“Rent-a-cop” is a misnomer that doesn’t refer to actual cops you can rent, but acts as a pejorative term for hired security. Unless, of course, you’re talking about a new app that will allow you to literally rent a cop.
Patrol allows users to book off-duty police officers to keep an eye on their homes. It’s a spinoff of Protector, an app for hiring armed bodyguards.
How they work
Protector, available in NYC and LA, saw an accelerated launch after the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in December. It even released a video on LinkedIn depicting how Protector could have stopped the killing.
Founder Nick Sarath told CBS News that trying to find private security via Google is “like a maze.” His app simplifies that process.
While cost varies, CBS News found that a West Hollywood, California, user could have a "protector" arrive in a Cadillac Escalade for a minimum of five hours for $1k, plus a $129/year membership fee.
Patrol launched last month. While costs are unclear, it’s only available in five Los Angeles areas known for high property values: Beverly Hills, Brentwood, Malibu, Holmby Hills, and Bel Air.
Seriously, you couldn’t assemble a more Lana-Del-Rey-sings-about-rich people collection of neighborhoods if you tried.
While it’s easy…
… to see the appeal of hiring private security, especially if you’re a public figure, the marketing does feel a bit dystopian — kind of like the high-tech security system in The Purge (that franchise is mounting a comeback, BTW) that’s only available to those who can afford it.
Also: HuffPost reported that it found two LAPD officers (one of whom had potentially retired) in Protector’s roster who were named in misconduct investigations or lawsuits, and noted that its terms of service specify it’s not liable for anything protectors do on the job.
But speaking practically…
… we’ve also got to wonder if it's sustainable.
As HuffPost points out: Wealthy people with an ongoing need for security likely already have their go-tos, while everyone else probably can’t afford it or wouldn’t need it often enough to pay the membership fee.
But perhaps there is a market out there, be it influencers traveling to major cities, hosts who need security for a one-off event, or people who just want to look very important for five hours.
Startups
