Published: October 10, 2009 10:20 pm      

Providing protection

Business hopes to help protect entire community

It all started one day in January.

“I thought, ‘What can I do that we’re familiar with to make money,’” Ron Leazenby said.

After some thought, an idea came to mind and Ron thought he would run it past his wife, Angela.

His idea: Start a security agency.

“I was thrilled,” Angela said. “I asked ‘Why didn’t you think of that a long time ago?’”

Angela was especially excited, since she had wanted to become a police officer after her boys were done with home schooling. When she applied, however, she was told she was too old.

After much research on starting a security agency and making sure it was feasible, the couple started Guns for Hire Security Agency.

“This is what we love to do and it’s a way to help people,” said Angela.

The business’ mission is “to help further deter criminal acts by randomly ‘visiting’ homes and businesses throughout this and surrounding communities at night.”

Although they began working on the company in January, Angela said they weren’t able to obtain a license until the end of July.

“There was a lot of paperwork involved because guns are involved,” Ron explained. “The important thing to understand is it’s not about the guns. It’s just a catchy phrase.”

The equipment they carry, which includes bullet-proof vests, Tasers, batons and pepper spray, is basically for self-protection, including the guns.

“The same concept as a police officer,” Ron said. “The aggressor sets the rule.”

Before applying for a state license and insurance, both Ron and Angela already had lifetime handgun carrying permits.

Both have prior experience working in the security agency business.

Ron served in the Army for 14 1/2 years. He started out at Fort Knox, Ky., where he served part of his tour as an armed security guard. He was also a security guard for Wilson’s Hog Processing plant for two years.

Angela’s security experience is mainly with retail. She worked at Rockwell, which is now Matthew Warren. While there, she was in charge of keeping an eye on what was going on. She said the guards on duty reported to her. She was also in charge of filling out any paperwork.

Since it is a security agency, Angela said they don’t talk about their clients.

“We are randomly checking the exterior of the property,” she said. “We don’t want anyone to know where we are.”

The business hopes to appeal to people who are going on vacation or for a long period of time, property managers or landlords with an empty building in need of extra protection, or after-hours at businesses that are vacant at night.

“We’re trying to help other people, not just ourselves,” Angela said. “If they don’t know where we are going to be, we’re helping the entire community.”

The couple checks the properties randomly between 6:30 p.m. and 6:30 a.m. They are watcing for people who are not supposed to be on the property and signs of vandalism.

Even though Ron realizes most businesses have installed alarm systems, he said those systems aren’t usually beneficial until someone has already broken in and entered the building. Therefore, any acts of vandalism or theft of items on a building’s exterior will not be caught by the alarm.

“We want to be there as an early warning device and catch them in the act,” he said. “We want to complement those alarm systems.”

While they are not law enforcement, the Leazenbys can’t arrest anyone but they can apprehend and detain until law enforcement arrives, according to Ron. Before the couple started the business, they contacted Logansport Police Department and Cass County Sheriff’s Department to inform each agency of the business.

So far, the couple has experienced a slower start than hoped, but Ron expects business to pick up in the spring after the holiday season. He hopes to serve Howard and Cass county areas.

“We’re looking at 57,000 people to market to,” Ron said.

The couple feels confident about the business and are pleased to become involved with something they are both compassionate about.

“I think it feels great,” Angela said about the starting the business.

“We rely on ourselves and we’re in control of our own destiny,” Ron added.

“We want to help the community and protect what they’ve worked hard for their entire life.”

• Denise Massie is a staff writer at the Pharos-Tribune. She can be reached at (574) 732-5151 or denise.massie@pharostribune.com



New business

Name: Guns for Hire Security Agency

Address: P.O. Box 1431, Logansport, IN

Phone: (574) 722-3469