Push to Create Private 'Blackwater' Police for Michigan Schools, Corporations Raises Alarm

Ironically, government has been using contract police services for years. Police services are provided at airports, hospitals, certain government instillations (Groom Lake, Kennedy Space Center, etc.), and numerous other locations by companies like G4S Wackenhut and others. Railroad police, including AMTRAK Police are private police departments.
Many private communities that are not incorporated towns have their own private police departments. Private colleges and universities have police departments. These private police department have most of the same powers as public departments, though the law governing the formation and powers vary from state to state. Also, there is no monetary profit in these services. They are paid for by the homeowners or the university. They must pay competently to keep officers, or just just become training grounds for larger departments.
While most of the private communities and universities are hiring their own personnel, are in cooperations with local law enforcement agencies, follow excepted hiring practices, require state police certification and documented ongoing training and recertification. Some private contract companies are not as strict.
The main exception is G4S Wackenhut, which has provides different levels of service ranging from unarmed door rattlers to their Custom Protection officer. The top tier at G4S provide police and medical services and recruitment is strict. I have seen people rejected from G4S that had worked for LE and left in good standing.
It may surprise many people to know that most airport fire departments are staffed by companies like Pro-Tec Fire Services, who have outstanding personnel who are highly trained in the specialized field of air craft fire suppression and rescue. Most local departments are not able to provide the specialized level of service. This isn't something every fire fighter is trained or proficient in. The private companies are paid for by the fees charged to the airlines. Without these services at the airport, most airlines would not utilize that airport.
In the article, it states, "In order to obtain a private cop license, you simply have to be over 21, have a high school diploma or equivalent, have not been convicted of a felony in the five years before applying, and be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident." With the exception of the felony part, isn't this pretty much the minimal requirement to be a LEO in every state and DC? My question is, how can a convicted felon posses a firearm??
While I personally think the funds used to contract a private agency should be used to pay for the hiring, training, and equipping of police officers on the local departments, I know those departments can't even get the funds to fully train, equip, and pay the officers they have. This system there is broken and this isn't the fix. The legislators need to look only in the mirror to see that problem.

You have that right, instead of being cops, they'd more or less be mercenaries.

Police is a core government function that can't be done by private organizations.