A few things off the top of my head: Sworn law enforcement can detain someone in more cases than a private citizen may, up to and including using lethal force

A few things off the top of my head: Sworn law enforcement can detain someone in more cases than a private citizen may, up to and including using lethal force to do so. Assaulting a sworn officer is a lot more serious than assaulting a security guard. A sworn officer may carry a firearm under federal law in many instances where no one else has the ability to legally do so.