The Denver Department of Excise and Licenses has revoked the private security employer license of Pinkerton, the company contracted by 9News to provide security services during an Oct. 10 rally that ended with one person dead.

The man accused in the fatal shooting contracted with Isborn Security Services to provide the security requested by 9News, but did not have a license to work as a security guard in Denver.

Pinkerton was charged with violating Denver’s ordinance against permitting or directing an unlicensed security guard. In a decision issued Monday, the department’s executive director, Ashley Kilroy, found the fact Pinkerton contracted with Isborn despite knowing the company did not have an internal controls process to make sure the security guards they subcontracted with were properly licensed to be a factor in the decision.

Kilroy found it irrelevant that Pinkerton did not intend to provide an unlicensed security guard to 9News, says the decision. According to the ordinance, Pinkerton is liable for its subcontractors’ acts or omissions.

The decision set aside previous recommendations by a hearing officer for a six-month suspension of Pinkerton’s private security employer license and for the company to create an internal procedure to ensure each guard is licensed, whether hired directly or indirectly.

“The hearing officer also mitigated the penalty based on a finding that the Respondent had made some attempt to ensure its subcontractor’s compliance with relevant local laws. However, the Director finds that fact to be aggravating because Respondent affirmatively learned that Isborn had no internal controls or auditing process and contracted with them anyway,” the decision reads.

“A review of the record indicates that the Respondent knew that it was important that Isborn had internal controls and auditing processes.”

According to the decision, Pinkerton asks subcontractors questions about internal auditing and processes for managing performance. Isborn said no or indicated it did not have such processes, the decision says.

“A reasonable business would have acted on a response of ‘no’ or ‘none’ to these questions,” says the decision. It goes on to say Pinkerton had Dolloff’s name and contact information, but the company did not verify his security guard license status himself.

“Because the Respondent ignored the response that Isborn was not verifying licensing status and failed to ensure that Mr. Dolloff was licensed, actual harm came to the public.”

Although the decision is permanent, Pinkerton can reapply in Denver for a private security employer license in five years, according to Department of Excise and Licenses spokesman Eric Escudero. The company also has the option of appealing the decision in Denver District Court.

The Denver Gazette has reached out to Pinkerton for comment on the license decision and whether the company plans to appeal.

In December, Kilroy rejected a proposed settlement between Pinkerton and the Denver City Attorney’s Office. The details of that proposal were not made public.

Isborn previously agreed to surrender its private security employer license, and cannot reapply for five years.

The revocations only affect the companies’ ability to contract security guards in Denver because Colorado does not have a statewide requirement for security guard licensing.

Pinkerton gained national spotlight after an Oct. 10 rally in Civic Center Park when Matthew Dolloff, an unlicensed guard, allegedly shot and killed Lee Keltner during an altercation.

Dolloff was providing security services to 9News. Before the incident, 9News — which had used Pinkerton’s services in the past — requested services to protect two news crews.

Pinkerton contacted Isborn Security Services for a subcontractor and requested “an armed, non-uniformed guard ‘to blend in’ and provide ‘executive/staff protection’ for 9News,” according to a recommendation decision. Isborn then contracted Dolloff on behalf of Pinkerton for 9News.

Dolloff has since been charged with second-degree murder in the fatal shooting of Keltner. He has pleaded not guilty.