This paper examines the growing role of private security in supporting the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and U.S. law enforcement agencies. It discusses key collaborative programs such as the TRIPwire Community Gateway and Operation Cooperation, tracing the history of public-private security partnerships from before 9/11 to the present. The paper highlights why these partnerships matter—given that private security oversees approximately 85% of U.S. infrastructure—and outlines the concrete benefits they provide, including enhanced intelligence sharing, force multiplication, improved communications technology, and faster disaster recovery.
Private security plays a significant role in the efforts of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). In 2010, the DHS published a Private Sector Resources Catalog that "centralizes access to all DHS resources targeted for the private sector including small and large businesses, academia, trade associations, and other non-governmental organizations" (DHS, 2018). One example of a private security firm within the catalog is TRIPwire Community Gateway (TWCG) — "a web portal designed specifically for the nation's CIKR owners, operators, and private security personnel." The TWCG serves as a portal for private security groups to provide analysis of threats, reports, and planning phases, giving private sector players working with the DHS the opportunity to plan for and detect potential terror threats.
The trends in collaboration between private security and the DHS are growing. As the U.S. Department of Justice (2005) has noted, engaging the private sector to promote homeland security is essential in today's environment. Ever since 9/11, there has been a growing understanding of and appreciation for the private sector security industry: "law enforcement–private security partnerships have been viewed as critical to preventing terrorism and terror-related acts" (U.S. Department of Justice, 2005, p. vii). Because approximately 85% of the U.S.'s infrastructure is overseen and protected by the private security sector, it was deemed essential that collaboration and partnership with the private sector be activated following 9/11 (U.S. Department of Justice, 2005).
"Pre-9/11 origins of Operation Cooperation initiative"
"Concrete advantages of formalizing security collaboration"
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