By last year, the ratio had reversed. The United States has experienced its own security-industry boom. More than 10,000 private security companies employ an estimated 2 million guards, about four times the number of state and local police officers in the country. Only 32 states have set training standards for armed guards and only 17 for unarmed guards, according to Covert Action Quarterly . Firms often hire inexperienced guards at minimum wage without background checks.
Many governments sign contracts for police to guard private businesses.
The official, who negotiates the contracts, calls them vital for overcoming budget shortfalls. Rio s conservative police union and even the Private Security Police Federation note that the creeping privatization diverts police from serving the general public. Most of the privatization is less formal. Some operate out of the officials public offices. The officials often hire their public subordinates to work off-duty, and they deploy squad cars and other public equipment in the ventures.