Law Enforcement Ranking

Law Enforcement Security GuardRankings

By Juanita Walker

Multiple Choice

A professional generally considered to be the commanding officer for all the professionals within an individual company or the Director of Security for a large in-house security department; common rank insignia is a wing-spread eagle with shield and grasping arrows in its talons 

• Watchman

• Security Guard

• Commander in Chief

• Captain

Multiple Choice

Lowest paid and minimally trained professional who is primarily stationed at a fixed post to act as a sentinel and does not generally respond to incidents or carry any tools/equipment

• Captain

• Watchman

• Commander in Chief

• Corporal

Multiple Choice

Lower paid and minimally trained professional with limited scope of duties and areas of patrol/influence; generally does not carry any defensive tools or equipment

• Security Guard

• Watchman

• Public Service Officer

• Captain

Multiple Choice

Average paid and moderately trained professional with multiple duties and large areas of patrol/influence; many current security professionals have an average of 80+ hours of training and/or have completed a college degree; generally trained in the use and carries handcuffs, pepper-spray, and occasionally batons

• Watchman

• Security Officer

• Security Guard

• Public Safety Officer

Multiple Choice

Average paid and higher trained professional who is generally qualified and carries a firearm, baton, pepper-spray, and occasionally tasers.

• Security Guard

• Watchman

• Public Safety Officer

• Armed Security Officer

Multiple Choice

Generally the highest paid and highest trained entry-level position with highest level of duties, trust, and influence; most Public Safety Officers will have a college degree as well as law enforcement training; qualifications vary but most will carry handcuffs, pepper-spray, and batons with some trained in firearms and a few trained in automatic weapons or CERT tactics.

• Armed Security Guard

• Public Safety Officer

• Patrol Officer

• Watchman

Multiple Choice

A professional who is considered a 'veteran' of security services who holds a higher position of trust (such as being a field training officer) but holds no supervisor or command responsibilities; many security professionals who are licensed in emergency medicine (EMS) are considered as senior officers; common rank insignia is one chevron.

• Senior Officer

• Public Safety Officer

• Security Guard

• Armed Security Guard

Multiple Choice

 A professional who is generally considered a 'shift lead' and/or one who assists supervisors in completion of duties and training of others; common rank insignia is two chevrons.

• Captain

• Corporal

• Lieutenant

• Colonel

Multiple Choice

A professional who is either the liaison between the command staff and supervisors or is on the command staff as an assistant to the client/account manager or assistant to the director of security at a site; common rank insignia is one vertical bar.

• Captain

• Corporal

• Lieutenant

• Security Guard

Multiple Choice

A professional considered at the entry level of management; generally not referred to by rank but referred to as a Director or a Manager; common rank insignia is two vertical bars.

• Captain

• Corporal

• Armed Security Guard

• Security Guard

Multiple Choice

A professional considered at the level of a regional manager or a direct assistant to the commanding officer of an individual company or large security department; common rank insignia is an oak leaf.

• Captain

• Major/Lieutenant/Deputy Chief

• Commander in Chief

• Corporal

Multiple Choice

A professional generally considered to be the commanding officer for all the professionals within an individual company or the Director of Security for a large in-house security department; common rank insignia is a wing-spread eagle with shield and grasping arrows in its talons.

• Deputy Chief

• Commander in Chief

• Captain

• Lieutenant