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NJ Security Guard practice questions

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Question 1Roles, Responsibilities, and Professional Conduct of the Security Officer

What is the primary function of a security officer assigned to private property?

  1. Arresting suspects and filing criminal charges
  2. Patrolling public streets in place of police
  3. Investigating crimes and prosecuting offenders
  4. Deterring crime and reporting observations Correct answer.

Explanation

Security officers are private citizens whose main role is prevention: visible presence, observation, documenting conditions, and reporting to the employer and police. They do not possess police powers, cannot file criminal charges, and do not replace public law enforcement.

Question 2Roles, Responsibilities, and Professional Conduct of the Security Officer

Which agency processes registration of security officers under the New Jersey Security Officer Registration Act (SORA)?

  1. New Jersey Department of Labor
  2. The Division of Consumer Affairs
  3. New Jersey State Police Correct answer.
  4. The county sheriff's office

Explanation

SORA registration is handled through the New Jersey State Police, whose Private Detective Unit reviews applications, runs the criminal history check, and issues the registration. Local police departments and other agencies do not register security officers.

Question 3Roles, Responsibilities, and Professional Conduct of the Security Officer

What is the minimum age to be registered as a security officer in New Jersey?

  1. 16
  2. 21
  3. 18 Correct answer.
  4. 17

Explanation

New Jersey requires a security officer to be at least 18 years old, in addition to passing a criminal history background check and completing the required training. Age 21 applies to certain firearms permits, not to basic registration.

Question 4Roles, Responsibilities, and Professional Conduct of the Security Officer

A security officer sees a customer commit a simple assault in a shopping center lot. What is the officer's arrest authority?

  1. None, because security officers cannot arrest
  2. The same as any private citizen Correct answer.
  3. Broader than police; any offense may be charged
  4. Limited to offenses committed inside a store

Explanation

A security officer holds no special police powers and may make an arrest only to the extent a private citizen may, such as for a breach of the peace committed in the officer's presence. Location on the property does not change that limit.

Question 5Roles, Responsibilities, and Professional Conduct of the Security Officer

A store security officer watches a customer conceal merchandise and walk past the registers without paying. What is the proper course of action?

  1. Release the customer because only police may detain
  2. Search the customer's clothing to confirm the theft
  3. Detain briefly and reasonably, then notify police Correct answer.
  4. Hold the customer until the manager decides on charges

Explanation

New Jersey recognizes a merchant's privilege that allows a reasonable detention, in a reasonable manner and for a reasonable time, on probable cause to recover merchandise. Police must be contacted promptly, and the officer may not conduct a personal search or hold the person indefinitely.

Question 6Roles, Responsibilities, and Professional Conduct of the Security Officer

A disorderly person shoves a security officer and threatens nearby customers. The officer's use of force must be:

  1. Announced with a warning shot before any contact
  2. Reasonable and necessary to stop the threat Correct answer.
  3. Whatever is needed to teach the person a lesson
  4. Avoided entirely, even if others are in danger

Explanation

Force used by a security officer must be proportional to the threat and no greater than reasonably necessary to defend oneself or others and to stop the conduct. Punishment is never a lawful purpose for force, and firearms are not used as warnings.

Question 7Roles, Responsibilities, and Professional Conduct of the Security Officer

Under what circumstance may a security officer justifiably use deadly force?

  1. To protect merchandise from a fleeing shoplifter
  2. Whenever the officer believes property is at risk
  3. To prevent any felony from being committed
  4. To prevent imminent death or serious bodily harm Correct answer.

Explanation

Deadly force is justified only to prevent imminent death or serious bodily injury to the officer or another person, and only when no safer alternative exists. It may never be used solely to protect property or to stop a fleeing suspect.

Question 8Roles, Responsibilities, and Professional Conduct of the Security Officer

While on duty, a registered security officer is required to:

  1. Leave the registration card at the employer's office
  2. Carry the registration card at all times on duty Correct answer.
  3. Display the card only when asked by a client
  4. Carry a copy of the application only

Explanation

SORA requires the registered officer to carry the registration card while performing duties and to produce it on request of a law enforcement officer or the employer. The card is not left at the office or displayed selectively.

Question 9Roles, Responsibilities, and Professional Conduct of the Security Officer

A security officer's duty of confidentiality means the officer should:

  1. Keep job-related information private Correct answer.
  2. Share reports with anyone who asks
  3. Discuss client business with family
  4. Post site details on social media

Explanation

Information about a client's operations, staffing, incidents, and investigations is confidential and is shared only with those who have a legitimate need to know. Unauthorized disclosure can harm the client and expose the officer and employer to liability.

Question 10Roles, Responsibilities, and Professional Conduct of the Security Officer

Which sentence is written in the proper style for an incident report?

