Prosegur's Expanding Armed Security Presence

Prosegur Services Group, a private security contractor, has gained attention for its nationwide deployment of nearly 1,000 armed security guards to U.S. Postal Service (USPS) facilities. According to public records, the firm also maintains various security agreements in Oklahoma, including contracts for armed security on educational campuses and county property.

Oklahoma Security Contracts Detailed

Prosegur's presence in Oklahoma is significant. The company has secured a statewide purchasing agreement for providing armed security services, along with a county-level contract for security at the Oklahoma County courthouse complex. This latter arrangement has a spending cap of $336,286.88 for the current fiscal year. Additionally, Prosegur supplies armed guards to the campuses of Metro Technology Centers in Oklahoma City. Board minutes confirm the continuation of campus security through the upcoming fiscal year, with the contract marking the fourth year in a five-year term obtained through competitive bidding.

Specific County and Facility Agreements

On July 1, Oklahoma County commissioners renewed a Prosegur contract for after-hours and roving perimeter security at the courthouse complex, extending through June 30, 2027. The contract also covers security in the Metro 1 and Metro 2 parking garages and after-hours camera monitoring. The maximum annual spending, divided between county commissioners and the Public Buildings Authority, is $109,457.92 and $226,828.96 respectively. Notably, county documents do not specify these services as deployments of armed guards.

Prosegur’s Role in Postal Service Security

Prosegur’s work with the USPS came under renewed scrutiny following reports that the company is dispatching nearly 1,000 armed guards to at least 55 postal facilities nationwide. Frank Albergo, executive director of the Postal Police Officers Association, stated that the union is notified when facilities approve additional contract guards. However, it remains unclear whether any Oklahoma postal sites are involved in this deployment, as the U.S. Postal Inspection Service does not release specific location details.

Postal Service and Union Concerns

Postal unions have raised concerns over the training, authority, and oversight of armed security personnel. In response, USPS spokeswoman Cathy K. Purcell emphasized that the deployment of armed guards is unrelated to elections and has been underway since the previous year. A memo to American Postal Workers Union members clarified that the guards are authorized to monitor entrances, verify identification, patrol, and respond to emergencies, but are expressly forbidden from making arrests, presenting themselves as police, handling mail, or supervising postal employees.

Contract Oversight and Accountability

A 2022 audit by the Postal Service Inspector General reviewed Prosegur's security guard deployments at approximately 57 locations, identifying deficiencies in background investigations and recordkeeping. While the oversight issues were addressed and recommendations closed, the audit described past challenges rather than current deployments or those in Oklahoma.

Allegations and Company Response

Raw Story reported allegations from postal workers and union officials concerning misconduct by Prosegur guards at facilities in North Carolina. Prosegur stated it could not locate the incidents described and was unable to discuss details of its USPS account for confidentiality reasons.

Statewide Security Purchasing and Reporting

Prosegur holds a purchasing agreement with the State of Oklahoma under contract SW0117, which began in April 2024 and extends through March 2029. The agreement, which is nonmandatory and nonexclusive, allows state agencies to order armed security services as needed. Prosegur is required to submit quarterly reports identifying service locations, client entities, services provided, and prices.

Conclusion

Prosegur's engagement with both public institutions and the USPS highlights ongoing questions about armed guard deployments, contractual oversight, and employee safety. While Oklahoma’s agreements with Prosegur are expressly documented, the participation of Oklahoma postal facilities in the nationwide armed security initiative remains unconfirmed.

Source: oklahomawatch.org.