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Committee advances ordinance to bar armed guards from drawing to protect property after Banco Brown killing
Summary
The committee voted unanimously to recommend an ordinance that would prohibit private security guards from drawing or exhibiting firearms to protect property, aligning local rules with state training standards that permit drawing only for imminent threats to life.
Supervisor Matt Preston presented an ordinance to amend Article 25 of the Police Code to remove property as a justification for a security guard to draw or exhibit a firearm and to clarify language so it covers all firearms. Preston framed the measure as a response to the killing of Banco Brown and said local law must be consistent with state Bureau of Security standards requiring an imminent threat to life before drawing a firearm.
Preston said, "I believe strongly that nobody should ever have to die just because they are suspected of stealing property." Numerous public commenters, community advocates and the ordinance's co-sponsors supported the change as an important step to reduce lethal encounters; some callers raised broader questions about security staffing and the limits of local authority under state preemption.
After a period of public comment and questions from supervisors, the committee voted to send the ordinance to the full Board with a positive recommendation. The committee recorded unanimous support from the three voting members present and directed staff to include the ordinance on the Board agenda.
