City leaders debate whether private security group should carry guns in downtown Raleigh

More private security is on patrol in downtown Raleigh in response to an increase in crime.

It's creating a debate among some city councilors and community activists about whether those private guards should carry guns.

The Downtown Raleigh Alliance started working with a private security company Tuesday to deploy guards in hot spots for crime, like around Moore Square.

They'll be unarmed. The city is hiring its own private security for the transit center across the street. Those guards will carry guns.

Kerwin Pittman is a social justice activist with Emancipate NC. The city of Raleigh's decision to hire armed private security for the downtown transit center raises many questions for him. Pittman said he felt unarmed security was the "more palatable" option.

"I think hiring private security in the transit area is a recipe for disaster," Pittman said. "How will they be trained? What authority would they have over these individuals as actual citizens patrolling this area?"

The city told WRAL a temporary contract to hire security guards for the transit center could be in place by early November after several violent crimes nearby. They'll work in teams of 2 on 10-hour shifts from 4 a.m. to midnight. The city said it's working out the details about when the guards would be allowed to use their weapons and how they would work with Raleigh Police.

"These are not police officers, they are armed security guards," said Raleigh City Councilor Christina Jones. "So, what authority do they have? And I don’t have those answers. It’s something I’ll keep asking and will push for, but that’s where my concern lies."

Thaddeus Johnson is a former Memphis police officer and senior fellow with the Council on Criminal Justice.

He says private security can provide a sense of safety for the community, but there need to be clear policies in place from the start.

"Cities are desperate, right? – not only to have a substantive impact on crime but also for citizens to feel safer," Johnson said. "It can be good if proper oversight. It can provide that sense of security with property training. But the problem is those caveats - if there’s proper training."

Neither private security company will have police powers to arrests.

Raleigh Police Chief Estella Patterson has said she supports adding private security as a force multiplier.

Right now, Raleigh police have around 80 vacancies on its force.

The city may finalize a contract for the private security at the transit center as soon as early November.