Andre Boyer enters the gas station like a soldier—back straight, boots shined, AR-15 pointed toward the floor. He seems unaware of the flutter of anxiety spreading through the store, but if anyone asked, which they don’t, he’d assure them that he’s there for their own good.
“We’re not here to beat people up,” says Boyer, who heads S.I.T.E, a private protection agency that is patrolling gas stations and hotels in Philadelphia at the behest of store owners. “We’re here to let the public know that they can feel safe.”
Boyer’s armed-guard service has boomed over the past year as Philadelphia police staffing issues led to longer response times. Neil Patel, who owns the gas station, hired Boyer in December after thieves stole an ATM and the police didn’t respond for six hours.
