Regulation of Private Security Guards

When a security guard is working in a county other than the security guard's primary county, the sheriff of the county in which the security guard is working must be notified in writing by the employer of the security guard within five days of the date of first service where the security guard will be assigned and the length of the assignment, unless other arrangements are made with the sheriff. In Davidson County the chief of police must be notified. The sheriff and his or her deputies are required to recognize the state-issued security armed card as valid in their jurisdiction while any security guard is traveling to or from a job site and while performing duties while at the job site, or while any representative of a security company, supervisor or officers are traveling to or from job sites or operating as a street patrol service. T.C.A. § 62-35-131(b).

The sheriff may require an individual to present proof of compliance with Title 62, Chapter 35. However, the sheriff is required to waive the provisions relative to training for those individuals properly and duly registered and in possession of a valid armed registration card. But, if a valid objection exists, the sheriff must inform the commissioner of commerce and insurance or the commissioner's designee within 10 days and provide a written explanation of the sheriff's objection. A security guard may not work in any jurisdiction in which the sheriff has a pending objection to the training qualifications of the security guard.  T.C.A. § 62-35-131(c) and (d).