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It started in 1995 as one of those typical cop moonlighting jobs: two West Sacramento officers doing security for a golf course.
However, Ken Garrett from the start had a yellow legal tablet outlining an ambitious future that involved not only creating a vital company but upgrading the oft-maligned security industry.
Garrett saw a "huge opportunity" for a security firm with well-trained, technology-equipped, professional officers. And he hoped to set an example for an industry often the butt of "rent-a-cop" jokes.
"We recognize the industry is not what it should be and needs to change," he said.
Now Garrett is chief executive officer of All-Phase Security Inc. and the map on the wall of the "War Room" in its West Sacramento headquarters tells the story of his success.
The Sacramento area from Davis to Rocklin is studded with bright pins showing the locations of the more than 200 clients that get day and night services ranging from unarmed security guards to patrol car alarm response.
Garrett, 48, met Martin Flatley, 59, at the West Sacramento Police Department and they decided to try off-duty security guard work.
"We started the business really for part-time additional income," he said. The first customer was the lighthouse Golf Course in West Sacramento.
They "started knocking on a few doors" in West Sacramento, attracted more clients, hired more guards and got to the point where they needed administrative staff.
They chose to make All-Phase Security a corporation to protect personal assets.
"Two years ago, we really started making significant headway in Greater Sacramento," Garrett said. The company now has clients from Davis to Galt to Rocklin and has more than 200 full-time employees. In September 2000, All-Phase opened a branch in Roseville. Flatley, whose title is co-founder, remains involved with All-Phase but still works for West Sacramento PD.
The company's services include armed and unarmed uniformed guards, corporate bodyguard security, private...