Armed Security Guards Will Patrol State Street For Business Group

CHICAGO, IL — A downtown Chicago business group has hired a private armed security firm to help police by patrolling a short stretch of State Street in the South Loop. Guards for HLSA Security began patrols Thursday between Congress Parkway and Wacker Drive, according to the Chicago Tribune.

The guards were hired by the Chicago Loop Alliance, an organization for downtown businesses, and they will be on duty Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, the report stated. Members of this private security detail will be in uniform, carry guns and badges, and have the ability to make arrests, the report added.

These new armed guards, however, shouldn't be confused with the alliance's Street Ambassador program, the group says. In fact, the alliance plans to hire two more ambassadors this month at a cost of $114,000 annually, according to the organization.

"Our street ambassadors have been on State Street for about five years; they work on keeping the street clean and act as liaisons between businesses and CLA," an alliance spokeswoman said in an email to Patch. "They also distribute information on social service resources to people facing homelessness, provide information to folks walking around State Street. … They truly are just ambassadors of State Street who keep CLA informed on what’s going on out there … !"

Currently, the guards will patrol for eight hours during midday and the evening, the report stated. Those hours will increase in May, the report added.

The focus of the guards' patrol will be on handling shoplifting and panhandlers, the report stated. The program will cost the alliance around $50,000 yearly, the report added.

Businesses and attractions along the area of State Street that will be patrolled include Macy's, Target and the Goodman and Chicago theaters.

More via the Chicago Tribune

The Street Ambassadors for the Chicago Loop Alliance. Not to be confused with the recently hired armed security guards, the Street Ambassadors stroll along State Street in the Loop and "act as liaisons between businesses and CLA," according to the alliance. (Photo via the Chicago Loop Alliance)