Security Guard Services in Washington, D.C.

Our D.C. supervisors work in the market and visit posts in person. See our Washington, D.C. page, Virginia page and Maryland page for coverage and license details.

Retail Districts Covered in Washington, D.C.

We support retailers and properties across the capital region’s main luxury and high-traffic retail areas, including:

• CityCenterDC
• Georgetown, including M Street and Wisconsin Avenue
• Friendship Heights and Chevy Chase
• Tysons Galleria and Tysons Corner Center in Virginia
• Bethesda Row in Maryland
• The Wharf

Security Considerations in Washington, D.C.

The D.C. market crosses three jurisdictions with separate licensing rules. Retailers with stores in the District, Northern Virginia and Montgomery County need a security partner that is licensed in all three and keeps officer credentials current in each.

CityCenterDC and Georgetown draw diplomats, government officials and international visitors. Officers need to be discreet, professional and comfortable working alongside protective details and building security.

Office buildings, associations and law firms downtown need consistent lobby coverage, visitor screening and clear incident documentation.

Security Services in Washington, D.C.

Screening, Training and Supervision

Officers complete a five-stage screening process and tier-based training before assignment, including de-escalation and, for retail posts, organized retail crime recognition. Supervisors make unannounced site visits, and the MGP Operations Desk answers 24/7/365. Incidents are documented on scene, time-stamped and GPS-verified.

Washington, D.C. Licensing

Security officers in the District of Columbia are licensed through the Metropolitan Police Department Security Officers Management Branch, and armed officers must be commissioned as Special Police Officers. Virginia officers must be registered with the Department of Criminal Justice Services. McCray Global Protection holds Washington, D.C. license SAB200835, Virginia license 11-19526 and Maryland license 22PLU-SG8722.

Fire Watch Rules in Washington, DC

• DC Fire and EMS requires a fire watch to be provided by a licensed monitoring or security company under contract, and those personnel may be used only for fire watch duties. Source
• In DC, the written fire watch plan, including its duration, must be approved by the Office of the Fire Marshal. DC FEMS guidance notes that under NFPA 25 a fire watch is not required if the system is restored within 4 hours. Source

MGP writes the local fire authority’s requirements into the Post Orders before the first shift. See Fire Watch Security.

Hiring Off-Duty Police Officers in Washington, DC

• MPD does not supply officers to private businesses for off-duty work. The business finds its own officer, negotiates the rate and pays the officer directly, and the officer must get chain of command approval before starting. Source
• A DC business hiring an off-duty MPD officer must carry at least $100,000 in liability insurance naming the DC Government and MPD as additional insureds. Officers may not work at nightclubs, taverns, sexually oriented businesses or in public space. Source

MGP coordinates off-duty officer coverage where the department allows it, and assigns Tier III retired police officers where it does not. See Off-Duty Police Officer Services.

Common Questions

Are armed officers available in Washington, D.C.?

Yes. Armed posts are staffed by retired law enforcement officers who hold the armed licensing Washington, D.C. requires, and are assigned after a review of the site’s risk, lease and insurance requirements. For luxury boutiques, MGP generally recommends unarmed officers focused on deterrence and client service.

How is security guard coverage priced?

Rates depend on the officer classification, armed or unarmed status, hours, schedule and site requirements. MGP provides a written rate schedule after reviewing your needs. Holiday, overnight and short-notice coverage is billed at a premium rate.