Originally Posted By LPFan22 I remember seeing some inquiries as to whether or not they existed at the DLR. I'm here to say I met a Plain Clothes Security Officer today. No, I wasn't in trouble, lol. Just happened to have a brief conversation with one of them and was told it was okay to tell others that they are definitely hanging around the DLR. =)
Originally Posted By TMICHAEL You'd be surprised to find out just how much security there is at the parks. Disneyland IS big brother and they are always watching you. ;-)
Originally Posted By LPFan22 I always feel like I'm being watched there. I don't usually let that bother me but once in awhile, it feels a little creepy.
Originally Posted By tiggertoo <<Disneyland IS big brother and they are always watching you.>> Not when something bad happens though. I seemed like every time some goofball guest would try some cute stunt they were nowhere to be seen (or not seen). But then, maybe you're right and they were just...watching. ;-)
Originally Posted By yfoog I've often wondered of this. Especially with terrorist threat and all. Do you think they have their own counter terrorist units there?
Originally Posted By MrToadWildRider >>I've often wondered of this. Especially with terrorist threat and all. Do you think they have their own counter terrorist units there?<< I would guess no. They probably have plans in case of terrorist attack (either taking the place hostage or using some type of weapon against it) as to who does what and when and how - protocol stuff but I doubt they have their own Counter Terrorist Unit. My guess is they rely on Federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies for this, such as L.A. S.W.A.T. etc.
Originally Posted By StillThePassHolder FWIW, I was told not too long after 9/11 that plans were being made to have a permanent unit assigned to Disneyland as the park is an icon and therefore both a symbolic target and an opportunity to kill thousands of people. It made sense, but the usual funding and staffing questions arose. I have no idea whatever became of it.
Originally Posted By gadzuux I've heard (from "inside sources") that the plainclothes security largely works "loss prevention" (shoplifting) and tend to work the shops - especially main street in the evening hours. I've also heard that they can be identified by their big dorky shoes. I remember seeing what must have been a security officer wearing a coat and tie, with an earpiece, standing in the middle of the tarzan bridge over the the adventureland walkway. It was after dark and he was intent on his task, carefully watching the people approaching below. They must've been looking for someone specific.
Originally Posted By Mickeymouseclub It would make sense to have trained cast associate casually in all areas of the park. On TSI the calvary does have a castperson that has casually started a conversation with me and he mentioned he is trained to observe to avoid potential problems. Not in those words but that was the impression I got.I guess I must have been acting strange!
Originally Posted By LaurieMC When I was at DL with my mom in May of 2003, we encountered some undercover security guys. We were eating a late lunch at the River Belle Terrace. There was only one group of people near us when we sat down. They got up and we didn't think anything of it until about 3 or 4 minutes later, two "dad looking" guys came over to the table that they had been sitting at. One had a polo shirt on, the other a t-shirt and both were wearing jeans. People that would totally blend into the crowd. I looked at the floor by the table that they were standing at, and saw a small backpack on the ground. One of the people who had been eating there had left it. Of course, I put 2 and 2 together...and didn't have to be asked twice when they asked us to move out of the area. Within another couple of minutes, uniformed security (PD?) came over. Just as the poor guy who had left his bag there ran up to collect it.. So, yes, even on less busy days, the plain clothes guys are there.
Originally Posted By sherylann59 I have seen the plain clothes security in action. It was our last trip to DL in Oct 2003. We were just sitting around eating some snacks on a curb and all of a sudden this teenage guy ran past us almost knocking over my 5 year old son. About one minute later we see the same guy walking the other direction but this time he was surrounded by six other people who were holding him closely. They took him "behind the scenes". It was all very slick and if the guy hadn't just about ran us over we probably would never have noticed. I am not sure what he did but it appeared that they had been watching him and were ready for him. It made us feel a little more protected to see it take place.
Originally Posted By yfoog I was joking with a friend the other day about DL Security. We theorized crazy things like snipers and the like, perched on roof tops out of site of guests. Thats when the idea came up about counter terrorists forces came up. If Disneyland had that sort of security, I bet they would have cool uniforms.
Originally Posted By markcanada I suspect that DL is like LV - lots of hidden cameras constantly scanning the park. A security force for minor issues, and a "hot line" to Anaheim PD if something serious is spotted e.g. a weapon. If counterterrorism is needed, the Anaheim PD SWAT or ESU would most likely respond. Plus, preventative measures (security screening, employee awareness). I doubt Disney has their own high tech security force, probably more on the lines that you would find at any major hospital or university campus.
