D.C. school guards may be convicts

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WASHINGTON, July 14 (UPI) -- A number of licensed security guards in Washington, D.C. public schools have arrest records, says a draft report from the city's inspector general.

The draft was obtained by the Washington Times, and states cocaine possession, counterfeiting and assault among infractions by a randomly selected section of the city's school security.

Watkins Security, the security firm previously hired by the city, blamed the Metropolitan Police Department for failing to adequately screen guards. A criminal record does not automatically disqualify a prospective guard, however. Licenses have been issued provided 10 years have passed for a felony conviction or five years for a misdemeanor conviction.

Concerns about security guard backgrounds were raised after a guard from Hawk One Security, newly hired by the school system, was arrested for armed robbery late last week.