Private security patrols expand in downtown Sacramento
Downtown Sacramento has seen an increase in private security patrols, with businesses and visitors sharing mixed feelings about their effectiveness
SACRAMENTO, Calif. —
Private security patrols have increased in downtown Sacramento over the past four months, with black cars marked “HQ Security Patrol” becoming more visible in the area.
“The downtown neighborhood needs to be fundamentally safe, welcoming for everyone and, having proactive private security patrol to work in close collaboration with traditional law enforcement is that best practice,” said Scott Ford of the Downtown Sacramento Partnership.
The Downtown Sacramento Partnership stated that HQ Security has more than doubled its staffing and is on alert 24/7.
“We want to make sure that private security [is] increasing the number of team members we have out here throughout the day so that you see that visible presence and so that they can be a resource,” Ford said.
While driving around downtown Sacramento on Friday, KCRA 3 did not see HQ Security vehicles during the day but did see one around 10 p.m. There were Sacramento police cars patrolling the area. However, in Old Sacramento, a couple of the HQ private security cars were observed.
Brad Wakai, owner of Beach Hut Deli in downtown Sacramento, said he hasn’t noticed a significant difference.
“I don’t think there’s a noticeable difference. To be honest with you, I wouldn’t say that it, I mean, it really doesn’t feel a whole lot different. We still have issues which aren’t all the time, but they do happen,” Wakai said.
Wakai added that HQ Security has checked in with his business.
“They’ll come in and say ‘we work with security. How are you guys doing? Is everything okay? Do you have any issues?’ And most of the time it’s fine, but if there happens to be something that happened earlier that day, we can tell them about it,” he said.
Visitors to downtown Sacramento expressed appreciation for the added security. “More security is not gonna hurt,” one visitor said.
“It does make you feel safe and secure that you want to come down and hang out and explore all the different venues. I would be coming down by myself at this point or with a girlfriend and before I don’t think I felt that way,” said visitors Cindy Scheffler and Brenda Timmins.
The contract with HQ Security is for one year, after which a decision will be made on whether to continue the increased patrols.
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