Draft:Per Mar Security Services

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Per Mar Security Services
Company typePrivate
Industry Security
FoundedOctober 31, 1953; 71 years ago (1953-10-31) in Davenport, IA, US
Founder
  • Eleanor Duffy
  • John Duffy
HeadquartersDavenport, IA
Number of locations
28 branch locations
Area served
Midwest
Key people
  • Brian Duffy
  • Brad Duffy
Services
  • Electronic Security
  • Security Officers
  • Corporate Investigations
Number of employees
3,000 (2025)
Websitepermarsecurity.com

Per Mar Security Services, commonly referred to as Per Mar, is the largest family-owned, full-service security company in the Midwest.[1] The company's corporate office, Per Mar Centre, resides in Davenport, IA, where Per Mar was founded in 1953. Per Mar offers a variety of security products and services for homeowners and businesses, including but not limited to Live Video Monitoring, Access Control, Fire Alarms, Burglar Alarms, Alarm Monitoring, Security Cameras, Medical Alert, Security Guards, and Employment Background Checks.

History

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Per Mar Security Services was founded on October 31, 1953, by John and Eleanor Duffy as a security, investigative, and market research business[2] in Davenport, Iowa, part of the larger Quad Cities metropolitan area spanning Iowa and Illinois. John and Eleanor operated the business out of their home for the first three years, before the purchase of a polygraph machine forced them to rent office space.

Per Mar continued to grow and expand, and in 1968, opened its first Central Alarm Monitoring Station.[3] By 1970, Per Mar consisted of five divisions: alarms, investigations, security and undercover work, uniformed security officers, and market research. In 1978, it solidified its reputation as a family-owned company when Michael Duffy, son of John and Eleanor Duffy, stepped into the role of President of Per Mar.[4]

In 1998, Per Mar’s corporate office separated from branch operations, moving company-wide business functions to the Per Mar Centre in Davenport, Iowa.[5] This move consolidated Per Mar’s monitoring centers from across the Midwest to be under one roof, ensuring ongoing compliance with stringent UL standards.

The Duffy family leadership of Per Mar grew when, in 2014, two of Michael’s sons were promoted to Division Presidents. Brad Duffy, who had started with Per Mar in 2011 as a General Manager of the Des Moines Security Officer branch, was promoted to President of the Security Officer Division. Brian Duffy, who began at Per Mar as General Manager of the Cedar Rapids Electronic Security Branch, was promoted to President of Electronic Security. Brian was promoted to CEO in 2021,[6] becoming the third generation of the Duffy family to lead Per Mar.

Acquisitions

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Per Mar began acquiring security companies in 1975 with Alarms by PDA in Des Moines, Iowa. Since then, Per Mar and its subsidiaries have merged more than 100 companies’ activities, customers, and employees into their operations which has helped it grow to the largest family-owned, full-service security company in the Midwest.

Acquisitions have been integrated into the Per Mar brand with the exception of two companies, which maintained their own identity due to brand recognition in local markets: Midwest Alarm Services and Floyd Lock & Safe, formerly known as Floyd Total Security.

Midwest Alarm Services

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Midwest Alarm Services, acquired in 1998, was founded in 1950 to supply life safety systems to the Des Moines metropolitan area and became known locally for employing many respected fire alarm system experts. Their acquisition by Per Mar provided an opportunity for rapid expansion and let to the opening of several more offices as well as the acquisition of more life safety companies throughout the Midwest. Midwest Alarm Services continues to specialize in life safety solutions including fire alarm systems, medical alert and nurse call systems, and video surveillance systems.

Floyd Lock & Safe

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Floyd Lock & Safe, which was formerly Floyd Total Security, was acquired in 2020[7] and brought a well-established presence in the Twin Cities.[8] Floyd was founded in 1945 to provide traditional locksmithing products and services, but its expansion into electronic security in 1968 quickly made it the leading lock and alarm company in the area.[7] The acquisition of Floyd in 2020 merged the electronic security division into Per Mar, and locksmith services remained under the new name Floyd Lock & Safe.[7]

Locations

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As of 2025, Per Mar operates in 13 states and has 27 branch locations throughout the Midwest, making it the largest family-owned security services company in the Midwest.

State Branch Locations
Illinois Chicago (Des Plaines and Oakbrook Terrace), Quincy, Rockford
Indiana Northwest Indiana, South Bend, Valparaiso
Iowa Burlington, Cedar Rapids, Des Moines, Fort Dodge, Quad Cities, Sioux City
Michigan Jackson
Minnesota Bemidji, Duluth, Twin Cities
Nebraska Lincoln, Omaha
Wisconsin Eau Claire, Green Bay, La Crosse, Madison, Milwaukee, Minocqua, Oshkosh, Wausau

Products and Services

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As a full-service security company, Per Mar operates in three distinct sectors: electronic security, security officers, and investigations. Electronic security services are available to homeowners, and services from all three sectors are available to businesses.

Sector Services
Electronic Security Live Video Monitoring, Alarm Monitoring, Burglar Alarm Systems, Fire Alarms & Smoke Detectors, Security Cameras, Access Control, Temporary Security Rentals, Environmental Monitoring, Medical Alert, Home Automation
Security Officers Security Guards, Loss Prevention, Mobile Patrol, Event Services, Temporary Security Guards
Investigations Corporate Investigations, Employment Background Checks, Drug Testing

References

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  1. ^ "Per Mar honored as 2023 Business of the Year". Quad Cities Chamber. August 10, 2023.
  2. ^ Brake, Keith (July 25, 1970). "Per Mar A Spectacular Success Story". The Rock Island Dispatch Argus. p. A-2.
  3. ^ "Protect Stores, Homes". The Rock Island Dispatch Argus. April 27, 1971. p. 16.
  4. ^ "New Officers Elected". The Rock Island Dispatch Argus. February 18, 1979. p. 33.
  5. ^ "Per Mar will open new headquarters". Quad-City Times. April 28, 1998. p. 7A.
  6. ^ Ragusa, Paul (January 18, 2021). "Brian Duffy becomes the third generation to lead Per Mar". Security System News.
  7. ^ a b c Jones, Carter (Dec 14, 2020). "Floyd Total Security acquired by largest Midwest security company". Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal.
  8. ^ "Per Mar acquires Floyd Total Security". SecurityInfoWatch.com. January 5, 2021.