4-Oct-17 – The company that handles security for the Chicago Marathon has been fired by U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, numerous news outlets in Minnesota are reporting.

Monterrey Security, based in Chicago, is also the security agency for the Chicago Cubs, Bears, and Blackhawks.

The concerns are over alledged inadequate training and background checks involving some of Monterrey’s 3,500 employees.

SMG, operator of the 66,200-seat U.S. Bank Stadium, notified Monterrey Security on Monday that it was terminating their contract – one year into a three-year term. A new security firm was on the job Tuesday morning.

After an investigation by a Minneapolis law firm found Monterrey failed to comply with state licensing requirements for employees of the security agency, a state regulatory board voted unanimously against renewing Monterrey’s license to provide protective services in Minnesota.

“Even though Monterrey failed to comply with regulations and established policies, that did not lead to any operational security issues,” Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority Chairman Michael Vekich (left) told Minneapolis Star Tribune.

Richard Hodsdon, chairman of the Minnesota Private Detective and Protective Services Agency Board, says Monterrey has “hundreds and hundreds and hundreds” of security personnel not properly trained and licensed under Minnesota law.

According to Hodsdon, some of these staff members included members of a swim team from St. Cloud, Minnesota, who helped with security without any background checks run on them, and a man who wore a Monterrey uniform and checked security credentials despite a conviction for extortion.

Juan Gayan, Jr., president and CEO of Monterrey Security, calls the problems “administrative issues” and reportedly claims that the personnel described as inadequately trained are not performing security functions.