  1. The subject entered at 2140 hours. Correct answer.
  2. The subject was a known troublemaker.
  3. The subject acted weird and was grabbed.
  4. The subject probably intended to steal.

Explanation

Reports must be factual, objective, and specific, recording observable facts such as times, actions, and locations. Conclusions, opinions, and labels are avoided because they are unverifiable and weaken the report if it is used in court.

Question 11Roles, Responsibilities, and Professional Conduct of the Security Officer

A contractor offers a security officer $100 to overlook a safety violation. The officer should:

  1. Refuse it and report the offer Correct answer.
  2. Accept it and split it with coworkers
  3. Accept it and report it to the supervisor
  4. Accept it if the violation is minor

Explanation

Accepting anything of value in exchange for ignoring a violation is a bribe and a serious ethical and legal violation. The officer must refuse and report the offer so the employer can address the contractor's conduct.

Question 12Roles, Responsibilities, and Professional Conduct of the Security Officer

Falling asleep while assigned to a post is:

  1. An acceptable risk on quiet shifts
  2. Permitted during overnight assignments
  3. Allowed with a supervisor's approval
  4. Neglect of duty and a policy violation Correct answer.

Explanation

Remaining alert is a core responsibility of every post; sleeping on duty leaves the site unprotected and is treated as neglect of duty subject to discipline. The time of day or the absence of incidents does not excuse it.

Question 13Roles, Responsibilities, and Professional Conduct of the Security Officer

An off-duty security officer wears a jacket marked "POLICE" while out socially. This is:

  1. Permitted, since the officer is off duty
  2. Prohibited as impersonating police Correct answer.
  3. Required, to show professional pride
  4. Permitted, if the officer tells people the truth

Explanation

Wearing markings that suggest police authority when the person is not a police officer is prohibited and undermines public trust. Explaining the truth afterward does not cure the misleading appearance.

Question 14Roles, Responsibilities, and Professional Conduct of the Security Officer

Which combination is required for a New Jersey security officer to carry a handgun while on duty?

  1. A SORA registration card only
  2. A retired law enforcement identification card
  3. An employer's written consent and a hunting license
  4. A NJ carry permit and SORA firearms authorization Correct answer.

Explanation

Carrying a handgun on duty requires a valid New Jersey permit to carry a handgun and completion of the firearms training and authorization connected with SORA registration. Possession of a registration card alone authorizes no weapon.

Question 15Roles, Responsibilities, and Professional Conduct of the Security Officer

A security officer suspects a visitor is carrying stolen items in a backpack. The officer may search the backpack:

  1. Whenever the officer has a strong suspicion
  2. Never, under any circumstances
  3. Only with consent or lawful authority Correct answer.
  4. Only after handcuffing the visitor

Explanation

A private security officer has no general power to search persons or their belongings; a search is lawful only with voluntary consent or other lawful authority, such as a valid policy-based condition of entry. Intrusive searches such as strip searches are never permitted.

Question 16Roles, Responsibilities, and Professional Conduct of the Security Officer

Regarding Miranda warnings, a private security officer in New Jersey generally:

  1. Must give them before any questioning
  2. Must give them whenever a detention occurs
  3. Need not give them unless acting for police Correct answer.
  4. Must give them only for felony suspects

Explanation

Miranda applies to custodial interrogation by government agents. A private security officer acting independently is not required to give the warnings, though statements may still be excluded if the officer acts as an agent of police.

Question 17Roles, Responsibilities, and Professional Conduct of the Security Officer

A security officer finds a broken window and signs of forced entry during a patrol. The officer should first:

  1. Search the building alone for suspects
  2. Secure the area and call police Correct answer.
  3. Wait until the manager arrives to decide
  4. Clean up the glass to prevent injury

Explanation

The priority is safety and preservation of the scene: keep people away, avoid disturbing evidence, and notify police and the supervisor promptly. A lone officer should not enter to confront a possible intruder.

Question 18Roles, Responsibilities, and Professional Conduct of the Security Officer

Using handcuffs on a person is appropriate when:

  1. Authorized by policy and necessary for safety Correct answer.
  2. Any person refuses to answer questions
  3. The officer wants to speed up the process
  4. A supervisor is unavailable to decide

Explanation

Restraints are a use of force and may be applied only by officers trained and authorized by the employer, and only when necessary to prevent harm or escape. They are never used as a convenience or to punish.

Question 19Roles, Responsibilities, and Professional Conduct of the Security Officer

A security officer decides whom to approach and question at a store entrance. The decision should be based on:

  1. The person's race or ethnic background
  2. The neighborhood where the person lives
  3. Observed behavior and lawful criteria Correct answer.
  4. The officer's personal instincts alone

Explanation

Selection decisions must rest on observable behavior and lawful, articulable criteria, applied equally to everyone. Profiling by race, ethnicity, or residence is discriminatory and exposes the officer and employer to civil rights liability.

