The 1976 "Report of the Task Force on Private Security (PSTF)" is the very first national effort to examine the problems of the security industry and provides recommendations for developing a higher level of professionalism that includes proposed standards in the areas of personnel; equipment; interagency cooperation, particularly between the private security and law enforcement officers; and regulation of private security. In their attempt to define the term "private security," authors of the report explored several specific elements to advance their initial working definition that would set up the parameters to enhance understanding of the term and its functional structures within the industry. Significantly, it would also show the applicability of the standards being proposed in the report.

After reading the assigned pages of the PSTF and other reading assignments this week:

• employing at least one resource from this week, and one outside resource, identify and discuss the at least three key areas in which private security differs from public police.
• Discuss why it is important to distinguish between private and public police? (This was not modified from last February's re-write.)
• Employing this week's reading assignments, and other outside sources you identify, explain if you agree (or not) that private security operatives in fact "add value" and play an important role in assisting public law enforcement efforts to prevent and reduce crime and terrorism.Be sure to provide the specific reasons and authoritative source support, including examples, to support your position.