New criminal background checks sought by Ohio's Homeland Security chief

CLEVELAND - New criminal backgrounds checks are being sought by Ohio's Director of Homeland Security that would plug loopholes allowing convicted felons to be hired.

An exclusive 5 On Your Side investigation revealed serious flaws in the state's current criminal background system for security guards.

In one case, a guard who was on probation for a felony drug offense was hired to guard a hospital pharmacy, where investigators say he was arrested for trying to steal drugs.

Another guard was hired despite an active drug warrant and extensive criminal background.

"It could pose a serious risk," said Gregg Hollenbaugh, who is a member of the Ohio Commission for Private Security and Investigators.

"If you are an unarmed guard, you have a one time background check and that's it--by law," said Hollenbaugh.

As a result, Ohio's Director of Homeland Security is asking for more thorough criminal background checks and is submitting new regulations in the current budget bill process. It would charge a fee to continually background guards with BCI-- Ohio Bureau of Criminal Identification.

"So on a daily basis," said Director William Vedra. "We would have this batch of security guards, 20,000 in Ohio, run daily against the BCI background."

The security guard industry in Ohio and long supported such checks and has repeatedly asked for tougher regulations.