AR Security Guard cheat sheet

A private security guard holds only the authority granted to any private citizen; police powers such as arrest on suspicion alone do not apply.

Citizen's arrest generally requires a felony committed in the guard's presence, or a misdemeanor breach of peace committed in the guard's presence.

The shopkeeper's privilege allows brief detention of a suspected shoplifter on probable cause, limited to reasonable time and manner for investigation.

A guard acting as an agent of the property owner may enforce rules the owner could enforce, such as lawful exclusion of trespassers.

Search of a person or belongings requires consent or a lawful basis; a private guard's search is not governed by the Fourth Amendment but exposes the guard to civil liability if unreasonable.

Use of false imprisonment occurs when a person is intentionally confined without consent or lawful authority, even without physical force.

Detention authority ends at the property boundary in most cases; pursuing a suspect off-site converts the guard into a private citizen with citizen's arrest limits.

Guards have no authority to compel statements, demand identification without a legal basis, or impersonate law enforcement.

Defamation risk arises from publicly accusing a person of theft; report facts to management rather than announcing conclusions.

Force must be proportional: the level used matches the threat, and escalation stops when the threat ends.

Deadly force is limited to defense against imminent threat of death or serious bodily harm to the guard or others.

The force continuum runs from presence, verbal commands, soft empty-hand control, hard empty-hand control, intermediate weapons, to deadly force.

Detention requires a lawful basis (probable cause or citizen's arrest criteria), communicated reason, and the least restrictive means available.

Handcuffing is a use of force and requires justification; it is not routine for a cooperative subject.

Positional asphyxia risk: never restrain a subject prone with weight on the back or neck; move to a recovery position once controlled.

A guard must render aid and summon medical help after using force that causes injury.

Documentation of force includes time, witnesses, commands given, force applied, injuries, and medical response.

Verbal de-escalation is attempted before physical force whenever feasible and safe.

Patrol patterns: fixed, random, and reactive; random timing reduces predictability and deters opportunistic crime.

A complete patrol log records time, location, condition observed, and action taken for each checkpoint.

Observation accuracy improves with description frameworks: head-to-toe, or the seven-part person description (age, sex, race, height, weight, hair, clothing).

Report writing follows chronological order and answers who, what, when, where, why, and how.

Reports state observed facts, not conclusions; write 'subject placed item in bag' rather than 'subject stole.'

Note-taking at the scene preserves detail; memory decays and reports should be written before end of shift.

Perimeter checks verify doors, windows, lighting, and access control points; note deficiencies for maintenance.

Incident reports avoid opinions, speculation, and editorial language; quote statements exactly when possible.

Evidence preservation: secure the scene, avoid handling items, and record who had custody and when.

Life safety precedes property protection in every emergency priority sequence.

Fire response: activate alarm, call emergency services, evacuate via designated routes, and never use elevators.

Medical emergency: assess responsiveness and breathing, call for EMS, begin CPR/AED per training, and document.

Bomb threat: obtain details from caller (time, location, description, exact words), do not touch suspicious items, and evacuate per protocol.

Active threat response options include evacuation, shelter-in-place with barricades, and, as a last resort, defense; follow site policy.

Incident command principles: establish a single point of command, communicate on assigned channels, and avoid freelancing.

Crowd control uses barriers, clear announcements, and staged release to prevent crush conditions.

Post-incident: preserve the scene, account for personnel, and complete reports before shift end.

Emergency communications state location, nature of emergency, injuries, and needs in that order.

Professional presence includes uniform standards, identification display, and courteous, calm verbal tone.

Public relations principle: every contact shapes the client's reputation; confrontations are handled privately and calmly.

Ethical standards prohibit accepting gratuities that create obligation, using position for personal gain, and disclosing confidential client information.

Bias-free conduct: treat all persons by behavior and facts, not by protected characteristics.

Conflict of interest: a guard does not investigate or detain where personal involvement compromises objectivity.

Confidentiality covers client business, personnel matters, incident details, and access codes.

Complaint handling: listen, record facts, avoid arguing, and refer to management per policy.

Appearance and fitness for duty: no reporting to duty impaired; report impairment of coworkers through channels.

Use of social media to discuss incidents or clients violates confidentiality and professionalism.