If Security Breaks Down, Are You Liable ?
Ed Bailey, President
NWSCA

I would like to address a serious issue that a Security Coordinator should spend some time considering.  The issue is responsibility for security.  I would like for you to consider the level of responsibility and liability that the coordinator (and the subdivision) plans to assume in the role of providing security for their residents.

 If one of your neighbors is robbed or assaulted, they may decide that you and/or your civic association is responsible, through neglect of duty or otherwise, and should help pay to compensate for their losses.
 
When the coordinator begins to give instructions, not suggestions, to the contract deputy, the coordinator may be assuming authority that has not been given by the county.  The coordinator may also be burdened with unwanted liability because he gave those instructions.

 One of the important reasons for hiring contract deputies is to avoid the liability of the action’s of the deputies.  This is not to say that they are hazardous, actually they are far from that, but the deputies deal with situations that certainly have the potential of accidentally hurting people, either citizens or themselves. 

I assure you that your subdivision does not want to be liable for those incidents.  The Sheriff’s Deputies should be treated like independent contractors and should receive very little (if any) direction.

The deputies spend several weeks each year in schools on various topics and are generally very well trained.  They are also conditioned to think well in high pressure situations.

Another reason for not giving firm instructions to the deputies is that they have a supervisor to answer to first.  That supervisor is experienced in performing the job that has been assigned to the deputies and can give much better guidance.