Moving from law enforcement to the private sector
Not legal advice. This guide is general information. Certification, licensing and hiring rules are set by each state's POST or standards board and by each agency, and they change. Confirm anything important with them before you act on it.
Many officers move into the private sector mid-career or after retirement, or work there part-time while still sworn. The skills carry over well: interviewing, report writing, evidence handling, surveillance and staying calm under pressure. But the jobs, pay structures and licensing are different. This guide gives an overview. It doesn't cover any one state's licensing rules.
Corporate and contract security
Typical roles: security officer or supervisor, site or regional security manager, executive protection, loss prevention, and security operations center (SOC) analyst.
- Supervisory and management roles often value budgeting, scheduling, policy writing and training experience, so put those on your résumé alongside patrol work.
- Armed and unarmed security work is licensed in many states, often through a state licensing agency rather than the POST board. Check the licensing body in the state where you'd work.
- Professional certifications such as those from ASIS International are often listed in job postings. Check the issuing organization for current eligibility requirements.
Private investigations
Typical roles: investigator for law firms, background screening, surveillance, due diligence and corporate investigations.
- Private investigators are licensed in many states. Requirements (experience, exams, insurance, agency licensing) differ, so check the licensing board for each state you'd work in.
- You no longer have police powers. Surveillance, recording, records access and trespass are governed by state and federal law that applies to private citizens and businesses. When in doubt, get legal guidance.
- Strong report writing and court testimony experience are a real advantage.
Insurance special investigations units (SIU)
Typical roles: SIU investigator, desk investigator or field investigator for an insurer or third-party administrator, looking into suspected claims fraud.
- The work centers on interviews, recorded statements, records analysis and coordinating referrals to law enforcement or regulators when required.
- Some employers ask for or prefer an insurance adjuster license in certain states. Check each posting and the state insurance department.
- Credentials such as the Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) or the IASIU's CIFI are sometimes listed. Check the issuing organizations for requirements.
Making the switch
- Translate your résumé. Replace police jargon with business terms (for example, "conducted 200+ interviews and wrote court-ready reports" instead of codes and unit names).
- Understand the pay structure. Private jobs may be salaried, hourly or per diem, and may include travel, mileage or a company car. Use the Pay, Job type and Shift filters on job search to compare.
- Check secondary-employment rules. If you're still sworn, your agency probably has a policy on off-duty and secondary employment. Read it before you take side work. The Off-Duty & Side Jobs category collects these listings.
- Know your retirement and benefit rules. Some pension systems limit work after retirement, and some don't. Ask your retirement system directly.