GA Security Guard cheat sheet

Georgia private security is governed by Title 43, Chapter 38 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated (O.C.G.A.); the Georgia Board of Private Detective and Security Agencies administers licensing and discipline.

Three core credential types exist: company license (agency), employee registration (individual guard), and weapons permit (armed registration); a guard may not work armed without the weapons permit on file.

Registration is tied to a specific licensed employer; a registered employee who changes employers must be re-registered by the new agency rather than carrying the old registration forward.

Applicants must meet statutory minimums: minimum age (18 for unarmed, 21 for armed weapons permit), U.S. citizenship or legal resident status, and no disqualifying criminal record.

The Board may deny, suspend, or revoke a license or registration for convictions involving moral turpitude, fraud in obtaining the credential, or failure to meet training requirements.

Unlicensed operation is a criminal offense under Georgia law; a guard who performs regulated services without registration exposes both himself and the employing agency to penalties.

A security guard's authority is private-citizen authority; the guard is not a peace officer and derives no police powers from the registration.

Statutory training hours must be completed before registration and documented; armed registration requires additional firearms training and range qualification.

Records of licensure, training, and employment must be maintained and made available to the Board on request; falsifying these records is a violation.

Georgia classifies crimes as felonies (punishable by death, imprisonment of more than one year, or a fine over $1,000) and misdemeanors (up to 12 months in a county facility or a fine up to $1,000).

Crimes against the person include battery (intentional harmful or insulting physical contact) and aggravated battery (causing serious bodily harm or disfigurement); simple assault is an attempt or threat to commit a violent injury.

Theft by taking is the unlawful appropriation of another's property with intent to deprive; value thresholds (generally $1,500) separate felony from misdemeanor theft in Georgia.

Robbery requires taking property from the person or immediate presence of another by force, intimidation, or sudden snatching; armed robbery adds a weapon or an article used to simulate one.

Burglary requires entering or remaining in a building or dwelling without authority with intent to commit a felony or theft; entering an automobile is a separate offense.

Criminal trespass covers entering or remaining on property after notice that entry is forbidden; posted signs, fencing, or verbal notice establish the notice element.

Obstruction of an officer is knowingly and willfully obstructing or hindering a law enforcement officer; a private guard is not an officer for purposes of this offense.

Criminal attempt requires substantial steps toward a crime plus intent; mere preparation is not attempt.

Parties to a crime: a person who intentionally aids or abets the commission of a crime may be charged as a party to it even without personally completing the act.

A private guard may use only the force reasonably necessary to defend self or others, prevent a crime, or effect a lawful detention; deadly force is limited to defense against a threat of death or serious bodily harm.

Force must be proportional and must stop when the threat ends; continuing force after the subject is subdued converts lawful defense into unlawful battery.

Georgia recognizes citizen's arrest: a private person may arrest another for a crime committed in his presence, or where a felony has been committed and the arrestor has reasonable grounds to believe the person committed it.

A citizen's arrest must be delivered to a law enforcement officer or taken before a judicial officer without unnecessary delay; delay exposes the guard to false imprisonment liability.

A guard may detain a suspected shoplifter only under the merchant's statutory detention privilege, which requires probable cause, a limited time, and a reasonable manner of detention.

The detention privilege covers investigation of theft and recovery of property; it does not authorize searching a person's body or a prolonged custodial interrogation.

Deadly force is never justified solely to protect property, to prevent escape of a misdemeanant, or in response to verbal threats alone.

A guard who uses excessive force faces both criminal liability (assault, battery, homicide) and civil liability for damages, and the employer may also be liable.

Announce identity and intent before using force when feasible; warning is a factor in assessing whether the force was reasonable.

The Fourth Amendment and Article I, Section I, Paragraph XIII of the Georgia Constitution protect against unreasonable searches and seizures; private guards are generally not state actors, but may become state actors if acting at police direction.

Consent is the most common lawful basis for a private security search; consent must be voluntary, and the scope of the search is limited to what was consented to.

Consent may be withdrawn at any time; once withdrawn, the search must stop unless another lawful basis exists.

A guard may conduct a protective pat-down for weapons only where there is reasonable suspicion the person is armed and dangerous; the pat-down is limited to detecting weapons, not evidence.

Property searches by private employers may be authorized by written policy or contract; the policy should be signed and clearly state the scope of inspection.

