Patrol officer vs loss prevention analyst

The differences between patrol officers and loss prevention analysts can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a loss prevention analyst has an average salary of $38,684, which is higher than the $35,621 average annual salary of a patrol officer.

The top three skills for a patrol officer include patrol, customer service and public safety. The most important skills for a loss prevention analyst are loss prevention, customer service, and camera surveillance.

Patrol officer vs loss prevention analyst overview

	Patrol Officer	Loss Prevention Analyst
Yearly salary	$35,621	$38,684
Hourly rate	$17.13	$18.60
Growth rate	3%	6%
Number of jobs	123,265	62,658
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 43%	Bachelor's Degree, 39%
Average age	40	33
Years of experience	-	-

What does a patrol officer do?

The job of patrol officers is to enforce ordinances, laws, prevent crime, control crowds, arrest violators, and regulate traffic. They also perform other duties that may include monitoring an assigned area for unauthorized or suspicious activity, responding to reports of emergencies and possible crime such as robberies, and building good relationships with community members. To be a successful patrol officer, you should have solid judgment, excellent communication skills, and decision-making skills in stressful situations.

What does a loss prevention analyst do?

A loss prevention analyst designs and develops loss prevention programs, typically for retail establishments. They are in charge of providing analytical services primarily to avoid or resolve cases of theft and fraud. Among their responsibilities include gathering and analyzing financial and inventory data, inspecting alarm systems and protocols, performing research and analysis to identify the best practices, determining the strengths and weaknesses of current loss prevention techniques, and implementing solutions against vulnerable areas. Furthermore, a loss prevention analyst must maintain an active communication line with managers and loss prevention officers for a smooth and efficient workflow.

Patrol officer vs loss prevention analyst salary

Patrol officers and loss prevention analysts have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Patrol Officer	Loss Prevention Analyst
Average salary	$35,621	$38,684
Salary range	Between $27,000 And $46,000	Between $21,000 And $68,000
Highest paying City	Seattle, WA	Urban Honolulu, HI
Highest paying state	North Dakota	Hawaii
Best paying company	Mount St. Mary's University	Barclays
Best paying industry	Government	Finance

Differences between patrol officer and loss prevention analyst education

There are a few differences between a patrol officer and a loss prevention analyst in terms of educational background:

	Patrol Officer	Loss Prevention Analyst
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 43%	Bachelor's Degree, 39%
Most common major	Criminal Justice	Criminal Justice
Most common college	California State University - Long Beach	California State University - Bakersfield

Patrol officer vs loss prevention analyst demographics

Here are the differences between patrol officers' and loss prevention analysts' demographics:

	Patrol Officer	Loss Prevention Analyst
Average age	40	33
Gender ratio	Male, 82.9% Female, 17.1%	Male, 67.7% Female, 32.3%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 12.5% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 18.5% Asian, 3.5% White, 59.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0%	Black or African American, 8.3% Unknown, 7.3% Hispanic or Latino, 14.3% Asian, 4.2% White, 65.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%
LGBT Percentage	7%	7%

Differences between patrol officer and loss prevention analyst duties and responsibilities

Patrol officer example responsibilities.

Manage surveillance of DUI traffic offenders in Jacksonville
Report and investigate suspicious persons and situations, safety hazards, and unusual or illegal activity in patrol area.
Enforce NYS racing guidelines state, rules and regulations.
Protect life and property at the largest regional aviation facility in NYS.
Provide emergency medical assistance as a first responder.
Utilize security vehicle to patrol all residential areas and parking lot ensuring resident safety.

Loss prevention analyst example responsibilities.

Manage foreclosure and bankruptcy from inception to completion and mitigate all potential losses within an acceptable range.
Ensure that physical security controls (CCTV, EAS, alarm systems) are operating effectively to minimize shrinkage.
Monitor CCTV cameras, report and apprehend shop-lifters, and walk around the store to observe anything suspicious.
Analyze bankruptcy and foreclosure files in order to devise a strategy to minimize loss and maximize financial recovery.
Protect company's assets by utilizing state-of-the-art detection and investigation surveillance system, which identify shoplifters and prevent loss of merchandise.

Patrol officer vs loss prevention analyst skills

Common patrol officer skills

Patrol, 48%
Customer Service, 8%
Public Safety, 7%
Law Enforcement Agencies, 5%
Emergency Situations, 5%
Incident Reports, 2%

Common loss prevention analyst skills

Loss Prevention, 24%
Customer Service, 18%
Camera Surveillance, 5%
Basic Math, 5%
Risk Management, 4%
CCTV, 4%

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Patrol Officer
Patrol Officer vs Loss Prevention Analyst

Updated January 8, 2025

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