Security Guard flashcards

36 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.

Citizen's arrest authority

A private guard's power to arrest comes from citizen's arrest law, not police authority. It generally requires a felony or breach of the peace observed by the guard, or reasonable grounds plus immediate pursuit.

Reasonable suspicion for detention

A brief detention requires specific, articulable facts linking the person to a crime. It must end when suspicion is resolved or law enforcement takes over.

Proportional force rule

Force must be the minimum reasonably necessary to defend against a threat, overcome resistance to a lawful detention, or prevent escape. Escalation beyond the threat is unlawful.

Deadly force limitation

Deadly force is generally permitted only against an imminent threat of death or serious bodily harm. It is not justified solely to protect property or prevent a non-violent escape.

Consent search by private guard

A private security guard may search a person or belongings with voluntary consent, incident to a lawful arrest, or under a specific contractual or statutory power. Refusal alone does not justify force.

Actus reus and mens rea

Most criminal offenses require both a prohibited act and a culpable mental state. Guards document observed acts and statements rather than drawing conclusions about intent.

Unpredictable patrol routing

Varying route and timing between checks prevents observers from predicting guard positions and gaps. Fixed, clockwork rounds create exploitable windows for intrusion or theft.

Observable-fact reporting

Reports state who, what, when, where, and how, describing behavior and appearance rather than opinions or labels. Conclusions such as suspicious or hostile must be supported by described conduct.

Top-down suspect description

Build descriptions from height and build, then hair, clothing layers, distinguishing marks, direction of travel, and vehicle plate. This order supports accurate recall under stress.

Contemporaneous note-taking

Notes made during or immediately after an event are more reliable and more defensible than accounts written later. Delay allows memory decay and outside suggestion to distort recall.

Shift baseline documentation

Recording lighting, lock, door, and alarm status at shift start creates a comparison point. It later supports both anomaly detection and defense against negligence claims.

Evidence chain of custody

Each item collected is logged with time, location, collector, and every transfer. An unlogged item loses evidentiary value and may be excluded or challenged.

Emergency response sequence

Assess for ongoing danger, call for help and emergency services, render aid within training, secure the area, then document. Life safety precedes property protection at every step.

RACE fire sequence

Rescue anyone in danger, Alarm the building, Contain the fire by closing doors, and Evacuate or Extinguish if trained. Extinguisher use follows PASS: Pull, Aim, Squeeze, Sweep.

Suspicious item response

Do not touch the item and avoid transmitting radio close to it. Establish a cordon at the distance set by local guidance and notify police immediately.

Unified incident command

Arriving emergency services assume authority at the scene. The guard shifts to a support role, providing access, information, and perimeter control as directed.

Three access control checks

Identity asks who the person is, authorization asks whether they are entitled to enter, and purpose asks why now. All three must pass before access is granted.

Tailgating prevention

One person per swipe, vestibules, and challenge procedures for unbadged followers prevent piggybacking. Unchallenged tailgating is a leading cause of unauthorized entry.

Layered defense model

Security uses perimeter, building envelope, interior zones, and asset-level controls in layers. No single control is treated as sufficient on its own.

Screening consent and refusal

Bag checks and metal detection require a posted or stated policy and consent. Refusal is handled by denying entry, not by applying force.

Credential as security token

Keys and access cards are inventoried and signed for, and loss is reported immediately. The credential grants access, so control of the card matters more than control of the person.

De-escalation techniques

Lower voice volume and pitch, slow speech, keep non-threatening distance and open posture, and offer choices. These reduce arousal and the likelihood of physical confrontation.

Service-oriented security posture

Solving small problems such as directions and assistance makes the guard a resource. The public then cooperates more readily and reports suspicious activity sooner.

Bias-free decision criteria

Stops and challenges rest on observed behavior and policy criteria, never on protected characteristics. Articulable facts must support every enforcement decision.

Complaint handling procedure

Receive the complaint calmly, document it fully, and route it to the proper authority. The guard does not argue or adjudicate the complaint at the scene.

Radio transmission protocol

Identify yourself, state location, state the need, keep it brief, and confirm receipt. Clear channel discipline and phonetic spelling prevent missed or misheard calls.

Objective narrative standard

Record what was seen, heard, and done, avoiding conclusions without described conduct. Corrections use single-line strike-through with initials and date, never erasure.

Handover briefing content

Pass on open items, key and equipment status, and pending incidents to the incoming shift. Undocumented handovers are a frequent source of liability and missed follow-up.

Hierarchy of controls

Controls are ranked elimination, substitution, engineering, administrative, then personal protective equipment. Earlier options are preferred because they protect more people more reliably.

Lone-worker check-in

Scheduled check-ins, communication devices, and a defined escalation path protect guards working alone. A missed check-in triggers the escalation procedure rather than waiting.

Fire extinguisher classes

Class A covers ordinary combustibles, B flammable liquids, C electrical equipment, D metals, and K cooking oils. Water must never be used on a live electrical fire.

Near-miss reporting value

A near-miss is an event that could have caused harm but did not. Reporting it exposes the hazard before the next occurrence produces an actual injury.

Negligence elements for guards

A negligence claim requires duty, breach, causation, and damages. Written policy plus training records is the main evidence that reasonable care was exercised.

Vicarious liability exposure

Employers are generally liable for employee acts within the scope of employment. Acting outside policy and training increases both personal and employer legal exposure.

Ethical decision test

Ask whether the action is legal, consistent with policy, able to withstand public disclosure, and impartial. A negative answer on any test signals the action should be reconsidered.

Records retention and spoliation

Records are kept per statute and contract. Destroying or altering records after an incident can be treated as spoliation and support an adverse inference at trial.