Private Detectives
Connecticut General Statue 29-153, requires that any person or firm wishing to conduct business as a Private Detective Service in this state, must first obtain a professional license from the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection. Guidelines for obtaining the license, eligibility criteria, and applicable license fees are detailed in the statute. Private Detective services are also required to register all employees working as investigators under their license. The Special Licensing & Firearms Unit (SLFU) is responsible for processing the license applications and employee registrations, as well as investigating complaints concerning violations of the license statutes.
Chapter 534 C.G.S 29-152u - 29-161aa
Qualifications
The commissioner may grant a private detective or private detective agency license to any suitable person, or to any corporation, association or partnership subject to the following qualifications: The applicant for a private detective or private detective agency license shall be not less than twenty-five years of age and of good moral character and shall have had at least five years' experience as a full-time investigator, as determined in regulations adopted by the commissioner pursuant to section 29-161, or shall have had at least ten years' experience as a police officer with a state or organized municipal police department. If the applicant is a corporation, association or partnership, the person filing the application on behalf of such corporation, association or partnership shall meet the qualifications set forth in this section for an individual applicant and shall be an officer of such corporation or member of such association or partnership.
The commissioner may, at his discretion, substitute up to one year of experience for a private detective license applicant upon proof of satisfactory participation in a course of instruction pertinent to the license. Employment as a security officer, does not qualify as time earned to obtain a private detective license. No license shall be issued to any person who has been convicted of any felony, (2) convicted of any misdemeanor under section 21a-279, 53a-58, 53a-61, 53a-61a, 53a-62, 53a-63, 53a-96, 53a-175, 53a-176, 53a-178 or 53a-181d, or equivalent conviction in another jurisdiction, within the past seven years, (3) convicted of any offense involving moral turpitude, or (4) discharged from military service under conditions that demonstrate questionable moral character.
If a private detective or private detective agency license is granted to an applicant based on the applicant's experience as an investigator with an organized municipal fire department, such license shall restrict the licensee to performing only the type of investigations performed for the municipal fire department. It does not grant a general investigation license.
No license may be granted to an applicant currently vested with police powers. The license of a corporation may be denied by the commissioner, or suspended or revoked, if it appears that ten percent or more of the stock of such corporation is held by a person who cannot meet the character standards required of the license applicant.
Applicants for a license are required to post a $10,000 performance surety bond with the state as a condition of license, and also provide a $ 300,000 General Liability Insurance Policy. Any person aggrieved by an act of the licensee, may proceed against same to recover damages.
Instructions to Applicants
The following materials must be submitted by all applicants for a private detective license:
- Application, Form DPS-366-C accurately completed and notarized.
- Two (2) recent photographs, 2" x 2", full-face passport style with blue background.
- Return completed fingerprint cards (State & FBI) with two Check or Money Order, one in the amount of $ 75.00 and the other $13.25, both payable to the Treasurer, State of Connecticut
- Motor vehicle driving record for the past three (3) years from the motor vehicle agency in the state of residence of the applicant.
a). A copy of applicant's current operators license. - If applicant has been in the military, a copy of his/her DD-214 or other documentation to indicate type of discharge, with reenlistment codes.
- Four (4) letters of character reference signed by the persons providing the reference. These letters are to be sent directly from the author to the Special Licensing & Firearms Unit. Letters must include the addresses and telephone numbers of the authors. Letters sent by the applicant's immediate family (parents, wife, etc.), and form letters are not acceptable, and will be returned. We will not accept those letters mailed to or hand carried by the applicant. The letters must be submitted to this office within 60 days of submission of application.
- A recent credit bureau report (for licensee only).
- Minimum High School Education, provide a copy of high school diploma, GED, college transcript, or college degree.
- The applicant must be a U.S Citizen, or a naturalized U.S. Citizen, or possess an INS Green card. Proof of said documents is required. An INS work permit is not acceptable to work in the Security Industry.
- If the applicant is retired or separated from a Federal, State a Local Police Department, a letter of discharge must be sent from the former employer to this department. The letter from said department must include length of service, title(s) held, duties performed and date of retirement or separation.
- If the applicant is seeking a license as a private security, he/she must meet the five (5) years supervisory security experience, or ten-(10) years experience as a police officer.
- Documentation from previous security employment verifying license eligibility must indicate, in chronological order, the following: date of hire and termination, duties, performed (what, where and how long) in each position, reason for leaving employment.
- Applicants must submit written verification from the state agency regulating private security stating the applicants name, type of license held, length of time applicant has been held and if the current license they hold is in good standing.
- If a corporate license is being sought, a copy of the Certificate of Incorporation from the Connecticut Secretary of the State must be submitted. If the corporate entity is an out-of state corporation, a copy of the Authority to do Business as a Foreign Corporation from the Connecticut Secretary of the State must be included.
- If the applicant is currently under any psychiatric care, a letter from the attending Psychologist or Psychiatric must be mailed to this office to verify the applicant's ability to hold the license being applied for.
