NC Security Guard flashcards

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

Private citizen authority

A security guard holds no police powers. Authority comes from the property owner's delegation, citizen's arrest law, and self-defense law, so actions must fit those limits.

Citizen's arrest limits

A private person may generally detain another only for a felony or breach of the peace committed in their presence, or a felony they reasonably believe occurred and the suspect is fleeing.

Trespass after warning

On private property, a guard may ask a person to leave. If the person refuses after a lawful warning, continued presence can be treated as trespass and law enforcement may be called.

Proportional force

Force must be defensive and matched to the threat. Deadly force is limited to preventing imminent death or great bodily harm, not to protect property or overcome verbal resistance.

False imprisonment exposure

Holding a person longer than needed to summon law enforcement, or using unreasonable force during a detention, can support civil claims for false imprisonment, assault, battery, and negligence.

Miranda and private guards

Miranda warnings apply to government agents, not private guards. Still, statements obtained by coercion or during an unlawful detention may be excluded or used against the guard civilly.

Searches on private property

The Fourth Amendment governs government action. Private guard searches rest on owner consent and employer policy, so bag or locker checks require posted notice, signed consent, or a stated policy.

One-party consent recording

North Carolina allows a person to record a conversation they are a party to. Secretly recording a conversation you are not part of can violate wiretap law.

Objective report language

Reports state observed facts: what the person did, said, wore, and where. Conclusions like 'suspicious' or 'intoxicated' are replaced by the specific behaviors that prompted concern.

Log correction method

Never erase or white out an entry. Draw one line through the error, write initials and the date, and add the correct information so the record remains intact and defensible.

Post orders precedence

Post orders define duties at a specific site and control routine decisions. If they conflict with law or safety, the guard documents the conflict and notifies a supervisor.

Access control decision rule

Verify identity, check authorization against a current list or credential, log entry and exit, and deny entry when authorization cannot be confirmed.

Incident report sequencing

Secure the scene and give aid first, notify supervisor and law enforcement as required, then complete the written report before end of shift while details are fresh.

Chain of custody

A written record of every person who handled evidence, with date, time, and purpose. It starts when the item is collected and continues until released to authorities.

Varying patrol routes

Guards change route and timing so patterns are not predictable, checking doors, windows, lighting, fire exits, and access points, and logging each checkpoint reached.

Use-of-force report content

Document the threat perceived, options considered, force applied, resulting injury or damage, medical aid given, and names of all witnesses and responding officers.

Life safety priority order

Emergency decisions follow a fixed order: life safety first, incident stabilization second, property protection third. Property is never risked for a person's safety.

Fire response sequence

Activate the alarm, call 911, assist evacuation, and do not re-enter a burning structure. Close doors to confine fire only when it is safe to do so.

PASS extinguisher use

Pull the pin, Aim at the base of the fire, Squeeze the handle, Sweep side to side. Use only on small fires with a clear escape route behind you.

Run Hide Fight

Active threat response: run if a safe escape exists, hide and barricade if escape is impossible, and fight only as a last resort when your life is in imminent danger.

Medical emergency actions

Call 911, send someone to meet responders at a known entrance, give first aid within your training, and avoid moving an injured person unless there is immediate danger.

Suspicious package indicators

Unexpected origin, excess postage or tape, oily stains, protruding wires, unusual odor, or a rigid envelope. Do not open, shake, or wet it; isolate the area and call for help.

Bomb threat call handling

Keep the caller talking and record exact wording, background sounds, voice traits, and the time the call ended. Notify law enforcement and the supervisor immediately afterward.

Hazardous spill approach

Identify the substance from its label or safety data sheet, use required PPE, stay upwind, and set an exclusion zone before anyone approaches the spill or vapor area.

Evacuation and re-entry

Know primary and secondary routes and the assembly point for each post. Account for occupants if assigned. Re-entry occurs only when the fire department or incident commander releases the area.

Ethical decision test

Before acting, ask whether the action is legal, follows post orders, and could be defended in writing to a supervisor and a court. If not, do not do it.

Confidentiality duty

Client schedules, access codes, resident identities, incident details, and camera footage are shared only with authorized persons or released under lawful legal process.

Bias-free enforcement

Apply the same rules to every person regardless of race, sex, religion, age, disability, or personal relationship, and document the objective reason for any enforcement action taken.

De-escalation first

Detention and force are last resorts. Verbal de-escalation, calm tone, distance, and clear direction are the first responses to conflict before any physical action.

No police impersonation

Never state or imply you are law enforcement, display unauthorized police-style markings, or wear a badge suggesting police status. Identify yourself accurately as security when asked.

Gratuity conflict of interest

Gifts or favors tied to enforcement decisions create a conflict of interest and must be declined or reported under employer policy, since they can compromise impartial enforcement.

Truthfulness in reports

A false statement or deliberate omission in a report destroys credibility in court and exposes both guard and employer to civil liability and disciplinary action.