Police Work Vs. Security Work at Allied Universal

While police officers and security professionals both help support safety, their responsibilities are different. Police officers are public law enforcement officials who enforce laws, conduct criminal investigations, and exercise authority granted by local, state, or federal agencies.

At Allied Universal, security professionals help protect people, property, and assets across a wide range of environments, including healthcare facilities, commercial properties, government locations, educational institutions, data centers, and other client sites. Responsibilities may include conducting patrols, monitoring access points, documenting incidents, responding to site-specific security concerns, and helping create a safe and welcoming environment for employees, visitors, and customers.

For active police officers considering off-duty opportunities, it is important to understand that Allied Universal security roles are typically centered on prevention, observation, customer service, and site-specific security operations. While law enforcement experience may be valuable for certain assignments, security positions are governed by customer requirements, company policies, and applicable licensing regulations rather than traditional law enforcement duties.

Key Considerations for Active Police Officers

Before applying, active law enforcement candidates should be aware of a few practical considerations:

• Department approval may be required

Many police departments require officers to obtain approval before taking off-duty employment, and policies may limit the number of extra hours or the kinds of assignments officers can accept.

• Assignment requirements can be role-specific

Some Allied Universal roles are written specifically for active police officers, while other roles are broader security positions that still require candidates to meet site, client, or licensing standards.

• Licensing and certifications may still apply

Allied Universal job postings state that licensing requirements are subject to state and local laws and may be required before employment, especially for armed roles. 

• Uniform, weapon, and authority rules may differ off-duty

Off-duty work is governed by department policy and local rules, so permissions related to official uniforms, service weapons, and law enforcement authority should not be assumed to be the same as on-duty policing.

• Scheduling is usually based on off-duty availability

Allied Universal postings for off-duty and security assignments commonly reference evenings, weekends, mornings, afternoons, or other flexible schedules depending on the site and role.

Common Security Roles for Active Police Officers

Active police officers may be a fit for assignments that benefit from visible presence, incident response experience, and familiarity with security procedures, such as:

• Off-duty police officer assignments
Allied Universal has posted off-duty roles that specifically require active police officers and describe duties such as patrolling, maintaining public safety, responding to incidents, and supporting site security procedures. These assignments may be especially relevant for officers who want to apply their existing law enforcement training and public safety experience in a supplemental role.

• Armed security roles
Allied Universal's armed security pages and postings reference licensed armed security professionals, including active duty law enforcement personnel, and highlight environments where rapid response and high-security experience are relevant. These roles may be a strong fit for officers with firearms training, de-escalation experience, and familiarity with security protocols.

• Patrol and high-visibility roles
Many security officer roles focus on patrols, access awareness, incident response, and customer interaction across commercial, healthcare, education, government, and other environments. Officers with experience conducting patrols, engaging with the public, and responding to incidents may find these assignments align well with their background.

• Executive protection and specialized security roles

Some security assignments involve protecting executives, high-profile individuals, or sensitive environments. These opportunities may appeal to officers with experience supporting dignitary protection, tactical operations, threat assessment, or other specialized law enforcement functions.

• Assignment-specific roles that value prior security or law enforcement experience

Allied Universal's broader security hiring pages note that some roles are open to candidates with relevant experience and that assignments vary by site, customer, and environment. Depending on the assignment, experience in investigations, emergency response, supervision, or public safety operations may be especially valuable.

Requirements and Training

Requirements for active police officers interested in security work can include:

• Active law enforcement status for some roles
Certain off-duty job postings explicitly require candidates to be active police officers or active-duty POST-certified law enforcement officers. 

• Minimum age and education requirements
Allied Universal security officer postings commonly state that candidates must be at least 18 for unarmed roles, 21 for armed roles, and possess a high school diploma or equivalent, or in some cases equivalent verifiable experience.

• Background screening and drug testing
Security officer postings state that applicants are subject to background investigations in accordance with federal, state, and local laws, and may also be subject to drug screening to the extent permitted by law.

• State-dependent licensing
Allied Universal job postings repeatedly note that licensing requirements are subject to state and local laws and regulations and may be required before employment. 

• Role-specific training
Allied Universal’s careers pages and job postings reference industry-specific training programs, ongoing paid training programs, and access to career growth opportunities, with the exact training depending on the role and assignment. 

• Physical readiness
Some armed and patrol roles note that candidates must be physically capable of performing duties such as patrols, responding to emergencies, or working in changing site conditions.