Question 20Roles, Responsibilities, and Professional Conduct of the Security Officer

Which action best reflects professional conduct for a security officer?

  1. Arguing with a customer who complains
  2. Sharing shift schedules with friends
  3. Using the post phone for personal calls
  4. Staying calm and courteous under pressure Correct answer.

Explanation

Professionalism means controlling one's temper, remaining courteous, and keeping workplace resources and information for their intended use. Arguments and personal use of post equipment damage the officer's credibility and the employer's reputation.

Question 21Roles, Responsibilities, and Professional Conduct of the Security Officer

A security officer assigned to monitor a camera bank leaves the post unattended, and a theft occurs. The officer may face:

  1. Liability only if the employer posted a rule
  2. No consequences, since the thief caused the loss
  3. Criminal charges only if police file them
  4. Civil liability for failing a duty Correct answer.

Explanation

Negligence requires a duty, a breach, causation, and damages. Abandoning an assigned post breaches the duty the officer owes the employer and may make the officer personally liable for resulting losses.

Question 22Roles, Responsibilities, and Professional Conduct of the Security Officer

A security officer finds an error in a report written by a coworker. The officer should:

  1. Leave it, since the coworker wrote it
  2. Discard the report quietly
  3. Correct it and note the change Correct answer.
  4. Rewrite the report from memory later

Explanation

Reports must be accurate, and corrections are made openly by noting what was changed and why, so the record stays reliable. Ignoring, destroying, or reconstructing a report undermines its integrity.

Question 23Roles, Responsibilities, and Professional Conduct of the Security Officer

Two people are shouting and pushing each other in a parking lot. As a lone security officer, the best response is to:

  1. Physically separate them immediately
  2. Detain both until a manager arrives
  3. Observe from safety and call police Correct answer.
  4. Order both to leave and go home

Explanation

A single officer should not physically wade into a fight between two people; the priority is personal safety, protecting bystanders, and getting police on scene quickly. Physical intervention is reserved for situations where life is in immediate danger and the officer can act safely.

Question 24Roles, Responsibilities, and Professional Conduct of the Security Officer

At the owner's direction, a security officer asks a person to leave a private office building, and the person refuses. The person is:

  1. Trespassing and may be removed by police Correct answer.
  2. Allowed to stay until police ask them to leave
  3. Allowed to stay because it is a public place
  4. Guilty of disorderly conduct only if loud

Explanation

A person who refuses to leave private property after being told to do so by someone with authority commits defiant trespass under New Jersey law. The officer documents the refusal and requests police assistance for removal rather than using force personally.

Question 25Roles, Responsibilities, and Professional Conduct of the Security Officer

A store security officer detains a suspected shoplifter. What standard governs the length of the detention?

  1. Until the store closes for the day
  2. Until the person signs a confession
  3. Only as long as reasonably necessary Correct answer.
  4. Up to four hours without police contact

Explanation

The merchant's privilege permits a detention in a reasonable manner and for a reasonable time, to investigate and recover merchandise while police are contacted. Holding a person longer than necessary, or until a confession is signed, converts a lawful detention into a false imprisonment risk.

Question 26Roles, Responsibilities, and Professional Conduct of the Security Officer

After finishing a shift, a security officer stops at a bar with friends while still wearing the issued uniform and badge. How should this be viewed?

  1. Improper, but only if the officer has consumed alcohol while at the bar.
  2. Acceptable, as long as the officer does not identify himself as a police officer.
  3. Improper, because the uniform should not be worn off duty for personal activities. Correct answer.
  4. Acceptable, because the uniform shows the public that the officer is a security professional.

Explanation

An issued uniform and badge are tools of the post and are worn while the officer is on duty and acting in that capacity. Wearing them during off-duty social activity can suggest an official presence where none exists, misleads the public, and typically violates employer policy.

Question 27Roles, Responsibilities, and Professional Conduct of the Security Officer

In New Jersey, a person may be employed to perform security officer duties only when the person:

  1. has completed a basic police academy training course.
  2. is at least 21 years old and holds a college degree.
  3. carries a valid permit to carry a firearm in New Jersey.
  4. holds a current registration card issued under the SORA. Correct answer.

Explanation

The Security Officer Registration Act requires a person to be registered with the state before performing security officer duties, and registration follows required training and a background check. Performing those duties without a valid registration exposes both the officer and the employer to penalties.

Question 28Roles, Responsibilities, and Professional Conduct of the Security Officer

A security officer finds a wallet containing cash and a driver's license in a building lobby. The officer should:

  1. keep it in a locker until someone asks about it.
  2. mail the cash to the address printed on the driver's license.
  3. divide the cash among the shift and discard the wallet and cards.
  4. secure it, document the find, and turn it over as policy requires. Correct answer.

