FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
At Northwest Enforcement we do security differently.
ABOUT US
Northwest Enforcement, Inc (NEI) was founded by Chad and Karen Withrow in 2000.
NEI is a woman-owned business, certified in Oregon (#4593) and Washington (#W2F0024615) and owned by Karen Withrow.
Mission: Keeping communities safe and secure.
Core Purpose: Be Valuable. Nothing less will do.
Core Values:
- Humble - not too proud to pick up trash
- Invested - own it
- Transparent - even at a cost
- Resolve - improvise, adapt and overcome
- We Eat Cake – celebrate like family
The executive team is led by founders Chad and Karen Withrow. We have four departmental executive directors under them:
Windee Klinger – Finance and Human Resources
Gregory Jay – Logistics
Sonja Kuhn – Operations
Codie Jennison – Sales and Marketing
Learn more about Our Team here.
NEI has always focused on building strong relationships within the communities we serve, and our Giving Page is a reflection of these connections. We enjoy partnering with organizations that improve the lives of those around them.
We’re always looking for new ways to positively impact the lives of our team members. As of October 2025, we are well on our way to achieving our 10-year goal of having at least 75% of our team be with us for three or more years. Mid-way through 2025, nearly 40% of our team has been with us over two years, and over half of that for over three years.
NEI currently serves Oregon and Washington, generally along the I5 corridor between Castle Rock, WA and Tualatin, OR. Refer to the maps below to see the offices NEI serves out of.
Longview Office:
Portland Office:
Guard Service Areas: Portland Metro area from Tualatin, OR all the way to Longview, WA, including: Hillsboro, Beaverton, Tigard Tualatin, Lake Oswego, Milwaukie, Happy Valley, Gresham, Troutdale, Portland, Vancouver, Hazel Dell, Ridgefield, Woodland, Kalama, Carrolls, and Longview
Patrol Service Areas: Portland Metro area including Vancouver, WA, along with Longview and Kelso, WA, including: Hillsboro, Beaverton, Tigard Tualatin, Lake Oswego, Milwaukie, Happy Valley, Gresham, Troutdale, Portland, Vancouver, Hazel Dell, Mill Plain, Camas, Ridgefield, Woodland, Kalama, Carrolls, and Longview
State of Oregon: D/WBE 4593
State of Washington: D/WBE W2F0024615
Washington DOL Security Guard Company
Oregon DPSST Entity License
Contact Us to receive a preliminary diagnostic call today.
Interested in learning more?
CAREERS
This link will take you to our application portal on Indeed, where you can apply for open positions and submit your resume. This short assessment will take between 5-10 minutes and, through learning more about you, allows us to identify a site assignment where you can thrive.
Once you have submitted a resume, you’ll receive communication to opt-in to communication with us. Once you’ve opted-in you will be able to schedule an interview at a time that works for you. Our hiring support team will reach out in advance of the interview to make sure you received the confirmation email with directions.
For more information about qualifications, click here.
All armed security officers in the states of Oregon and Washington must first have their unarmed state certification. At Northwest Enforcement we take armed training seriously, so our standards are higher: officers must work on our team in good standing for a minimum of 90 days to be considered, then must take our Tactical Communication course, and finally, pass an internal range qualification (our standards are more strict than state minimums).
Keep in mind that many clients do not want armed security. If you have your armed license, you are capable of working armed sites, but availability of armed contract sites and scheduling will determine whether you actually work in an armed capacity at any given time.
For additional information about armed qualifications, click here.
Yes! Northwest Enforcement has invested in a robust internal training program for our team. Check out our training video or visit our Training page to learn more about the state certification programs and additional trainings that we offer.
Northwest Enforcement’s Vice President Chad Withrow teaches a famous leadership class to prepare our team to be future leaders. Northwest Enforcement has also invested in a robust internal training program with opportunities to learn about and be certified in things like: First Aid & CPR, Mental Health First Aid, Report Writing, Trauma Informed Care, and more!
Available shifts depend on client needs. Northwest Enforcement has partnered with a variety of local organizations to meet security needs across the Portland-Metro and Longview areas, so there is variety in the shifts available. Shift lengths vary anywhere from 8 hours to 10 hours, to a maximum of 12 hours, and consist of a variety of shifts between day, swing and overnight.
Unarmed security officers maintain a safe and secure environment for tenants and guests by controlling access, conducting regular patrols, monitoring the site, and providing a visible security presence. Unarmed officers often act as the first point of contact for visitors and provide maintenance documentation for facility managers.
Yes. In Oregon, licenses are through DPSST, and through DOL in Washington. Proper training and licensing ensures that all officers meet legal requirements (protecting clients from risk) and possess the skills needed to perform their duties.
