Loss Prevention VS Security officer VS Police.

[not-a-popo]

Can anyone please explain to me the differences between Loss Prevention / Security officer, VS Police.

I am talking about the rights to detain in cuffs, search or arrest.

NO I have not been arrested, detained or writing a book, I'm just asking a question.

Thanks in advance.

[Citicop]

In my state, Loss Prevention officers are Security Officers.

Security Officers may make arrests while on duty at their places of employment just like police officers. Many employers further restrict their powers beyond what the law allows, though.

-Citicop.

[not-a-popo]

In my state, Loss Prevention officers are Security Officers.

Security Officers may make arrests while on duty at their places of employment just like police officers. Many employers further restrict their powers beyond what the law allows, though.

-Citicop.

Is the arrest just as valid as a cops?

Does the word, security "officer" have the same meaning / power as a officer of law, Police Officer.

Are armed guards or LP trained and qualified and protected like a cop is?

What I mean by protected is.

If someone comes up to you and says, officer that guy over there: was involved in a hit and run, has a gun on him, just robbed a bank, just killed someone, is a wanted person, or what have you, you as a officer of the law have a right to stop them and detain them right? If the information is BS, then no problems for you guys, right?

***edit*****Now let's say a LP / security officer gets told a person just stole a item, broke in to a car, broke in to someone home or what have you, and they stop them and detain them, later they find out the information is wrong, or they stopped and detained the wrong person, would that be a problem for them, or not a problem? Could the LP / security officer be arrested for false imprisonment, or something more serious. **********

A shop lifter assaults a LP / security officer, is it as bad as hitting a cop or is it the same as a private person?

I posted before that I am in need of work. I'm thinking about taking a job as a armed security officer for now. I'm just trying to figure out if the job is worth it, or if it's more trouble then it's worth, in this case, 15.00 hr.

[Kimble]

Does the word, security "officer" have the same meaning / power as a officer of law, Police Officer.

Not just no, but hell no!

No more than a bank teller is qualified to be a certified public accountant just because they deal with money (hint: they are not).

[mcsap]

in my state , anyone authorized by a merchant can detain a shoplifter and use force if necessary. They do not have to be a LPO , Security Guard etc.

LPO's and Security Officers do not make arrests, they have limited powers to detain. Only the police have the power to arrest. Arrrest meaning not only deny freedom but also to institute criminal charges.

[SnapShawt]

A security officer may only function as such at his place of employment, where he is assigned. There and NOWHERE else. He is limited in that function by law. Reasonable force may be used to detain a shoplifter, for example. Anything involving an actual arrest or other things such as a citation require a police officer being called as a security officer does not have that authority. Your job as a security officer is to observe and report, period. You may only get physically involved to prevent a crime or detain (not arrest) a suspect, and that is even limited to what type of crime has been or is being committed.

When you leave your place of employment/assigned area, your ability to do even that disappears. You have no more authority, even at work, than any other citizen.

I remember a neighborhood had security officer patrols. One of those upscale places. Just to drive around and make sure things were okay and to call the police if necessary. Well, one of the security officers had apparently been pulling people over (they had blue light bars). He would pull them over for driving to fast on the neighborhood streets and what not. Well, one such incident got the police called, and sure enough there he was behind a car he'd pulled over. The driver knew he was only a security officer and called. Said security officer was then arrested for impersonating and he was all done.

Let's go with your example. You may NOT "stop" or "detain" the person. You don't have the authority to do so. If you SEE someone fleeing a scene such as robbing a bank or a hit and run, then do what you safely can (which is usually following and calling the police). However, based on a tip, you do what any other civilian such as yourself would do - call the police. If you physically detain someone wrongfully (i.e. - the "tip" was wrong), then you can be both arrested as well as sued.

If a shoplifter physically assaults you during the crime, then it turns into robbery and he would be charged accordingly. No, it is not the same as if he attacked a cop. In that case he would be charged with assaulting a public servant as well, but that charge would not apply to you being assaulted.

