing the following information: (1) The name, date of birth, driver's license number, residence address and telephone number of the person seeking to engage in such private security business; (2) Description of the services to be performed; (3) The legal name of the business under which the applicant is applying for said permit and the business address and phone number of such person; (4) The name, address, and phone number of at least three reputable citizens of the state, county, or community in which the applicant resides who can attest to the applicant's good reputation in the community; (5) Complete criminal history check; (6) Complete set of the applicant's fingerprints; (7) Recent photograph of the applicant; (8) Copy of any state-issued firearm permit provided applicant shall carry a firearm in the performance of such private security business; (9) Complete description of any and all vehicles, to include any distinguishing markings, to be used by the applicant in such private security business; and (10) Any other such information as the chief of police may require. (Code 1989, § 18-59; Ord. No. 2380, § 5, 8-6-1991)

Hattiesburg Code of Ordinances § 32-161 Terms, fees and other requirements for permit.

Sec. 32-161. - Terms, fees and other requirements for permit. The issuance of a private security permit, its terms, fees and other requirements are as follows: (1) When any such permit is granted, the applicant therefor shall be furnished a written certificate of such permit, which said permit shall have a number thereon, to be signed by the chief of police, but every such permit shall be issued subject to all the provisions of this article and effective for one year from date of issuance. (2) The applicant, upon the granting of such permit, shall also be furnished by the chief of police an identification card to be kept on the applicant's person at all times when performing such private security duties, and which shall remain the property of the city and shall be returned to the city upon the expiration of such permit and identification card or upon cancellation for cause. (3) To cover the cost of the records check, fingerprinting, photograph and the printing and issuing of the permit and identification card, the city may collect from the applicant a fee in the amount now or hereafter established by the city which shall be retained by it. (4) In the event the chief of police orders that the application for any such permit be refused and denied, any such applicant may prosecute an appeal, before the governing authorities, from said order in the manner provided by law for prosecuting appeals. (5) The instances below constitute reapplication following the complete application procedure, including the fee specified under the provisions of this article: a. Upon the expiration of permit and identification card. b. When the applicant loses a permit or identification card. (Code 1989, § 18-60; Ord. No. 2380, § 6, 8-6-1991)

Hattiesburg Code of Ordinances § 32-162 Person prohibited from receiving permit.

Sec. 32-162. - Person prohibited from receiving permit. No permit to engage in the business of a private security service, or as a private security guard or a private investigator shall be issued to any applicant who is: (1) A fugitive from justice; (2) Under 21 years of age; (3) Under indictment or has been convicted in any court of any felony; (4) A habitual violator of the traffic laws of the city or of the state or any other state, being five offenses within a five-year period of time; and all other criminal offenses of the city or of the state or any other state, being three offenses within a three-year period of time, or any combination thereof. (Code 1989, § 18-61; Ord. No. 2380, § 7, 8-6-1991)

Hattiesburg Code of Ordinances § 32-163 Transferability of permit.

Sec. 32-163. - Transferability of permit. It shall be unlawful for any person who secures a permit and identification card under the provisions of section 32-161 to transfer such permit and/or identification card to any other person whatsoever, and it shall likewise be unlawful for any person to use the permit and/or identification card of any other person. (Code 1989, § 18-62; Ord. No. 2380, § 8, 8-6-1991)

Hattiesburg Code of Ordinances § 32-164 Suspension or revocation of permit.

Sec. 32-164. - Suspension or revocation of permit. The chief of police may revoke or suspend any permit, and may demand and require the return of any identification card issued under the provisions of section 32-161, upon proof satisfactory to the chief of police that the holder of such permit and identification card has violated any of the following: (1) Had carried concealed weapons in violation of law; (2) Had violated any one or more of the provisions of this article; (3) Had violated any one or more of the criminal laws of the city or of the state. (Code 1989, § 18-63; Ord. No. 2380, § 9, 8-6-1991)

Hattiesburg Code of Ordinances § 32-165 Appeals of same.

Sec. 32-165. - Appeals of same. In the event proof is submitted to the chief of police that a violation of section 32-164 has been committed causing him/her to believe that good cause exists for the revocation or suspension of any permit and the return of any identification card, the chief of police shall give notice, in writing, to the person to whom said permit and identification card were issued, directing him/her to appear before the chief of police within five days from the date of such notice and the service or mailing thereof and show cause, if any he/she can, why said permit should not be revoked or suspended, and said identification card ordered returned. If the person to whom said permit and identification card was issued cannot be located so as to be personally served with such notice, the same may be served by sending a copy thereof by registered mail to the last-known address of such person, and the address, if any, stated in the application for such permit and identification card may be relied upon as being the last-known address of the applicant therefor. In the event such applicant can be found within the corporate limits of the city, the chief of police or any police officer of the city may personally serve said notice. (1) In the event such person fails to appear before the chief of police within the time therein provided, or in the event he/she appears but fails to show cause as aforesaid, the chief of police may, in either of said events, five days after the service or mailing of such notice, revoke or suspend the permit and order the return of said identification card. (2) The failure, neglect or refusal to surrender any permit which has been revoked or suspended, or any identification card that has been ordered returned, to the chief of police within five days from the date of such revocation, suspension or order to return, shall constitute and be a violation of this article. (3) Any person whose permit has been revoked or suspended, or whose identification card has been ordered returned as herein provided, may prosecute an appeal from any such order of revocation, suspension or for the return of said identification card in the manner provided by law for prosecuting appeals before the governing authorities, but any such appeal shall not operate as a supersedes of said order. (Code 1989, § 18-64; Ord. No. 2380, § 10, 8-6-1991)

Hattiesburg Code of Ordinances § 32-166 Insurance requirements; cancellation notice.

Sec. 32-166. - Insurance requirements; cancellation notice. The following liability insurance requirements must be meet, prior to issuance of permit: (1) Private security service. No permit shall be issued to any private security service unless there is in full force and effect an umbrella or all-perils liability insurance policy in the minimum amount of $500,000.00. Said policy shall inure to the benefit of any party who shall be injured or who shall sustain damage to property proximately caused by the negligence or wrongful conduct of a permittee, his/her servants, or agents. Said policy, or proof thereon, shall be filed with the city and said policy shall be issued by an insurance company authorized to do business in this state. (2) Private security guards and private investigators. No permit shall be issued to any private security guard or private investigator where that person in not employed by a private security service unless there is in full force and effect an umbrella or all-perils liability insurance policy in the minimum amount of $500,000.00. Said policy shall inure to the benefit of any party who shall be injured or who shall sustain damage to property proximately caused by the negligence or wrongful conduct of a permittee, his/her servants, or agents. Said policy, or proof thereon, shall be filed with the city and said policy shall be issued by an insurance company authorized to do business in this state. (3) Notice. The insurance policy, or proof thereof, filed with the city as required by this article, shall contain a provision or endorsement to the effect that the same shall not be cancelled for any cause by either party thereto unless and until 30 days' written notice is given to the city clerk and that such 30 days' notice, when given, shall commence to run from date notice is actually received at the city clerk's office. (4) Revocation. Failure of any private security service or private investigator or private security guard when that person is not employed by a private security service to have liability insurance in force is cause for revocation and cancellation of the permit and identification card issued under the terms of this article. (Code 1989, § 18-65; Ord. No. 2380, § 11, 8-6-1991)

Source: City of Hattiesburg, Mississippi, Code of Ordinances (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/ms/hattiesburg/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=COOR_CH32LIPEMIBURE_ARTVIIPRSESEPRSEGUPRINFetched: 11/1/2026