Originally Posted By mickeynewe This doesn't make me feel creepy at all! Just the opposite, I like knowing they are there. My opinion is that if you don't have anything to hide, then why should it bother you! As far as security goes, I like how they respond to problems! We were once in line and there were some guys ahead of us. We watched as they threw pennies at people's heads, tried spitting on them as they were on the ride, etc. It was horrible! The first "really bad" behaviour I had seen at the park. We made a comment to the people around us and a lady next to us told us to "leave it alone". Apparently, don't know how she could tell, but she said they belonged to some local gang and it would only cause us problems if we reported it. Well, when I see something wrong, I'm not the "leave it alone" type of gal. When we got up to the CM I explained the situation. I was able to still point them out in line ahead of us. The CM assured us they would be greeted at the exit line and removed from the park. The lady in front us told us that we had made a BIG mistake, that those were the kind of people that would be "waiting" for us outside the gate. Yeah, like they are going to "know" who reported them, AND they were going to pick us out of EVERYONE in the park. Well, true to the CMs word, we never saw them in the park after that. Again, I would rather know that security is tight and there for all our protection. Especially if Disneyland is to maintain its "family park" status. AND, if you see something going on in the park, don't be afraid to report it because its the only way to preserve the magic and keep Disney from becoming just another amusement park plagued with problems.
Originally Posted By jnemo In July JennieBarra and I saw one out on Harbor. He just looked like at tourist except he was talking into his collar. He was talking with a DL uniformed person. We watched for awhile and then a bunch of uniforms showed up and they talked to a person on Harbor, at the bus stop.
Originally Posted By imadisneygal APD has a substation on Resort property now, but they almost always had an officer on property in the Security office anyway due to the large amount of shoplifting and tresspassing arrests. Some Security Officers do wear costumes, but they aren't police officers. APD wouldn't wear a costume but they are rarely if ever onstage in the Parks. They'd be there if needed, but generally Security handles situations and gets the Guests backstage.
Originally Posted By marshmallow I work with a lady who worked security at Disneyland for a number of years. She looks very average and would blend in with the crowd. They have to be good at acting like they are shopping when they are really observing.
Originally Posted By 1Gee1 We observed what must have been a plain-clothes security officer in the Emporium. As a matter of fact, we saw him there on several occasions...same guy, similar clothing. He was a tall man, by himself...wearing "touristy" clothes: Disney shirt, baseball cap, shorts. It just seemed rather strange how the same man was looking over the same merchandise everytime we saw him. He was looking OVER the merchandise, scanning the store. Very interesting to watch him.
Originally Posted By imadisneygal And Disneyland follows some of the most stringent rules for arresting someone. At some stores you can be stopped just for suspicion, but at the Resort you must be observed picking up, concealing, and leaving the store and even then you must be a certain distance away before being stopped. If the officer loses sight of the Guest or the location of the object at any time the chances are the Guest will not be arrested because the charge may not stick. At some retail stores you can be approached by security if someone else witnesses you shoplifting. At the Resort, a CM can call in that they've seen a Guest take something and then the Guest will be followed until they (hopefully) take something else. I remember one night Security was tailing a guy for hours who had taken a bunch of stuff at the Emporium - clothes, jewelry, whatnot - and because no one from Security witnessed the whole process of him stealing they had to tail him until they saw him take something else. At the end of the night he finally ended up getting greedy again and was nailed at the Newsstand for stealing - of all things - a pencil. All of the merchandise was returned. Anything unreceipted goes back when a Guest is arrested for shoplifting. Unless they can prove they bought it, it's considered stolen. But it's vital that the whole transaction of stealing be witnessed by the same, specially trained Security officer.
Originally Posted By StillThePassHolder Please allow me to correct some things in post 19. I did retail loss prevention for over 20 years. Every single company I've ever encountered follows the "five steps" procedure- enter, select, conceal, never lose sight, and leave without paying, similar to Disney's. I've never known of a reputable store allowing stops based on someone else's word. They'd be out of business in a month. I'm not saying it doesn't happen now and then, mostly by "cowboy" type security people, but it most definitely is not the policy of any store to go off of someone else's word. Most shoplifting arrests are petty theft misdemeanors, at least in California, which means the amount stolen was less than $400.00. The actual shoplift has to be committed in the arresting person's presence. Police officers, for example, canot take someone else's word for it on a misdemeanor. They'd have to witness the theft as well. If a person is getting booked for the shoplift, the arresting person is the private security officer, making a citizen;s arrest. The police are merely citing and releasing the offender for the security person or transporting the thief to jail for the security person.
