What does a Protective Officer do?
A protective officer is in charge of preventing theft and damages in stores and other establishments. Among their responsibilities include monitoring alarm systems and surveillance cameras, patrolling areas, keeping an eye on suspicious activities and behavior, developing strategies to enforce security protocols, and responding to distress. There are also instances where they must conduct inspections and produce reports. Furthermore, as a protective officer, it is essential to coordinate with law enforcement should the situation require.
Protective officer responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real protective officer resumes:
- Arm weapons for PSO, baton, OC .. and PSO skills if need ..
- Assist in basic operations during EMT emergencies.
- Collaborate with and build relationships across CPO team.
- Work independently to check alertness and compliance of public order.
- Work as a CPO security officer for DCH regional medical center.
- Maintain a DAR and secure entrance and other designate spaces after hours.
- Certify in firearms, handcuffing, batons, mace, CPR and first aid.
- Prepare at all times to perform CPR or use an automate external defibrillator if necessary.
- Be proficient in firearms, baton, oc gas, handcuffing, and self-defense techniques.
- Monitor CCTV system and conduct visual inspection regularly.
- Maintain alertness and notify proper authority of indications of trespassing fire and emergency.
- Provide diplomatic protection, access control monitoring, facility patrol, and counter surveillance operations.
- Patrol designate areas according to establish procedures and documents patrols in daily shift activities and calls within report writing system.
- Control ingress/egress to DOJ buildings and possibly to internal areas within the facility as required.
- Maintain high state of alert to any and all vehicles parking on or around DOJ property.
Protective officer skills and personality traits
We calculated that 13% of Protective Officers are proficient in Customer Service, Emergency Situations, and Patrol. They’re also known for soft skills such as Communication skills, Good judgment, and Observation skills.
We break down the percentage of Protective Officers that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Customer Service, 13%
Recognized by bank leaders for exceptional security and safety services, superior professionalism and outstanding customer service.
- Emergency Situations, 7%
Assisted in pedestrian traffic control and responded to and investigated emergency situations, law enforcement, and security related calls.
- Patrol, 6%
Patrol designated areas according to established procedures and documents patrols in daily shift activities and calls within report writing system.
- CCTV, 6%
Monitored CCTV system and conducted visual inspection regularly.
- Security Systems, 6%
Directed personnel responsible for electronic and physical security systems, evaluated personnel and developed processes and procedures to minimize security risks.
- Safety Hazards, 6%
Watch for irregular/unusual activity that may create security concerns or safety hazards.
Common skills that a protective officer uses to do their job include "customer service," "emergency situations," and "patrol." You can find details on the most important protective officer responsibilities below.
Communication skills. To carry out their duties, the most important skill for a protective officer to have is communication skills. Their role and responsibilities require that "security guards and surveillance officers must communicate effectively with others, even in stressful situations." Protective officers often use communication skills in their day-to-day job, as shown by this real resume: "provided a security profile while using closed communication television security systems. "
Observation skills. Another skill that relates to the job responsibilities of protective officers is observation skills. This skill is critical to many everyday protective officer duties, as "security guards and surveillance officers must be alert and aware of their surroundings, and be able to quickly recognize anything out of the ordinary." This example from a resume shows how this skill is used: "assure observations and incident reports are consistently and accurately completed and that follow-ups are completed as necessary. "
The three companies that hire the most protective officers are:
- Walgreens16 protective officers jobs
- Meijer12 protective officers jobs
- Macy's10 protective officers jobs
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Compare different protective officers
Protective officer vs. Security agent
Security Agents guard the entrance and exit of a building, watching CCTV footage for unusual activities, and holding trespassers until authorities arrive. Being a security agent is usually a shift-based job and can sometimes last overnight. Security Agents must have first aid knowledge and basic skills with self-defense.
There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, protective officer responsibilities require skills like "patients," "criminal justice," "vehicle inspections," and "security industry." Meanwhile a typical security agent has skills in areas such as "safety oversight," "hotel guests," "aoa," and "front desk." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.
Security agents earn the highest salaries when working in the hospitality industry, with an average yearly salary of $37,992. On the other hand, protective officers are paid more in the professional industry with an average salary of $38,169.On average, security agents reach similar levels of education than protective officers. Security agents are 1.5% less likely to earn a Master's Degree and 0.2% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Protective officer vs. Criminal investigator
A criminal investigator is a law enforcement professional who endeavors to solve felony crimes. Criminal investigators may work alone or as a member of an investigative team whose goal is to uncover the certainty of a case and potentially keep suspects to prevent the ensuing criminal activity. Their tasks and responsibilities depend on various job functions and specialties. They may specialize in the information and evidence of a crime scene, conduct interviews and searches, or perform surveillance.
In addition to the difference in salary, there are some other key differences worth noting. For example, protective officer responsibilities are more likely to require skills like "customer service," "emergency situations," "cctv," and "security systems." Meanwhile, a criminal investigator has duties that require skills in areas such as "investigative reports," "resourcefulness," "firearms," and "treasury." These differences highlight just how different the day-to-day in each role looks.
Criminal investigators earn a higher average salary than protective officers. But criminal investigators earn the highest pay in the government industry, with an average salary of $52,921. Additionally, protective officers earn the highest salaries in the professional with average pay of $38,169 annually.In general, criminal investigators achieve higher levels of education than protective officers. They're 5.5% more likely to obtain a Master's Degree while being 0.2% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Protective officer vs. Security specialist
A security specialist is responsible for maintaining the security of an organization's database, ensuring that it's free from cyber threats and unusual activities. Security specialists' duties include upgrading hardware and software applications, configuring networks to improve optimization, addressing any unauthorized access on the database, troubleshooting system discrepancies, conducting security audits on the system, and improving automated processes. A security specialist must have a strong command of programming languages and system codes, as well as broad experience with technical expertise.
Some important key differences between the two careers include a few of the skills necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of each. Some examples from protective officer resumes include skills like "safety hazards," "patients," "loss prevention," and "vehicle inspections," whereas a security specialist is more likely to list skills in "ladders," "security incidents," "security clearance," and "security program. "
Most security specialists achieve a similar degree level compared to protective officers. For example, they're 1.5% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.1% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Protective officer vs. Security guard
Security guards are responsible for maintaining and ensuring the peace and safety of the building they are assigned to. They ensure that everyone who enters the building has official business to be done in the building. They are also in charge of patrolling and monitoring activities within the area. Security guards are also tasked to immobilize anyone who seems to pose a threat to the peace and safety of the building. They are also responsible for preventing any untoward incidences or crimes that may happen in the area. Security guards must be observant and alert to be able to succeed in their roles.
Even though a few skill sets overlap between protective officers and security guards, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, a protective officer might have more use for skills like "patients," "security procedures," "criminal justice," and "vehicle inspections." Meanwhile, some responsibilities of security guards require skills like "ladders," "law enforcement," "front desk," and "fire hazards. "
In general, security guards earn the most working in the utilities industry, with an average salary of $30,916. The highest-paying industry for a protective officer is the professional industry.The average resume of security guards showed that they earn similar levels of education compared to protective officers. So much so that theyacirc;euro;trade;re 3.9% less likely to earn a Master's Degree and less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree by 0.3%.Types of protective officer
Updated January 8, 2025
