Hiring an off duty police officer in Los Angeles puts a sworn officer's training, judgment and report writing on your property. Blackout Security Services is owned by an active sworn law enforcement officer, and we staff assignments with current and retired peace officers alongside licensed armed guards.

More detail

The rules matter. California requires officers who work security through a private patrol operator to register with the Bureau of Security and Investigative Services.

Full time peace officers skip the fingerprint step and can begin work once the application and proof of status are filed, and officers who completed a POST approved course are exempt from the separate power to arrest training. On a Blackout post, an off duty officer works as licensed private security, not as on duty police. They observe, deter, document and call the agency of jurisdiction, which in Los Angeles County may be LAPD, the Sheriff's Department in its contract cities and unincorporated areas, or an independent department such as Beverly Hills or Santa Monica. Officers work on our proprietary accountability platform with NFC checkpoint scans, geofencing, GPS tracking and real time incident logging, and you receive a documented report for each service period.

Where Los Angeles clients use off duty officers

Retail and pharmacy locations dealing with repeat theft and confrontations at the door
Nightlife on the Sunset Strip, Hollywood and Downtown, especially at closing time
Hotel lobbies, rooftop bars and private events with high profile guests
Estates and private gatherings where owners want sworn officers on the property
Fire rebuild and construction sites in the Palisades and Altadena that sit empty overnight
Film and photo shoots, in addition to any officers a city filming permit requires

Blending sworn officers with licensed guards

Use an off duty officer for peak hours, such as Friday and Saturday nights, and licensed guards for the rest
Put one sworn officer in a lead role supervising unarmed guards on larger posts
Book four hour blocks around predictable risk windows like closing, cash drops or guest arrival
Get incident reports written to the standard responding officers and prosecutors expect

Where we work in Los Angeles

Questions we get

Can an off duty officer make arrests while working for you?

While working a Blackout post, the officer is acting as licensed private security, not as an on duty police officer, and does not carry on duty police authority onto your property. Our practice is to observe, deter, document and call the agency of jurisdiction, then support that response with video, witness information and a written report.

Is this the same as the police officers a Los Angeles film permit requires?

No. City of Los Angeles filming permits may require off duty or retired LAPD officers for public safety, and those officers are arranged through the permit process and paid directly. That requirement is separate from private security for your set, equipment, base camp and talent, which we can staff alongside it.

Will the officer show up in a police uniform or vehicle?

No. California law lets agencies restrict the use of their badge, uniform and the prestige of the position for private work, and state regulators suspended a Westside patrol firm for uniforms and vehicles that resembled law enforcement. Our officers wear Blackout uniforms or plain clothes and drive company or personal vehicles.

Why do off duty officers cost more than a security guard?

You are paying for sworn experience, so the hourly rate sits above a licensed guard. Other drivers include minimum shift blocks, overtime after eight hours, holidays, short notice bookings and whether the post is armed. Los Angeles wage floors also lift the cost of any guards working alongside the officer. Mixing one officer at peak hours with licensed guards usually controls the total.

Sources

Hire Off Duty Police Officers in Los Angeles

Compare officer types

Still have questions? Ask our AI.

Questions we get

Off Duty Police Officers everywhere we work

More in Los Angeles