American Police Force Patrols for Profit

American Police Force

I recently read an opinion piece by Officer.com Editor, Frank Borelli, discussing the scary implications of Hardin, Montana, employing America Police Force, a private, for-profit police force similar to government security contractors in Iraq and Afghanistan:

Here’s why it bothers me: this is a private corporation; a FOR PROFIT company that has taken over both a police agency (the moment the first officer is sworn in) and a jail. Such a company wouldn’t have done so unless there was a PROFIT to be made.

I believe Borelli’s objections are valid. He expounds upon the profitability issue by illustrating that American Police Force will be charging the city a rate far above its operating costs so that it can make money. As well, since the private police force will be taking over the brand new, empty jail, it is in American Police Force’s best interest to fill the jail and keep it full to maximize its profit.

But under Borelli’s main objections lies the apparent conflict of interest that any private, for-profit police force has at its very center. That is, a private police force only makes money where there is crime. And if there is more crime, there is more profit to be made. In essence, a for-profit police force would actually hurt itself if it reduced crime.

Let me put it this way: What city wants to dole out more cash to a private police force in a city where there is little to no crime? On the other hand, what city doesn’t want to throw money at a police force in a city where crime is a large problem that threatens their homes and families?

Okay, maybe I’m being a bit paranoid. Most private companies in America provide goods and services to American citizens out of the goodness of their hearts and for the betterment of society, with little thought of actually making a profit, don’t they? Why should this private business be any different?

Granted, I have greatly oversimplified the issue. There are many other layers of accountability, transparency, and free-market competition that come into play when talking about a company’s desire to reduce costs and fulfill its stated mission for the benefit of the community. But the Mercedes SUVs, with police insignias on the sides, carrying company executives into Hardin give me a bit of pause.

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