I have to say your questions sound like someone who is contemplating going into security work as an alternative to law enforcement and trying to act like the police or justify using the same or equivalent authority, which you may not do and will lead to you being arrested for impersonation and hauled to jail. As a security officer, you are a citizen hired to watch a place. That's it. As an armed security officer, you are then a citizen hired to watch that place and you're given a gun to protect yourself and others if necessary. Enforcement of state/county/local penal code and ordinances is NOT within your realm of authority.

I have dealt with both good and bad security officers. Some try to be buddy buddy and talk to me as if we're somehow on the same wavelength. I just drive away after politely still talking to them and chuckle about it. Others understand what they are and don't try to "act cop" when talking to us, and they understand their job is to basically watch and write notes about it.

[Legoate]

I posted before that I am in need of work. I'm thinking about taking a job as a armed security officer for now. I'm just trying to figure out if the job is worth it, or if it's more trouble then it's worth, in this case, 15.00 hr.

The most obvious difference between the two is the level of training. From your question, and the statement above it is obvious that you have NO training in regards to the law. You would be foolish to start carrying a gun and enforcing laws when you have no idea what you are doing. Once you get the PROPER training to work as an armed guard, one would hope you wouldn't have to come here and ask us about their duties.

[not-a-popo]

I have to say your questions sound like someone who is contemplating going into security work as an alternative to law enforcement and trying to act like the police or justify using the same or equivalent authority, which you may not do and will lead to you being arrested for impersonation and hauled to jail. As a security officer, you are a citizen hired to watch a place. That's it. As an armed security officer, you are then a citizen hired to watch that place and you're given a gun to protect yourself and others if necessary. Enforcement of state/county/local penal code and ordinances is NOT within your realm of authority.

Sir thanks for that great post, you answered all my questions I was looking for.

I want to add that you are wrong about this section of your post. I have no desire to act like a cop, as I am not a cop.

I was only looking to understand if someone had a security uniform on, and a badge that said SECURITY OFFICER if they had any real power of any kind, that was it.

I was only looking to get some accurate information on this kind of job and learn what I was or would be getting myself in to.

I was hoping you guys would touch on your feelings about this kind of work, good or bad. After reading this post it sounds like it's mostly bad experiences, so I think I will say away from it.

After reading this post I and learning what the job is, I will not be going in to security work as it would be pointless to put myself in harms way, physically or financially for any amount of money.

Thanks for the help guys.

[Kimble]

I was only looking to understand if someone had a security uniform on, and a badge that said SECURITY OFFICER if they had any real power of any kind, that was it.

Inside their mall or corporate office a security officer/guard/whatever may envision themselves a god, but outside the company boundaries they have no power. Even on company grounds they don't have law enforcement authority (their role is generally limited to observe and report). Not the same for police, who have certification that extends throughout their state.

[MRBEST]

Sir thanks for that great post, you answered all my questions I was looking for.

I want to add that you are wrong about this section of your post. I have no desire to act like a cop, as I am not a cop.

I was only looking to understand if someone had a security uniform on, and a badge that said SECURITY OFFICER if they had any real power of any kind, that was it.

I was only looking to get some accurate information on this kind of job and learn what I was or would be getting myself in to.

I was hoping you guys would touch on your feelings about this kind of work, good or bad. After reading this post it sounds like it's mostly bad experiences, so I think I will say away from it.

After reading this post I and learning what the job is, I will not be going in to security work as it would be pointless to put myself in harms way, physically or financially for any amount of money.

Thanks for the help guys.

I'd be careful and cautious with your terminology.
There's a couple of things that you said that raised a flag for me.

Without getting into all that though, and in a nutshell:

• A Police Officer is completely different from a "civilian" position such as Security or Loss Prevention.
  
• More times than not, the authority that a Security or Loss Prevention Officer has will vary by State.
  
• Even more times than not, (and like someone said above), the authority that a Security or Loss Prevention Officer has is often limited by Corporate or Company Policy and Procedure.
  
• Lastly, arrest and detain are two completely separate items.

Typically, you would be detaining someone, assuming your policy allows you to do so, and calling the Police to make an arrest. This will also vary by State.