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BSIS to expand field enforcement; staff say unlicensed activity forms majority of pending cases
Summary
BSIS enforcement leaders said the bureau will increase proactive field work — stings and sweeps — and is preparing for new authority that would allow staff to issue infraction citations in the field if the legislature retains language in the bureau's sunset bill.
The Bureau of Security and Investigative Services said it will expand its field enforcement presence and concentrate on unlicensed activity, which currently represents roughly half of pending investigations.
Deputy Chief Sam Sadolsky told the advisory committee the enforcement unit now has four special investigators assigned to field work, 10 enforcement staff who handle desk investigations and inspections, and five complaint‑resolution staff who mediate consumer complaints. The special investigators are planning targeted operations at high‑risk events and locations.
“Fifty percent of our pending investigations are unlicensed activity right now,” Sadolsky said, and about 56% of citations issued in the last fiscal year were for unlicensed activity. He said the unit has been increasing unlicensed‑activity citations over the past four years and expects that footprint to grow.
Sadolsky also described disciplinary review activity: two days of DRC hearings produced nearly 30 appellants, several of whom were guards denied licenses but still working in the field. He said those denial hearings were prompting enforcement referrals.
The committee heard that the bureau’s sunset bill (SB 1454) includes a provision authorizing BSIS staff to issue infraction citations in the field — effectively allowing staff to write tickets for unlicensed activity — subject to training and implementation if the legislature adopts that language. The bureau said the infraction authority would create a clearer record of unlicensed activity than administrative citations alone.
Committee members representing industry said they are seeing more hiring and turnover post‑COVID and an influx of new, unlicensed workers entering security and related fields. The bureau said it will coordinate training for field staff and work with industry stakeholders to inform compliance efforts.
Ending: The bureau plans more proactive enforcement work in the field and is preparing staff training should legislative language grant infraction authority.