Detention of a person is a seizure; probable cause or a recognized privilege (such as the merchant's detention statute) is required to hold a person against his will.

Miranda warnings are required only for custodial interrogation by law enforcement; a private guard should nonetheless avoid coercive questioning and should not impersonate police.

Illegally obtained evidence may be excluded in a criminal case and can support civil claims for invasion of privacy, false imprisonment, or battery.

Searches of vehicles, lockers, and bags should follow the property's written policy and be documented; refusal to consent may result in denial of entry rather than forced search.

A report should answer who, what, when, where, why, and how, and should be written in the first person, past tense, and chronological order.

Record facts and observations, not conclusions or opinions; write 'the subject's eyes were bloodshot and his speech was slurred' rather than 'the subject was drunk.'

Use exact times, full names, badge or ID numbers, and precise locations; quote statements verbatim in quotation marks when possible.

Do not alter a report after submission; corrections should be made by a dated supplemental report noting the change and the reason.

Reports are discoverable and may be read aloud in court; write with the assumption the subject, a jury, and opposing counsel will read every word.

Chain of custody documents every person who handled evidence, the date and time of each transfer, and the purpose; a break in the chain weakens admissibility.

Evidence should be photographed in place before collection, packaged in labeled containers, and stored in a secured evidence locker with a log entry.

Contemporaneous notes should be preserved; destroying rough notes after typing a report can be challenged in litigation.

Avoid jargon, abbreviations, and speculation; if information came from another person, attribute it clearly as hearsay source.

Randomize patrol routes and timing; predictable patterns allow intruders to time their activity around the guard's schedule.

Observe, record, and report: a guard's primary function is detection and documentation, not confrontation, unless life or property is immediately at risk.

Use a systematic scan at each checkpoint: doors, windows, lighting, vehicles, persons, and utility or fire hazards.

Note baseline conditions (lighting, locks, occupancy) so anomalies are recognizable; deviations from baseline are the trigger for investigation.

Approach incidents with cover and distance; do not close on a subject until backup or law enforcement is present, when feasible.

Maintain radio discipline: identify yourself, state location, describe the situation, and request specific assistance.

Document patrol activity with time-stamped logs; gaps in the log undermine the guard's credibility in court.

Suspicious activity indicators include loitering without purpose, mismatched clothing for weather, repeated drive-throughs, and attempts to avoid cameras.

Preserve the scene: do not move items, touch surfaces, or allow unauthorized entry before law enforcement or investigators arrive.

RACE for fire response: Rescue anyone in danger, Alarm the building, Contain the fire by closing doors, and Evacuate or Extinguish only if trained and the fire is small.

PASS for extinguisher use: Pull the pin, Aim at the base of the fire, Squeeze the handle, Sweep side to side.

Know the difference between a fire alarm activation and a fire; investigate alarms per post orders, but never delay evacuation to investigate a confirmed fire.

First aid priorities follow ABCs: Airway, Breathing, Circulation; control severe bleeding with direct pressure before addressing lesser injuries.

Adult CPR ratio is 30 compressions to 2 breaths at a rate of 100 to 120 compressions per minute; use an AED as soon as it is available.

For choking in a conscious adult, use abdominal thrusts (Heimlich maneuver); for an unconscious victim, begin CPR and activate EMS.

Report emergencies to 911 first, then notify the site supervisor and the agency; document the time of notification.

Evacuation assembly points should be predetermined and known to all staff; account for personnel using a roster or headcount.

Do not move an injured person unless there is immediate danger of further harm, such as fire or traffic.

A guard's demeanor is the employer's brand; calm, courteous, and consistent conduct reduces complaints and escalation.

Ethical standards prohibit accepting gratuities, bribes, or favors that could compromise impartial enforcement of post orders.

Confidentiality: do not disclose client business, personnel matters, or incident details to unauthorized persons, including media.

Conflict of interest: a guard should not enforce rules against a person with a personal relationship without disclosing the conflict to a supervisor.

De-escalation techniques include lowering voice volume, maintaining non-threatening distance, using the person's name, and offering choices within policy.

Do not make promises of arrest or leniency; state what you can and cannot do, and refer disputes to management or law enforcement.

Use of authority must be consistent: applying rules selectively to some persons and not others creates liability and destroys credibility.

Customer service includes clear direction, active listening, and prompt response to complaints, documented and forwarded to the appropriate manager.

Physical appearance, uniform, and identification should be clean and professional; impersonating a police officer is a crime.

Recognize impairment indicators: odor of alcohol, bloodshot eyes, slurred speech, unsteady gait, poor coordination, and erratic behavior.

Do not physically restrain or search an impaired person unless there is an immediate safety threat; document observations and notify a supervisor.

A guard is not a drug tester or a medical evaluator; report observed behavior, not a diagnosis.

Workplace violence warning signs include threats, intimidation, escalating hostility, and fixation on a grievance; report early.

OSHA and employer safety rules apply to guards; personal protective equipment and safe lifting techniques reduce injury and liability.

Hazard communication: know the location of SDS sheets and the meaning of labeling for chemicals stored on site.

Bloodborne pathogen precautions: use gloves, avoid contact with bodily fluids, and dispose of contaminated materials in designated containers.

Prescription medication and alcohol on duty are typically prohibited by post orders; report suspected impairment of coworkers to a supervisor.

Incident scenes involving suspected overdose should be treated as medical emergencies: call 911, do not administer unknown substances, and preserve the scene.

Four universal rules: treat every firearm as loaded, never point it at anything you are not willing to destroy, keep your finger off the trigger until on target, and know your target and what is beyond it.

A weapon may be carried only by a guard holding a current Georgia weapons permit and only while on duty for a licensed employer, consistent with post orders.

Draw and reholster with the trigger finger straight along the frame; the trigger is touched only when sights are on target and the decision to fire is made.

Malfunction response: for a failure to fire, keep the muzzle in a safe direction, wait, then tap-rack-assess per training; do not look down the barrel.

Storage: firearms should be secured and unloaded when not carried, with ammunition stored separately and access controlled.

Qualification and requalification on the range are required for armed registration; failure to maintain qualification may suspend the weapons permit.

Deadly force with a firearm is justified only to prevent death or serious bodily harm to self or others; it is never justified to protect property alone.

After any use of force involving a firearm, stop, secure the scene, render aid if safe, notify law enforcement and a supervisor, and do not discuss the incident with others until counsel or investigators are present.

Alcohol and firearms never mix; carrying while impaired is both a safety violation and a criminal risk.

Georgia private security is governed by Title 43, Chapter 38 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated (O.C.G.A.); the Georgia Board of Private Detective and Security Agencies administers licensing and discipline.

Three core credential types exist: company license (agency), employee registration (individual guard), and weapons permit (armed registration); a guard may not work armed without the weapons permit on file.

Registration is tied to a specific licensed employer; a registered employee who changes employers must be re-registered by the new agency rather than carrying the old registration forward.

Applicants must meet statutory minimums: minimum age (18 for unarmed, 21 for armed weapons permit), U.S. citizenship or legal resident status, and no disqualifying criminal record.

The Board may deny, suspend, or revoke a license or registration for convictions involving moral turpitude, fraud in obtaining the credential, or failure to meet training requirements.

Unlicensed operation is a criminal offense under Georgia law; a guard who performs regulated services without registration exposes both himself and the employing agency to penalties.

A security guard's authority is private-citizen authority; the guard is not a peace officer and derives no police powers from the registration.

Statutory training hours must be completed before registration and documented; armed registration requires additional firearms training and range qualification.

Records of licensure, training, and employment must be maintained and made available to the Board on request; falsifying these records is a violation.

Georgia classifies crimes as felonies (punishable by death, imprisonment of more than one year, or a fine over $1,000) and misdemeanors (up to 12 months in a county facility or a fine up to $1,000).

Crimes against the person include battery (intentional harmful or insulting physical contact) and aggravated battery (causing serious bodily harm or disfigurement); simple assault is an attempt or threat to commit a violent injury.

Theft by taking is the unlawful appropriation of another's property with intent to deprive; value thresholds (generally $1,500) separate felony from misdemeanor theft in Georgia.

Robbery requires taking property from the person or immediate presence of another by force, intimidation, or sudden snatching; armed robbery adds a weapon or an article used to simulate one.

Burglary requires entering or remaining in a building or dwelling without authority with intent to commit a felony or theft; entering an automobile is a separate offense.

Criminal trespass covers entering or remaining on property after notice that entry is forbidden; posted signs, fencing, or verbal notice establish the notice element.

Obstruction of an officer is knowingly and willfully obstructing or hindering a law enforcement officer; a private guard is not an officer for purposes of this offense.

Criminal attempt requires substantial steps toward a crime plus intent; mere preparation is not attempt.

Parties to a crime: a person who intentionally aids or abets the commission of a crime may be charged as a party to it even without personally completing the act.

A private guard may use only the force reasonably necessary to defend self or others, prevent a crime, or effect a lawful detention; deadly force is limited to defense against a threat of death or serious bodily harm.

Force must be proportional and must stop when the threat ends; continuing force after the subject is subdued converts lawful defense into unlawful battery.

Georgia recognizes citizen's arrest: a private person may arrest another for a crime committed in his presence, or where a felony has been committed and the arrestor has reasonable grounds to believe the person committed it.

A citizen's arrest must be delivered to a law enforcement officer or taken before a judicial officer without unnecessary delay; delay exposes the guard to false imprisonment liability.

A guard may detain a suspected shoplifter only under the merchant's statutory detention privilege, which requires probable cause, a limited time, and a reasonable manner of detention.

The detention privilege covers investigation of theft and recovery of property; it does not authorize searching a person's body or a prolonged custodial interrogation.

Deadly force is never justified solely to protect property, to prevent escape of a misdemeanant, or in response to verbal threats alone.

A guard who uses excessive force faces both criminal liability (assault, battery, homicide) and civil liability for damages, and the employer may also be liable.

Announce identity and intent before using force when feasible; warning is a factor in assessing whether the force was reasonable.

The Fourth Amendment and Article I, Section I, Paragraph XIII of the Georgia Constitution protect against unreasonable searches and seizures; private guards are generally not state actors, but may become state actors if acting at police direction.

Consent is the most common lawful basis for a private security search; consent must be voluntary, and the scope of the search is limited to what was consented to.

Consent may be withdrawn at any time; once withdrawn, the search must stop unless another lawful basis exists.

A guard may conduct a protective pat-down for weapons only where there is reasonable suspicion the person is armed and dangerous; the pat-down is limited to detecting weapons, not evidence.

Property searches by private employers may be authorized by written policy or contract; the policy should be signed and clearly state the scope of inspection.

Detention of a person is a seizure; probable cause or a recognized privilege (such as the merchant's detention statute) is required to hold a person against his will.

Miranda warnings are required only for custodial interrogation by law enforcement; a private guard should nonetheless avoid coercive questioning and should not impersonate police.

Illegally obtained evidence may be excluded in a criminal case and can support civil claims for invasion of privacy, false imprisonment, or battery.

Searches of vehicles, lockers, and bags should follow the property's written policy and be documented; refusal to consent may result in denial of entry rather than forced search.

A report should answer who, what, when, where, why, and how, and should be written in the first person, past tense, and chronological order.

Record facts and observations, not conclusions or opinions; write 'the subject's eyes were bloodshot and his speech was slurred' rather than 'the subject was drunk.'

Use exact times, full names, badge or ID numbers, and precise locations; quote statements verbatim in quotation marks when possible.

Do not alter a report after submission; corrections should be made by a dated supplemental report noting the change and the reason.

Reports are discoverable and may be read aloud in court; write with the assumption the subject, a jury, and opposing counsel will read every word.

Chain of custody documents every person who handled evidence, the date and time of each transfer, and the purpose; a break in the chain weakens admissibility.

Evidence should be photographed in place before collection, packaged in labeled containers, and stored in a secured evidence locker with a log entry.

Contemporaneous notes should be preserved; destroying rough notes after typing a report can be challenged in litigation.

Avoid jargon, abbreviations, and speculation; if information came from another person, attribute it clearly as hearsay source.

Randomize patrol routes and timing; predictable patterns allow intruders to time their activity around the guard's schedule.

Observe, record, and report: a guard's primary function is detection and documentation, not confrontation, unless life or property is immediately at risk.

Use a systematic scan at each checkpoint: doors, windows, lighting, vehicles, persons, and utility or fire hazards.

Note baseline conditions (lighting, locks, occupancy) so anomalies are recognizable; deviations from baseline are the trigger for investigation.

Approach incidents with cover and distance; do not close on a subject until backup or law enforcement is present, when feasible.

Maintain radio discipline: identify yourself, state location, describe the situation, and request specific assistance.

Document patrol activity with time-stamped logs; gaps in the log undermine the guard's credibility in court.

Suspicious activity indicators include loitering without purpose, mismatched clothing for weather, repeated drive-throughs, and attempts to avoid cameras.

Preserve the scene: do not move items, touch surfaces, or allow unauthorized entry before law enforcement or investigators arrive.

RACE for fire response: Rescue anyone in danger, Alarm the building, Contain the fire by closing doors, and Evacuate or Extinguish only if trained and the fire is small.

PASS for extinguisher use: Pull the pin, Aim at the base of the fire, Squeeze the handle, Sweep side to side.

Know the difference between a fire alarm activation and a fire; investigate alarms per post orders, but never delay evacuation to investigate a confirmed fire.

First aid priorities follow ABCs: Airway, Breathing, Circulation; control severe bleeding with direct pressure before addressing lesser injuries.

Adult CPR ratio is 30 compressions to 2 breaths at a rate of 100 to 120 compressions per minute; use an AED as soon as it is available.

For choking in a conscious adult, use abdominal thrusts (Heimlich maneuver); for an unconscious victim, begin CPR and activate EMS.

Report emergencies to 911 first, then notify the site supervisor and the agency; document the time of notification.

Evacuation assembly points should be predetermined and known to all staff; account for personnel using a roster or headcount.

Do not move an injured person unless there is immediate danger of further harm, such as fire or traffic.

A guard's demeanor is the employer's brand; calm, courteous, and consistent conduct reduces complaints and escalation.

Ethical standards prohibit accepting gratuities, bribes, or favors that could compromise impartial enforcement of post orders.

Confidentiality: do not disclose client business, personnel matters, or incident details to unauthorized persons, including media.

Conflict of interest: a guard should not enforce rules against a person with a personal relationship without disclosing the conflict to a supervisor.

De-escalation techniques include lowering voice volume, maintaining non-threatening distance, using the person's name, and offering choices within policy.

Do not make promises of arrest or leniency; state what you can and cannot do, and refer disputes to management or law enforcement.

Use of authority must be consistent: applying rules selectively to some persons and not others creates liability and destroys credibility.

Customer service includes clear direction, active listening, and prompt response to complaints, documented and forwarded to the appropriate manager.

Physical appearance, uniform, and identification should be clean and professional; impersonating a police officer is a crime.

Recognize impairment indicators: odor of alcohol, bloodshot eyes, slurred speech, unsteady gait, poor coordination, and erratic behavior.

Do not physically restrain or search an impaired person unless there is an immediate safety threat; document observations and notify a supervisor.

A guard is not a drug tester or a medical evaluator; report observed behavior, not a diagnosis.

Workplace violence warning signs include threats, intimidation, escalating hostility, and fixation on a grievance; report early.

OSHA and employer safety rules apply to guards; personal protective equipment and safe lifting techniques reduce injury and liability.

Hazard communication: know the location of SDS sheets and the meaning of labeling for chemicals stored on site.

Bloodborne pathogen precautions: use gloves, avoid contact with bodily fluids, and dispose of contaminated materials in designated containers.

Prescription medication and alcohol on duty are typically prohibited by post orders; report suspected impairment of coworkers to a supervisor.

Incident scenes involving suspected overdose should be treated as medical emergencies: call 911, do not administer unknown substances, and preserve the scene.

Four universal rules: treat every firearm as loaded, never point it at anything you are not willing to destroy, keep your finger off the trigger until on target, and know your target and what is beyond it.

A weapon may be carried only by a guard holding a current Georgia weapons permit and only while on duty for a licensed employer, consistent with post orders.

Draw and reholster with the trigger finger straight along the frame; the trigger is touched only when sights are on target and the decision to fire is made.

Malfunction response: for a failure to fire, keep the muzzle in a safe direction, wait, then tap-rack-assess per training; do not look down the barrel.

Storage: firearms should be secured and unloaded when not carried, with ammunition stored separately and access controlled.

Qualification and requalification on the range are required for armed registration; failure to maintain qualification may suspend the weapons permit.

Deadly force with a firearm is justified only to prevent death or serious bodily harm to self or others; it is never justified to protect property alone.

After any use of force involving a firearm, stop, secure the scene, render aid if safe, notify law enforcement and a supervisor, and do not discuss the incident with others until counsel or investigators are present.

Alcohol and firearms never mix; carrying while impaired is both a safety violation and a criminal risk.