The Power of Partnership

Transform Your Retail Security with Protos’ Off-Duty Services

By Protos Security Vice President of Enterprise Accounts Jeremy Costlow
Originally featured in the Loss Prevention Magazine

In today’s competitive retail environment, selecting the right services for your security program is vital. The right partnerships can enhance customer experience, optimize operations, and drive profitability.

Protos’ off-duty law enforcement services—serving industries from banking to retail—provide active, certified, and trained law enforcement across the US, customized to meet your needs and ensure the safety of your people, facilities and events, all while maintaining legal compliance and operational schedules.

“The distinction between hiring off-duty law enforcement officers and outsourcing to a provider like Protos lies in our commitment to enhancing the overall shopping experience for our clients. While we prioritize security, we collaborate regularly with local agencies—including police departments and state agencies—to ensure we understand market rates and off-duty pay,” said Jeremy Costlow, vice president of enterprise accounts at Protos Security. “Our comprehensive services encompass everything from hiring and compensating the off-duty law enforcement to managing insurance. This allows our clients to concentrate on their core business rather than security concerns.”

By managing every aspect of the security program, Protos not only alleviates the burden on clients, but also ensures that all legal and liability concerns are carefully handled.

Protos addresses legal and liability concerns related to the security program through a dedicated insurance and legal team that manages all documentation to ensure comprehensive coverage. The insurance team assesses any incidents that may arise under supervision. In contrast, clients who contract directly with a department assume full liability without the protective coverage that Protos’ services offer.

Off-duty law enforcement can be deployed in full uniform or plainclothes, positioned to be highly visible or discreet, depending on your specifications. They are trained to manage difficult situations and possess powers of arrest.

Additionally, specific services and benefits of Protos’ off-duty security program includes:

  • Clients can utilize a tailored job matching process to align officers with client needs, ensuring the best fit for each request
  • Clients benefit from a single point of contact for streamlined communication
  • A dedicated client success team is available 24/7 to assist with any inquiries
  • Protos manages off-duty law enforcement schedules to prevent conflicts and ensure reliability
  • Off-duty law enforcement are covered under general liability and automotive policies, minimizing client risk and exposure
  • There is a managed payroll system for accurate and timely pay of off-duty law enforcement

Costlow adds, “We maintain a vast network of off-duty law enforcement with access to thousands of off-duty law enforcement officers in cities across the country, for example. This allows us to fulfill last-minute requests for off-duty services swiftly. In contrast, managing these needs independently and relying solely on local police or sheriff departments may not provide the same level of reliability, especially if they are unable to respond immediately.”

“When clients try to manage their security program on their own, they face a lot of administrative hassle. With Protos, we take care of the security strategy and scheduling, thanks to our strong relationships with local departments,” said Costlow. “We handle call-offs, billing, and payments, so clients only get one invoice from us instead of many from individual officers. This makes the process much simpler and saves time.”