Which is the largest segment of law enforcement today?

• A. Private Protective Services
• B. Municipal Police
• C. State Police
• D. Federal Agencies

Answer: (A)

Workforce size matters: private protective services employ more security personnel than any public law enforcement agency. This category includes security guards and contracted security for businesses, malls, campuses, and other private properties, as well as event and personal protection roles. Because so much property and many private facilities rely on on-site security, the number of people performing security tasks outside government agencies far exceeds the staff of municipal, state, or federal police. Public police, state police, and federal agencies have important authorities and limited jurisdictions, but their ranks are smaller overall compared with the expansive private security workforce that operates across private sector sites every day.