For nearly two decades, Jose Jarita has been a familiar presence for many local families—standing near the entrance of Wilshire Boulevard Temple’s Irmas Campus each morning, greeting parents, watching children run toward class and quietly making sure everything feels safe. He has spent 17 years working at the temple, beginning as a security officer and eventually becoming the head of security for the westside campus, home to both a preschool and elementary school. In that time, he has watched thousands of children grow up, building relationships with families who trust him with what matters most. “My top priority is the kids,” Jarita says. “I’m here when they arrive until they leave. Once they’re gone, I can go home happy, knowing every single kid that showed up went home safe.”
For Jarita, the role has never been simply about security—it’s about connection, responsibility and care. “I’m not just here to protect,” says the devoted father of two boys (his youngest attended preschool at the temple). “This is also my family. I actually spend more time with everyone here than I do at home.” Ask parents at the school and many will tell you the same thing: Jarita is loved by everyone. After so many years on campus, he estimates he recognizes most of the students by name—and often their siblings as well. “I’ve been here so long I’ve seen their brothers grow up, sisters grow up,” he says. “Some of the kids who started here are already in college.”
That instinct to protect others began long before he ever arrived at Wilshire. Growing up in a military family, Jarita recalls watching his father prepare for work each day. “I vividly remember watching my father put on his uniform,” he says. “From an early age he instilled in me a strong sense of duty and a passion for safety and security.” As a child, Jarita imagined following the same path, often pretending to protect his home alongside neighborhood friends. When he turned 18, he hoped to join the military himself—but his mother had other ideas. “My mom said no,” he says with a laugh. “I still tell her now—you should have just let me.”
Instead, he found another route into the field. After briefly working in retail—selling women’s shoes at Nordstrom—he began his security career in downtown Los Angeles before eventually joining the security team at the Staples Center. Within a year he had moved into a supervisory role, and soon after accepted a position with Wilshire Boulevard Temple. At first, the transition felt uncertain. “I grew up Catholic,” he says. “Coming into the Jewish community, I didn’t know how I was going to be welcomed.” The answer came quickly. “From the first day they welcomed me with open arms,” he says. “That gave me confidence to keep learning about the community and growing.”
Over time, Jarita worked his way up from officer to supervisor and eventually to head of security at the Irmas Campus, where he now oversees security teams, coordinates safety protocols and works with intelligence groups monitoring potential threats. In recent years, that responsibility has taken on even greater meaning, and protecting the temple congregation has become more complex—and more personal. After nearly two decades working alongside the families there, Jarita says he feels deeply connected to the Jewish community he protects. “I’ve grown up in this community,” he explains. “I’ve learned it, I respect it, and I care about the people here.”
After so many years protecting families at the temple, a simple request set something new in motion. Four years ago, a parent asked if he could provide security for a bar mitzvah. “Once I did my first one, word got around that I was doing security outside of school,” he says. More requests followed, and Jarita began to realize there was an opportunity to build something of his own. After extensive licensing, training and certification, he officially launched Jarita Security Service two years ago. “For me, this is more than a business,” he says. “It’s a reflection of who I am and what I believe in.”
Today, the company has grown into a full-service security operation with a team of trained officers providing protection across Los Angeles. Bar and bat mitzvahs remain an important part of the business—and often how many clients first meet Jarita. At these events, his team manages entrances, greets guests, checks guest lists and monitors the venue to ensure everyone inside is safe. Officers often accompany buses transporting kids between venues and remain stationed at key entry points throughout the evening. “It used to be more about making sure the kids behaved,” Jarita says. “Now it’s much more about protecting everyone who is there.”
Jarita also provides security for weddings, private parties and large events, often working alongside planners to coordinate guest access and monitor entrances. Many clients hire his team to protect their homes while they are traveling. Officers may remain stationed on a property, patrol overnight or position visible security vehicles outside the residence to deter burglaries. For longer trips, guards can stay on-site to monitor the property until the family returns. Construction sites are another growing part of the business, with Jarita’s team monitoring more than twenty sites across the region. The company also provides personal security services when needed. In one recent assignment, Jarita personally accompanied a high-profile client during Coachella. “We do a little bit of everything,” he says.
Jarita says he is especially passionate about expanding security for schools and religious institutions—work that builds on his nearly two decades protecting families at Wilshire Boulevard Temple. His team has already begun working with additional institutions, including Temple Beth Am and Sierra Canyon.
For him, every job—whether protecting a school, guarding a home or securing a private event—comes back to the same principle. “Security isn’t just about presence,” he explains. “It’s about people, trust and understanding individual needs.” That philosophy continues to guide the company as it grows. “I built Jarita on passion and a deep commitment to supporting my community,” he says. “My goal is always the same—to provide not just security, but genuine peace of mind.”
Jarita Security Service
626-221-1257
jaritasecurityservice.com