Security Guard Services in Saint Paul, MN

See the Minnesota page for coverage across Minnesota.

Retail Districts Covered in Saint Paul

Security coverage is available across Saint Paul’s main commercial areas, including:

• Downtown Saint Paul
• Lowertown
• Grand Avenue
• Selby Avenue and Cathedral Hill
• West 7th Street
• Midway
• The Capitol area

Security Considerations in Saint Paul

The Minnesota Legislature meets at the Capitol in Saint Paul. In odd-numbered years it convenes on the first Tuesday after the second Monday in January, and in any year it may not meet in regular session after the first Monday following the third Saturday in May. Session months bring legislators, staff and advocates to the Capitol area and downtown, where offices and hotels benefit from lobby coverage and visitor procedures set to that calendar.

The Saint Paul Winter Carnival is a ten-day festival in late January and early February, with events at Rice Park, Union Depot, Landmark Center and Vulcan Snow Park at the State Fairgrounds; the 2026 carnival ran from January 22 to February 1. The Minnesota State Fair runs for 12 days ending on Labor Day at the fairgrounds on Snelling Avenue. Both bring large crowds, and outdoor posts in January call for shorter rotations, warm-up breaks and cold-weather equipment.

Grand Avenue and Selby Avenue are known for specialty shops and boutiques in older buildings, while Lowertown and West 7th Street mix galleries, restaurants and historic storefronts. These stores need officers who protect staff and inventory while keeping a welcoming presence. Downtown office and residential buildings need dependable lobby coverage, visitor management and after-hours access control.

Security Services in Saint Paul

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 McCray Operations Desk answers 24/7/365. Incidents are documented on scene, and clients receive reports in the same format at every location.

Minnesota Licensing

The Minnesota Board of Private Detective and Protective Agent Services licenses protective agent businesses. Individual guards are not separately licensed but must be employed by a licensed protective agent and pass a fingerprint-based background check through the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension before working. Guards complete 12 hours of board-certified preassignment training within the first 21 days of employment and 6 hours of certified continuing training each year, and the license holder issues each guard a photo identification card that must be carried on duty.

Common Questions

Can Coverage Be Added for the Winter Carnival and the State Fair?

Yes. Hotels, restaurants, retailers and event organizers can schedule added officers for carnival events downtown and for the State Fair’s run in late August and early September, with cold-weather and crowd procedures written into the Post Orders.

Are Armed Officers Available in Saint Paul?

In Minnesota, no one may carry a firearm on duty without board-certified firearms training, and armed personnel complete 6 additional hours of training each year with annual certification. Armed coverage is assigned after a review of each site’s risk, lease and insurance requirements. For most retail posts, McCray generally recommends unarmed officers focused on deterrence and customer service.

How Is Security Guard Coverage Priced?

Rates depend on the officer classification, hours, schedule and site requirements. McCray provides a written rate schedule after reviewing the needs of each site. Holiday, overnight and short-notice coverage is billed at a premium rate.