Whose blues are they?

As reported in today’s Daily Record, a private guard is suing a state trooper who, according to the plaintiff, once employed him in a security firm.

Under state law, the owner of a security firm must have experience as a private detective, police officer, fire investigator, or correctional officer.

While your first thought may be that it’s a job for a former or retired police officer, many county and municipal police departments (though not the Maryland State Police, according to its licensing division) allow current employees to work private security or operate private security agencies.

However, some people have raised questions about the potential for abuse of power and conflicts of interest that could occur when officers work for public and private entities at the same time.

What do you think? Should city/county police officers be able to parlay their government jobs into private business opportunities?

-BRENDAN KEARNEY, Daily Record Legal Affairs Writer