WHO WE ARE
Trusted since 1850
Risk management and security is not just what we do — it's our calling.
We trace our roots back to 1850, when Allan Pinkerton founded Pinkerton's National Detective Agency. During our rich history, we've created the forerunner to the U.S. Secret Service, hired America's first woman detective, and have remained the industry leader in developing innovative security and risk management solutions for national and international organizations.
Today, we combine our 175 years of legacy and institutional knowledge with technology informed by our expertise to protect and create value for our clients across the globe. From brains to boots, we purposefully infuse integrity, vigilance, and excellence into our work. Our connected network of resources allows us to learn, anticipate, and deliver new and specialized solutions that span the spectrum of our clients' needs, from strategy to implementation. No matter when, no matter where, we pride ourselves on being there for you.
Being a Pinkerton means we are your trusted partner. Because at Pinkerton, we never sleep.
Being a Pinkerton agent means something. For 175 years, Pinkerton agents have been protecting organizations, their assets, their reputations, and their people all around the world.
Our motto—“we never sleep”—represents our allegiance to the core values of integrity, vigilance, and excellence, which are reinforced in the work we do and are woven into each client interaction. These core values represent the true spirit of Pinkerton and are ordered purposefully, serving as benchmarks and checkpoints by which all agents are measured. Our values also makeup what we call the Pinkerton Code of Conduct, which was first established in 1850, and remains the code that Pinkerton agents hold themselves to today.
For many, Pinkerton is a company that answers a calling. A calling to serve and protect others, no matter what. With this unified sense of purpose, our global force of Pinkerton agents band together and become something more than colleagues; they become a family. No matter how far they are spread around the world, Pinkerton agents are bonded together by their shared calling and their commitment to integrity, vigilance, and excellence.
Our focus on integrity has allowed us to sustain a commitment to service, standards, and fairness throughout our 175 year history.
Our agents, analysts, and consultants offer you a level of attentiveness and alertness that—we believe—cannot be equaled by anyone.
Our mission is to protect and create value for the companies we work with. To do this, we hold ourselves to a high standard of excellence in every project and every assignment.
Pinkerton's history started with a Scottish barrel maker who had a dream to create a noble profession for all types of people in 1842. This vision opened the door for modern security protocols and practices that are still used today. Below you'll find just the surface of our rich history spanning way back to when our founder set his sights on the United States. If you're interested in learning more, jump over to our blog and dive deeper into Pinkerton's roots.
1842
Allan Pinkerton immigrates to the United States
1847
Discovers counterfeiters while scouting for barrel timber on the Fox River
1850
The first Pinkerton office opens at 80 Washington St, Chicago, Illinois
1855
Allan signs a contract to guard the Illinois Central Railroad
1856
Hires the first female detective, Kate Warne
1861
Safely protects the 16th President, Abraham Lincoln, from the first assassination attempt on his life
1870
Pinkerton's National Detective Agency invents the mug shot, calling their collection of images "Rogue's Gallery"
1906
Pinkerton now has 20 different offices throughout the United States
1925
Allan, grandson of Allan Pinkerton Sr., incorporates the agency and becomes its first president
1942
Industrial guard services increase during war times
1960
Corporate headquarters is moved to New York City, New York
1962
Pinkerton agents escort the Mona Lisa, painted by Leonardo da Vinci, safely across the Atlantic Ocean
1965
Agency name changes to Pinkerton's Inc. to reflect its function in supplying security services to many different types of vendors
1969
Pinkerton offices are established in Hong Kong, opening the doors to operations in Asia
1998
Pinkerton successfully evacuates 431 expatriates from Indonesia during the Asian Currency Crisis
2005
Pinkerton mobilizes 313 agents to assist clients in the aftermath of hurricanes Katrina, Rita, and Wilma
2012
Pinkerton transforms into a global provider of corporate risk management and pioneered the holistic approach to ESRM
2013
Debuts the Risk Wheel and End-to-End Delivery through Embedded Subject Matter Experts
2014
Global headquarters is relocated from New Jersey to Ann Arbor, Michigan
2019
Nearly 150 years after inventing the mug shot, Pinkerton releases Crime Index, combining Pinkerton's crime-fighting history and frontier data science
2020
Established Comprehensive Risk Management platform to unlock Assess | Design | Deliver framework for specialized solutions
2026
Pinkerton marks 175+ years of business, continuing a tradition of excellence in security and risk management
