LA Security Guard flashcards

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

Citizen's arrest authority

A private person may arrest for a felony actually committed when there are reasonable grounds to believe the person committed it, or for a breach-of-peace misdemeanor committed in the officer's presence.

Merchant detention statute

Louisiana law allows a merchant or employee to detain a suspected thief in a reasonable manner for a reasonable time on or near the premises to investigate and notify police.

Miranda and private guards

Miranda warnings are required for custodial interrogation by government agents; private guards are generally not required to give them, but coerced statements can still be excluded and create liability.

Property owner's delegation

A guard's authority over private property comes from the owner; when the owner or lawful occupant revokes permission, the guard's authority over that person ends except for lawful arrest or detention.

Self-defense standard

Force is justified only when the guard reasonably believes it is necessary to prevent imminent unlawful force, and the force used must be reasonable and proportionate to the threat.

Deadly force limitation

Deadly force is justified only against an imminent threat of death or great bodily harm; it is never authorized merely to protect property or stop a non-dangerous fleeing suspect.

Objective reasonableness factors

Courts weigh the severity of the crime, whether the subject poses an immediate threat, and whether the subject is actively resisting or fleeing when judging force.

Duty to intervene

A guard who sees another guard using clearly excessive force must act to stop it and report it; failing to intervene can create direct liability.

De-escalation tactics

Time, distance, cover, calm verbal commands, and tactical repositioning reduce risk and are expected before force when feasible.

Reasonable suspicion for detention

Detention requires specific, articulable facts linking the person to suspected wrongdoing; a hunch, profile, or nervousness alone is insufficient.

Consent search scope

A consent search is valid only when permission is voluntary and unambiguous; the guard should document the exact words and stop immediately if consent is withdrawn.

Plain view doctrine

An item may be seized without a warrant when the guard is lawfully present, the item is in plain view, and its criminal nature is immediately apparent.

Protective pat-down limits

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

Detention time limit

A detention must end when suspicion is resolved or police arrive; holding a person beyond a reasonable time converts a lawful detention into false imprisonment exposure.

Patrol documentation baseline

Vary routes and timing, check doors, windows, lighting, and access points, and log each check with time and location to establish a documented baseline.

Fact versus inference

Reports should record what the guard perceived with the senses, not conclusions; write observed indicators such as slurred speech rather than labels like intoxicated.

Report structure elements

A complete report covers who, what, when, where, why, and how, plus actions taken, witnesses, evidence handled, and notifications made, in chronological order with times.

Report correction method

Never alter a submitted report; corrections are made by a separate dated and signed supplemental report so the original remains intact and credible.

Chain of custody

Each item seized or found must be recorded with who handled it, when, and where it was secured; a broken chain can destroy evidentiary value.

Life safety priority

Emergency response order is life safety first, then incident stabilization, then property protection; rescue and evacuation outrank securing valuables.

Active threat response

Run-Hide-Fight: evacuate if safe, shelter and barricade if not, and fight only as a last resort; untrained guards should not attempt solo confrontation of an armed attacker.

Fire response steps

Activate the alarm, call 911, evacuate via designated routes, account for occupants at the assembly point, and never re-enter a burning structure.

Radio transmission format

Identify yourself, state the nature of the problem, give the location, then request resources; keep transmissions brief and use plain language when interoperability matters.

De-escalation verbal technique

Use the person's name, lower voice volume, slow speech, acknowledge feelings, offer choices within limits, and maintain a safe distance and exit route.

Media inquiry handling

Refer all media inquiries to the designated spokesperson; never speculate about cause, fault, or identity, and report only observed facts.

Access control sequence

Identify, verify, authorize, and record; a valid badge alone does not prove authorization to a specific area, so check the access list or escort requirement.

Tailgating prevention

Tailgating and piggybacking are the most common access failures; use one-person-per-swipe rules, turnstiles, or mantraps and politely challenge unfamiliar persons.

Key control practice

Log issuance and return, never leave keys unattended, and report lost keys immediately so locks can be changed or rekeyed.

Civil liability theories

Common claims against guards include false imprisonment, assault, battery, negligence, defamation, and invasion of privacy; each is avoided by lawful basis and documentation.

Negligence elements

A negligence claim requires duty, breach, causation, and damages; the guard's duty is defined by post orders, training, and the reasonable care standard.

Bloodborne pathogen precautions

Use universal precautions with gloves and eye protection, dispose of sharps in approved containers, and report any exposure immediately per protocol.

Fire extinguisher PASS

Pull the pin, Aim at the base of the fire, Squeeze the handle, and Sweep side to side; fight only small, contained fires with a clear exit behind you.