Nicholas G. Lawless brings a different energy to the security industry. The owner and CEO of Crime Prevention Security 1 (CPS1) doesn’t speak in corporate platitudes or hide behind industry jargon. His message is direct: the security sector has grown soft, and he’s building something harder.
After serving in military operations, aiding executive protection details, and coordination roles at the White House and Department of Homeland Security, Lawless purchased CPS1 with a specific vision. The acquisition wasn’t driven by financial opportunity but by what he saw as a fundamental gap in the market. Why else start in the hardest state in the Union? To prove something.
“The security industry is saturated with soft targets disguised as protection firms. I remolded CPS1 to build the force I wish had existed for others when everything was on the line,” Lawless states.
That transformation has reshaped CPS1 from a conventional security company into what Lawless calls a precision-based protection service. The firm operates across multiple high-threat sectors including construction and industrial sites, critical infrastructure, residential complexes, retail environments, and executive protection. The company has also expanded into emergency response consulting and international defense innovation.
What distinguishes CPS1 from traditional security firms starts with personnel selection and training. The company draws from military and law enforcement backgrounds but doesn’t stop there. Each team member undergoes a bit of retraining under what Lawless terms the CPS1 Operating Doctrine, emphasizing situational threat analysis, non-linear problem-solving, physical readiness, technological literacy, and legal mastery.
The philosophical framework driving these operational changes comes from Lawless’s forthcoming book, “Lawless Leadership: Hardwired from Hardship – The Survivor’s Guide to Unstoppable Leadership.” The book outlines three phases of leadership evolution: Recognition of the challenges faced, Activation through ownership and tactical recalibration, and Integration by leading with presence forged from experience rather than theory.
Central to this philosophy is what Lawless calls the Lawless Identity Triangle – Pain, Power, Presence – which influences everything from hiring decisions to field response protocols at the California-based security firm.
Over the past year, CPS1 has expanded its reach beyond traditional boundaries. Lawless has taken the company international, training in Switzerland and performing on-ground assessments throughout Europe. These experiences have transformed CPS1 into what he describes as a global think-tank with tactical capabilities.
“Training my German Shepherd is no different than leading a team. If your presence is weak, the mission will collapse. The animal, like a squad, will mirror your confidence or your chaos,” Lawless explains, drawing parallels between animal training and team leadership.
The security landscape faces evolving challenges that Lawless believes many firms aren’t equipped to handle. He points to the intersection of fentanyl, mental health crises, and homelessness as creating new public safety dimensions for site security. He also highlights the disruption AI brings to surveillance systems, though he maintains that technological solutions cannot replace physical presence for deterrence.
California’s changing security environment particularly concerns him, with what he describes as increasingly lawless conditions creating soft target vulnerabilities. His response isn’t diplomatic: “Security isn’t reactive anymore. It has to be predictive, aggressive, and built from hard-won scars. And if you’re not willing to evolve, then you’re a liability.”
Lawless has been vocal about systemic problems within the security industry, criticizing low-wage contractors who cut corners, supervisors lacking tactical or real-life military or law enforcement training, and companies operating on appearances rather than effectiveness. He specifically calls out the practice of hiring illegal immigrants to reduce labor costs, advocating instead for honorable business practices that minimize costs without compromising integrity.
Beyond traditional protection services, CPS1 has entered strategic consulting for defense innovation and national security. The company now provides field-tested insights to government, military, and private sector clients both domestically and internationally.
“Leadership is not about being loud. It’s about being the last one standing when things go dark,” Lawless states, summarizing his approach to both business and security operations.
The transformation of CPS1 represents more than a business strategy. For Lawless, it’s about establishing new standards in an industry he believes has lost its edge. His message to potential clients is straightforward: CPS1 doesn’t sell safety – it delivers strategic dominance in environments where hesitation leads to loss.
Whether protecting a construction site at midnight, advising on defense capital strategy, or training the next generation of security professionals, CPS1 operates under a simple principle. In Lawless’s words: “We don’t compete with other firms. We eliminate excuses they leave behind.”
