A company styling itself as “de-escalation specialists” has been ordered to stop providing private security after it was found to be doing so without a license.
The Men in Black security company, not to be confused with the sci-fi film, advertises itself as offering “de-escalation and violence interruption” to businesses, while also providing training in the use of Narcan, CPR, and firearm safety.
However, a rare lawsuit brought by the Minnesota Board of Private Detectives and Protective Agent Services alleged that the company had been providing private security and crowd control services to businesses, which it’s not allowed to do without a license from the board.
The company was denied a license in 2021 due to the criminal record of one of its principal officers.
In February 2022, the denial was upheld, and according to the civil complaint, Men in Black continued to provide services, arguing it didn’t need a license for “de-escalation services.”
Hennepin County District Court Judge Jamie Anderson has now ordered the company to stop offering protective services and advertising them until the Board licenses the company.