Northwest Enforcement offers select courses externally, Contact Us for more information today.
For field-level positions, we schedule shifts in 8-, 10- and 12-hour lengths. Once your shift is over, you are done! While overtime may be available, that is an optional way for Officers to earn extra money, and is not required.
Northwest Enforcement has a comprehensive benefits package available for full time team members. In addition to the standard medical, dental and vision insurance coverage, we also have: voluntary life insurance, boot stipend, discounted gym membership, tenure raises, group gatherings three times per year, and more!
Due to the regulated nature of our industry, state laws require all work being performed by Northwest Enforcement to be by Officers whose state licenses are linked with ours. We are not able to accept contractor work at this time.
Through the past 24 years we have found that veterans tend to be a great values fit at Northwest Enforcement. We’d love to hear more about you and encourage you to apply today!
State regulations and client requests set minimum standards for physical abilities that security officers must be able to perform. While client requests may change, state regulations require that all licensed officers be able to read and write in English without assistance, and be capable of performing regular physical duties related to security work including standing, walking and carrying objects over distances. If you can do these things, we invite you to apply.
Northwest Enforcement does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age or disability. We have also found that the best security teams are those made up from members of the communities we serve, and we encourage applicants from all backgrounds to join our team.
- Private security officers enforce rules, and that often results in confrontation. To mitigate risk in these confrontations, NEI has invested in systems, support, and training to emphasize conflict resolution and tactical communication. Field leadership and dispatchers are available for our field team 24/7 so no one is ever alone on our team.
- NEI does not specialize in executive protection or loss prevention.
While it is always helpful to have prior experience, Northwest Enforcement does not require it. NEI has developed our own in-house training program to get new team members all the training they need to start their new career in the security industry.
Unarmed security guards do not carry firearms or other weapons. Duties include observation, reporting, verbal de-escalation and visible deterrence. Northwest Enforcement offers a variety of less-than-lethal armed trainings, in addition to firearms courses, for sites where a stronger presence is needed.
Curious About Starting A Career with NEI?
SECURITY SERVICES
Please see this answer in the About Us section above.
Our Guard and Patrol services are a great fit for almost any business in any industry who has physical property they want to ensure is safe and secure. Explore our services pages for specific examples, and reach out to our team 503-893-8858 to start the conversation on what personalized security services could look like for you.
We understand the rapidly changing and often urgent nature of security needs, and we do everything we can to make ourselves available to these changing and urgent client needs. Whether it’s a new construction project that local ordinances require be manually watched over, or maintenance on the fire alarm system causes an urgent need for firewatch, our 24/7 dispatch line is ready to take your call and get a qualified officer out to your site. Learn more here.
Contact Us to receive a preliminary diagnostic call today.
Check out our Guard Services page to see an extensive list, including: commercial properties, multifamily residential, hospitality, senior living, industrial and manufacturing, and more. Any site where visitor and tenant safety, security, and asset protection are important concerns can benefit from the presence of an unarmed officer.
Unarmed security officers maintain a safe and secure environment for tenants and guests by controlling access, conducting regular patrols, monitoring the site, and providing a visible security presence. Unarmed officers often act as the first point of contact for visitors and provide maintenance documentation for facility managers.
Yes. In Oregon, licenses are through DPSST, and through DOL in Washington. Proper training and licensing ensures that all officers meet legal requirements (protecting clients from risk) and possess the skills needed to perform their duties.
Northwest Enforcement offers select courses externally, Contact Us for more information today.
Unarmed security guards do not carry firearms or other weapons. Duties include observation, reporting, verbal de-escalation and visible deterrence. Northwest Enforcement offers a variety of less-than-lethal armed trainings, in addition to firearms courses, for sites where a stronger presence is needed.
Looking for Security Services?
SECURITY TRAINING
We offer Oregon and Washington State Armed and Unarmed Security Training classes. Learn more here.
Advanced Security Training classes add value to state certifications and are available to employees only. Learn more here.
State Certification courses are available to the public if pre-scheduled with our training team, who you can contact here.
Yes. In Oregon, licenses are through DPSST, and through DOL in Washington. Proper training and licensing ensures that all officers meet legal requirements (protecting clients from risk) and possess the skills needed to perform their duties.
Northwest Enforcement offers select courses externally, Contact Us for more information today.
Because our industry is tactical and NEI is relational, we emphasize in-person interaction to role play real-world scenarios. All NEI courses are in-person only to ensure the quality of instruction and education received.
Yes! Northwest Enforcement has invested in a robust internal training program for our team. Check out our training video or visit our Training page to learn more about the state certification programs and additional trainings that we offer.
