When you see a security officer as you drop your child off at school, catch a flight at the airport or watch a game at a stadium, you assume you're in a safe environment protected by responsible companies.

But some of our nation's private security firms - like U.S. Security Associates - are letting down our communities and their officers alike, racking up millions of dollars in penalties and damages while aggressively pursuing new work in areas all around the country.

U.S. Security Associates is a security contractor at schools, airports, seaports, stadiums and public buildings across the nation. But their poor record is simply unacceptable:

• In Washington, D.C. this year, the company repeatedly failed security tests at government buildings, including weapons detection tests.
• In February 2010, a federal jury ordered the company to pay $2.55 million for sexual harassment and retaliation. The company is also being sued for sexual harassment by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
• The company faces ongoing wage and hour litigation for allegedly failing to fully compensate employees.

Despite outcries from all 13 members of the D.C. City Council stating that U.S. Security's lapses have put "the safety of our city and residents at risk," D.C. Mayor Adrian Fenty refuses to bring in a responsible security contractor.

And in other cities, U.S. Security Associates is trying to win more business that comes from our taxpayer dollars.

Stand up for the security of our children and communities - tell D.C. Mayor Adrian Fenty and other leaders across the country to stop rewarding U.S. Security Associates with taxpayer dollars and use only responsible, law-abiding contractors: