GA Security Guard flashcards

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

Georgia security licensing board

The Georgia Board of Private Detective and Security Agencies administers licensing, registration, and discipline for private security under O.C.G.A. Title 43, Chapter 38.

Weapons permit requirement

An armed guard must hold a current Georgia weapons permit in addition to employee registration; carrying a firearm on duty without it violates state licensing law.

Registration tied to employer

Employee registration is specific to the licensed agency that employs the guard; changing employers requires the new agency to register the guard again.

Felony versus misdemeanor

In Georgia, a felony is punishable by death, imprisonment over one year, or a fine above $1,000; a misdemeanor carries up to 12 months or a $1,000 fine.

Aggravated battery defined

Aggravated battery is intentionally causing serious bodily harm to another by depriving them of a body member, rendering a member useless, or seriously disfiguring them.

Robbery versus armed robbery

Robbery takes property from a person by force, intimidation, or sudden snatching; armed robbery adds a weapon or an object used to simulate one.

Criminal trespass elements

Criminal trespass occurs when a person enters or remains on property after receiving notice that entry is forbidden, whether by sign, fence, or verbal warning.

Citizen's arrest authority

A private person may arrest another for a crime committed in his presence, or for a felony where reasonable grounds exist to believe the person committed it.

Merchant's detention privilege

A merchant or agent may detain a suspected shoplifter with probable cause, for a limited time, in a reasonable manner, to investigate theft and recover property.

Proportional force rule

Force used by a guard must be reasonably necessary and must stop once the threat ends; continued force after submission becomes unlawful battery.

Deadly force limits

Deadly force is justified only against a threat of death or serious bodily harm; it is never justified solely to protect property or stop a misdemeanor escape.

Consent search scope

A private security search based on consent must be voluntary and limited to the scope granted; consent may be withdrawn at any time, ending the search.

Protective pat-down limits

A pat-down requires reasonable suspicion the person is armed and dangerous and is limited to detecting weapons; it is not a search for evidence.

Private guard state action

Private guards are generally not state actors, but become subject to constitutional search limits when acting at police direction or under police control.

Chain of custody

A documented record of every person who handled evidence, with date, time, and purpose of each transfer, used to establish evidence integrity in court.

Objective report language

Reports should record observable facts, exact times, and verbatim statements rather than conclusions or opinions such as labeling a person drunk.

Supplemental report rule

A submitted report is not altered; corrections and new information are added through a dated supplemental report stating the change and its reason.

Randomized patrol purpose

Varying patrol routes and timing prevents predictability, making it harder for intruders to schedule activity around the guard's known movements.

Baseline observation

Knowing normal conditions such as lighting, locks, and occupancy lets a guard recognize anomalies that warrant investigation during patrol.

Scene preservation

Guards should avoid moving items, touching surfaces, or admitting unauthorized persons until law enforcement or investigators take control of the scene.

RACE fire response

RACE stands for Rescue anyone in danger, Alarm the building, Contain the fire by closing doors, and Evacuate or Extinguish if trained and safe.

PASS extinguisher technique

PASS means Pull the pin, Aim at the base of the fire, Squeeze the handle, and Sweep side to side until the fire is out.

Adult CPR ratio

Adult CPR uses 30 chest compressions followed by 2 rescue breaths, at a rate of 100 to 120 compressions per minute, with an AED as soon as available.

Severe bleeding control

Direct pressure on the wound is the first response to severe bleeding; it takes priority over lesser injuries under the airway, breathing, circulation sequence.

Gratuity prohibition

Accepting gifts, gratuities, or favors that could compromise impartial enforcement of post orders violates professional ethics and may violate employer policy.

De-escalation techniques

Lowering voice volume, keeping non-threatening distance, using the person's name, and offering policy-compliant choices reduce the likelihood of physical confrontation.

Impersonating an officer

A guard must not present himself as a police officer or imply police authority; falsely assuming officer status is a criminal offense in Georgia.

Impairment indicators

Observable signs include alcohol odor, bloodshot eyes, slurred speech, unsteady gait, poor coordination, and erratic behavior; guards report observations, not diagnoses.

Bloodborne pathogen precautions

Use gloves, avoid contact with bodily fluids, and place contaminated materials in designated containers to prevent exposure during first aid or incident response.

Four firearm safety rules

Treat every firearm as loaded, never point it at anything you are unwilling to destroy, keep your finger off the trigger until on target, and know your target and beyond.

Firearm malfunction response

On a failure to fire, keep the muzzle in a safe direction, wait, then tap-rack-assess as trained; never look down the barrel of a firearm.

Post-shooting responsibilities

After a firearm use of force, stop, secure the scene, render aid if safe, notify law enforcement and a supervisor, and avoid discussing the incident with others.