City of Omaha deploys private security officers downtown
OMAHA, Neb. Jan 20 2018
New security officers are on patrol in Omaha’s downtown.
The city’s Downtown Improvement District is paying for the contract with Lion’s Gate Security, in hopes of enhancing public safety in the urban core.
“I think they just want a little more visibility from a security company,” Calvin Jones, co-owner of Lion’s Gate said, “They want us to be the eyes and ears for police in certain spaces in downtown.”
Holly Barrett with the Downtown Improvement District said the company’s staff, made up of a number of retired law enforcement officers, and its use of off-duty law enforcement, will provide greater protection than security companies the district has worked with in the past.
Jones said his staff started patrolling downtown in the beginning of the month, typically going out Thursday through Sunday nights.
His employees will cover an area from the Missouri River to 17th Street, and between Leavenworth and Cuming streets.