- Applicants should be aware that an oral interview would be conducted as part of the background process. The Applicant must submit all the items requested before said interview is scheduled.
- Corporate Officials: All persons engaged, as corporate officials must be licensed with the Special License and Firearms Unit. (Corporate official, meaning president, vice president, secretary or treasurer) Failure to license a corporate official may result in your license not being issued. Refer to Public Act # 04-192. Corporate officials may not work as security officer or bodyguard, unless he/she has been properly registered as an employee of the company.
- A license renewal package must include a completed Form DPS 331-C (Renewal Application for License as Private Security), a Form DPS-363-C (Bond for Private Security License), and the $ 300,000 General Liability Insurance Policy, two current photographs 2â€x2†(full face) of licensee and an alphabetical listing of all their employees, as of the renewal date. A check in the amount of the appropriate license fee made payable to the Treasurer, State of Connecticut, must also be provided.
- All information requested in connection with a license application or renewal, must be submitted to SLFU within 60 days. Failure to submit the information on a timely basis will result in the rejection of the application. A new application, containing updated information and materials, would then have to be submitted.
- Return COMPLETED applications to:
Connecticut State Police
Special Licensing & Firearms Unit
1111 Country Club Rd.
Middletown, CT 06457
Fee Structure
The following license classification and fee structures apply:
- The license for an individual private detective shall be as a private detective. The fee for an individual private detective license shall be $1,450.00 for the initial 2-year license and $625.00 for 2-year renewal.
- The license for a corporation, association or partnership shall be as a private detective agency. The fee for a private detective agency license shall be $1,750.00 for the initial 2-year license and $1000.00 for 2-year renewal.
- The license for an individual private detective-fire shall be as a private detective-fire. The fee for an individual private detective-fire license shall be $ 1450.00 for the initial 2-year license and $ 625.00 for 2-year renewal.
- The license for a corporation, association or partnership shall be as a private detective-fire agency. The fee for a private detective-fire agency license shall be $1,750.00 for the initial 2-year license and $1000.00 for 2-year renewal.
All of the above licenses shall be issued for a period of 2 years. An application must be submitted every two years thereafter to renew the license for an additional two years term.
License Renewal
A private security company license is issued for a period of 2 years. Ninety (90) days prior to the expiration of a license, the Special Licensing and Firearms Unit will mail the licensee a renewal application. The renewal application includes Form DPS-331-C (Renewal Application), Form DPS-363-C (Verification of Performance Bond), and a list of all registered employees. The licensee must complete and submit the application prior to the expiration of the license. The application will be reviewed by SLFU to determine the continued eligibility of the licensee to retain the license. A list of the various license classifications and fees is contained in this website. The licensing fee shall be made payable to the "Treasurer, State of Connecticut" in the form of a check or money order. No cash is accepted
Employee Registrations
Immediately upon the hire of any investigator, a private detective firm is required to register such employee with the Special Licensing & Firearms Unit. The cost of registering the employee is a one (1)-time application fee of $ 40.00 per employee. The application (DPS 688-c) and instructions for registering an employee(s) can be found in the Forms section of this website. The employer is required to submit photographs and fingerprint cards (State & FBI) with two (2) Checks or Money Orders, one in the amount of $ 75.00 and the other in the amount of $13.25, payable to the Treasurer, State of Connecticut. A criminal history background check will be run on the prospective employee(s). The employer will be notified of the registration or denial of the employee. Failure to register an employee may result in the suspension or revocation of the employer's Private Detective License.
Upon registration, the employer shall issue each investigator an identification card as prescribed by the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection. The card shall contain the name, photograph and index fingerprint of the employee; the name and business address of the employer; the employer's license number and expiration date; and a certification that the named employee is employed as an investigator or agent of the licensee. The identification card must be carried on the employee's person at all times when engaged in the activities of the employer.
Neither a licensed Private Detective or Investigator or an agent employed by a Private Detective firm, may wear, carry or possess any type of badge or shield. This activity is specifically prohibited. Further, the employer is required to notify the Special Licensing & Firearms Unit within 5 business days of the resignation, termination or firing of any employee(s) registered as an investigator. The employer is also required to provide the Special Licensing & Firearms Unit with an updated list of employees, including assigned investigators, each year, upon renewal of their license.
Forms
| Form Number | Form Name |
| DPS-366-C | Application for Private Detective / Security Service License* |
| DPS-363-C | Bond form for Private Detective/Security Service License (Reminder - prior to licensing a Private Detective Licensee needs a $300,000 General Liability Insurance Policy) |
| DPS-331-C | Renewal Application for license as Private Detective/Security Service License |
| DPS-688-C | Application for Employee Registration |
| --- | Administrative Directives to Applicants Seeking Private Detective/ Security Service License |
| ---- | Administrative Procedures for Registration, Reinstating and Terminating Guards and Investigators |
| DPS-249-C | Authorization for Release of Personal Information |
| --- | Tax Information Statement (Business Filing Status) |