By replacing the second instance with "Redmond", the article becomes easier to read because the second paragraph is now visually distinct from the first.
Such companies like Microsoft or Google have so much power in the city that they usually influence a lot the local police or mayor.
For example, Microsoft, their street is called "One Microsoft Way", and Google, the HQ is protected by the Google's police instead of the municipal police.
Ever drive past a large event or like a church after Sunday service and see cops out in the street directing traffic? Often those are off duty cops serving as paid peace officers.
In Texas, to have a large event where you serve alcohol (like say a wedding reception) you legally need to hire a peace officer for your security. Often people hire off duty cops, but you could hire someone who isn't a cop day to day. Anyone with a valid peace officer license can do it.
I've known people who went through all the training and decided being a cop wasn't for them. They then took jobs like "security guard" but we're paid a lot more because of their peace officer license.
In Germany I've never heard that Volkswagen or BASF (two companies with huge company owned areas) do have a security service which can arrest people and very likely never used their weapons.
I see now, where cyberpunk dystopia got their inspiration from. Thank you for the insight.
Practically the only difference is they can do arrests on the spot and they can potentially still carry weapons in places where its normally prohibited when serving the duties as a peace officer. It is not like Google would have their own Google Police enforcing Google Law. And I imagine all the security guards at Google have also never used their weapons outside of a shooting range or hunting.