But the president of the center said Thursday they modeled the vehicle's design after other area security vehicles at organizations such as CentraCare Health and Crossroads Center.
Now the city is now looking to curb the use of all non-compliant security vehicles, including those in use at religious centers, businesses and schools such as St. Cloud State University.
Mayor Dave Kleis was alerted to the issue Sunday when City Council member Paul Brandmire called him to report the vehicle, which he said looked similar in color and design to a St. Cloud squad car.
Brandmire said the vehicle reminded him of vehicles he has heard were used in other states like New York to "enforce Sharia Law."
"That raised all kind of red flags," Brandmire said Wednesday. "Why do they need a patrol car?"
He said he didn't know what the vehicle was being used for in St. Cloud.
Mohayadin Mohamed, president of the center, said the vehicle is used for safety and security purposes such as directing traffic.
"It's common sense for when you have that number of people coming at the same time," he said. "Because we're a private organization, we feel that it's our responsibility to at least have some presence of security on our premises.
"They are not out patrolling any neighborhood. We are not going out into the city and walking around," Mohamed added. "This is specifically for our building and our parking lots."
St. Cloud Assistant Police Chief Jeff Oxton said the city talked to the vehicle's owners Tuesday after finding the vehicle violated state law because only law enforcement can use certain colors such as white for public safety vehicles.
After investigating the center's vehicle, Kleis said, the city found other area security vehicles also not in compliance with state statute because many are white with "security" written on the side.
Mohamed said the center has consulted with the police department in the past in regard to general security questions. The center looked to other area security vehicles for inspiration, Mohamed said.
"Those are the designs we looked at," he said. "And all of a sudden this week we've been hearing about a City Council member having an issue with this car. ... It's crazy when you have elected officials talking about issues in other states when they don't talk to their own constituents."
Mohamed said the center is working with the police department to change the car's appearance so it doesn't violate state statute.
"The good thing is we have a good relationship with the city," he said.
Kleis said the city is consulting with the League of Minnesota Cities and wants to give all the owners of the vehicles time to come into compliance.
"We're going to make sure we treat all of those vehicles exactly the same," he said.
Minnesota State Statute 169.98 states all vehicles used by security guards "may have any color other than those specified" for law enforcement vehicles.
The law states municipal police department vehicles "shall be predominantly blue, brown, green, black or white" and the "identity of the government unit operating the vehicle shall be displayed on both front door panels and on the rear of the vehicle."
The law states a security guard may continue to use a motor vehicle that is predominantly black in the course of the individual's employment if the vehicle was being used in that manner before August 2002; a security guard may continue to use a motor vehicle that is predominantly gold in the course of the individual's employment if the vehicle was being used in that manner before August 2012.
Minnesota law states a regulatory agency may issue a cease-and-desist order to stop a person from violating any law.
The person receiving the order has the right to request a hearing on the matter, but if the person does not comply with an order, the regulatory agency may take the person to court or impose a fine.
