3 on Maui File Security Guard Apps During Extended Hours

By Wendy Osher

State officials say three individuals on Maui were among the list of security guards that turned in applications during extended hours over the weekend, in an effort to meet today’s deadline for new requirements.

Since registration began in January, the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs has received a total of more than 6,000 applications, 354 of which were filed this past weekend, officials said.

The new requirements outlined in Act 208, take effect today, and include training, classroom instruction, and criminal history requirements.

According to the DCCA, security guards have to meet the new requirements by today’s deadline in order to be registered and continue to work as security guards.

The requirements as outlined by the state agency include the following:

• Must be eighteen years of age or older;
• Possess a high school education diploma or its equivalent;
• Cannot be presently suffering from any psychiatric or psychological disorder which is directly related and detrimental to a person’s performance in the profession;
• Can not have a conviction in any jurisdiction of a crime which reflects unfavorably on the fitness of the individual to act as a guard, unless the conviction has been annulled or expunged by court order; provided that the individual shall submit to a national criminal history record check as authorized by federal law, including but not limited to the Private Security Officer Employment Authorization Act of 2004, and specified in the rules of the Board;
• Successfully complete eight hours of classroom instruction; and
• Undergo four hours of on-the-job training (not required for registration, but required to work as a guard).

The DCCA offered special hours over the weekend to accommodate last minute applicants.  In addition to the three weekend applications received on Maui, the state took in 326 applications over the past two days on Oʻahu; 11 in Kona; 10 in Hilo; and 4 on Kauaʻi.

According to a department announcement, the Board of Private Detectives and Guards which operates under the DCCA, said it would allow some security guards to continue working past the deadline even if their application has not been completely processed.

This provision includes those who filed before the deadline, and have indicated that requirements have been met.  It does not include those who filed before the deadline and indicate that they do not meet one or more of the requirements outlined.