What does a security patrol officer do?
A Security Patrol Officer ensures the safety and security of the establishment under guard. The security officer ensures that all facility areas are secured, does regular patrols, routine inspections, and monitors the premises, and logs in daily reports for management to assess. The Security Patrol Officer's role is vital for the continued performance of an establishment as it prevents crime, stealing, and other heinous acts that may severely affect a company's operations.
Security patrol officer responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real security patrol officer resumes:
- Maintain alertness while on post.
- Apply patient restraints as needed.
- Certify CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) and a (automate external defibrillator).
- Remove stall vehicles from highway lanes to the side shoulder or a CHP designate safe area.
- Respond to medical calls and provide basic first aid, CPR, or a use as needed.
- Monitor CCTV operations, card access only doors and create identification badges for new employees/visitors at facility.
- Serve as a first responder for all incidents, providing support for teachers, administrators and students.
- Assist seniors in and out of vehicle and secure wheelchair and walkers to safety restraints during trip.
- Conduct OSHA relate training including right to know, blood borne pathogens, MSDS log book and lock out tag out.
- Audit and inspect the facility for chemicals and hazardous materials which are then coordinate into a comprehensive SDS per OSHA requirements.
- Gather preliminary investigation information as a first responder to incident.
- Monitor the entire facility using CCTV while simultaneously performing dispatch duties.
- Document all activities that occur at patrol sites about regular and irregular activity.
- Conduct security in assign patrol areas and ensures that any suspicious activity within given area is reported to appropriate officials.
- Train staff members on emergency medical techniques, confine space entry and rescue, and hazmat emergencies.
Security patrol officer skills and personality traits
We calculated that 51% of Security Patrol Officers are proficient in Patrol, Customer Service, and Security Services. They’re also known for soft skills such as Communication skills, Good judgment, and Observation skills.
We break down the percentage of Security Patrol Officers that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Patrol, 51%
Conduct security in assigned patrol areas and ensures that any suspicious activity within given area is reported to appropriate officials.
- Customer Service, 23%
Enforce facility rules and procedures securing the facility and designated areas all while providing excellent customer service.
- Security Services, 6%
Provide Security services to over twenty five clients including Whirlpool Corporation.
- Alertness, 3%
Maintained alertness while on post.
- Emergency Situations, 2%
Delegate needs and prioritize staff response to emergency situations while maintaining accurate records of daily operations.
- Public Safety, 2%
Performed property protection, public safety, patrol, access control, communications, and investigation/surveillance.
Most security patrol officers use their skills in "patrol," "customer service," and "security services" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential security patrol officer responsibilities here:
Communication skills. The most essential soft skill for a security patrol officer to carry out their responsibilities is communication skills. This skill is important for the role because "security guards and surveillance officers must communicate effectively with others, even in stressful situations." Additionally, a security patrol officer resume shows how their duties depend on communication skills: "utilized advanced communication skills, and demonstrated knowledge of the security industry. "
Observation skills. Another skill that relates to the job responsibilities of security patrol officers is observation skills. This skill is critical to many everyday security patrol 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: "submitted observation reports to property management. "
The three companies that hire the most security patrol officers are:
- Allied Universal
490 security patrol officers jobs
- Securitas AB124 security patrol officers jobs
- GardaWorld Federal Services28 security patrol officers jobs
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Compare different security patrol officers
Security patrol officer vs. Officer
An officer is responsible for managing the daily operations of the assigned area, ensuring its peace and security by monitoring and reporting unusual and suspicious activities. Officers are the ones enforcing strict safety protocols and procedures to maintain the order within the premises. They also coordinate with law enforcement agencies in conducting appropriate investigations for any violating cases. An officer must be highly-knowledgeable of the law policies, as well as possessing excellent leadership skills to manage the members under the officer's patrol.
These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of a security patrol officer are more likely to require skills like "security services," "security breaches," "bike," and "security patrols." On the other hand, a job as an officer requires skills like "powerpoint," "law enforcement agencies," "financial statements," and "hr." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.
On average, officers reach higher levels of education than security patrol officers. Officers are 8.5% more likely to earn a Master's Degree and 1.7% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Security patrol officer vs. Security
A Security's main responsibility is to keep people or an establishment safe. This responsibility is carried out by constantly patrolling a designated area and monitoring the activity within the premises. Most of the tasks involved are inspecting buildings and equipment, monitoring entry and exit points, reporting irregularities, responding to customers in distress, and other surveillance activities. The security is basically an establishment's first line of defense, this is why one must have good communication skills, keen observation and judgment, and as well as presence of mind.
While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that security patrol officer responsibilities requires skills like "security services," "security breaches," "bike," and "security patrols." But a security might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "ladders," "good judgment," "metal detectors," and "stars."
Securities earn a higher average salary than security patrol officers. But securities earn the highest pay in the start-up industry, with an average salary of $31,007. Additionally, security patrol officers earn the highest salaries in the utilities with average pay of $30,633 annually.Average education levels between the two professions vary. Securities tend to reach similar levels of education than security patrol officers. In fact, they're 0.6% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 1.7% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Security patrol 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.
There are many key differences between these two careers, including some of the skills required to perform responsibilities within each role. For example, a security patrol officer is likely to be skilled in "bike," "security patrols," "foot patrol," and "criminal acts," while a typical security specialist is skilled in "ladders," "security incidents," "security clearance," and "security program."
Security specialists typically earn similar educational levels compared to security patrol officers. Specifically, they're 4.6% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.3% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Security patrol officer vs. Security supervisor
A security supervisor is in charge of coordinating and overseeing the security staff in a building or within a designated area. Their responsibilities focus on devising strategies, appointing personnel, and implementing protocols that would ensure the safety of an establishment, goods, and the people inside. Furthermore, they must make sure that all security devices and equipment are working correctly, create and manage schedules, monitor and evaluate every security personnel's performance, and maintain a safe environment for everyone. Should there be any incidents, it is crucial to coordinate with the police right away.
Types of security patrol officer
Updated January 8, 2025