Explanation

Found property is not the officer's to keep or dispose of; it must be safeguarded and passed along through the procedure the employer or client has established. Documenting the find protects the officer against later accusations of theft or loss.

Question 29Roles, Responsibilities, and Professional Conduct of the Security Officer

A security officer is due to start a shift and realizes he is still impaired by alcohol consumed earlier. The officer should:

  1. drink coffee and begin the patrol as scheduled.
  2. report for duty but stay at a desk instead of patrolling.
  3. notify the supervisor and not report for duty. Correct answer.
  4. ask a coworker to cover the first half of the shift.

Explanation

An officer who is impaired cannot exercise reliable judgment, observe accurately, or respond safely, and carrying out security duties while intoxicated is both a policy violation and a legal exposure. The officer must stay off duty and inform the supervisor so the post can be covered properly.

Question 30Roles, Responsibilities, and Professional Conduct of the Security Officer

A New Jersey security officer who is not a sworn law enforcement officer has arrest authority that is generally:

  1. available only when the officer is also carrying a firearm.
  2. no greater than that of an ordinary private citizen. Correct answer.
  3. unlimited anywhere within the county where the officer is registered.
  4. identical to a municipal police officer's authority on the assigned property.

Explanation

A private security officer holds no police powers simply by reason of the job; the officer acts with the same general authority as any other citizen, supplemented by narrow statutory privileges such as the shopkeeper's detention privilege. Anything beyond that depends on the property owner's consent or on police involvement.

Question 31Roles, Responsibilities, and Professional Conduct of the Security Officer

A shoplifting suspect runs out of the store and off the property into a crowded street. The security officer should:

  1. order bystanders to block the suspect's path until police arrive.
  2. continue the pursuit but only on foot and only for one block.
  3. chase the suspect until he is caught or leaves the area.
  4. stop at the property line, note a description, and notify the police. Correct answer.

Explanation

The officer's authority is tied to the property and to the owner's consent, so a pursuit into a public street is outside the post and creates serious risk to the officer and to bystanders. The sound response is to stop, gather identifying details, and turn the matter over to law enforcement.

Question 32Roles, Responsibilities, and Professional Conduct of the Security Officer

A security officer sees a coworker use far more force than necessary to subdue a detainee. The officer should:

  1. intervene if safe and report the incident to a supervisor. Correct answer.
  2. record it on a personal phone to post on social media later.
  3. say nothing, because the coworker has more seniority.
  4. wait until the end of shift and mention it in the pass-on log.

Explanation

Excessive force exposes the detainee to harm and the employer to liability, so an officer who sees it has a duty to stop it when it can be done safely and to report it promptly. Reporting goes through the chain of command, not through informal notes or public postings.

Question 33Roles, Responsibilities, and Professional Conduct of the Security Officer

A reporter arrives at the scene of an incident and asks the security officer for details about an injured employee. The officer should:

  1. refer the reporter to the company spokesperson or supervisor. Correct answer.
  2. give the reporter the injured person's name and condition.
  3. confirm only the details the officer personally observed.
  4. say nothing at all and walk away without a word.

Explanation

Only the employer's designated representative speaks for the organization, and information about an injured person is confidential. The officer's job is to stay courteous, decline to discuss details, and route the request to the proper authority.

Question 34Roles, Responsibilities, and Professional Conduct of the Security Officer

While on patrol, a security officer finds an employee lying on the floor, conscious but bleeding. The officer's first priority is to:

  1. move the employee into a private office to avoid a scene.
  2. complete the incident report before doing anything else at all.
  3. photograph the injury for the incident file before helping.
  4. summon medical help and give aid within the officer's training. Correct answer.

Explanation

Protecting life comes before documentation, so the officer first calls for medical assistance and renders aid only within the scope of training. Paperwork and photographs are handled afterward, once the person is being cared for.

Question 35Roles, Responsibilities, and Professional Conduct of the Security Officer

A client representative tells the security officer to sign off on a patrol log for a floor the officer never checked. The officer should:

  1. sign it and check the floor on the next round.
  2. refuse to sign a false entry and report the request. Correct answer.
  3. sign it only if the client also signs the entry as a witness.
  4. leave the entry blank and say nothing to anyone.

Explanation

A log entry is a record of what actually happened, and signing for a patrol that was never made is a falsification that could hide a real security failure. The officer must refuse, record only the truth, and notify the supervisor that the request was made.

Question 36Roles, Responsibilities, and Professional Conduct of the Security Officer

A security officer is assigned to investigate missing tools, and the main suspect is the officer's brother-in-law. The officer should:

  1. disclose the relationship and ask to be reassigned. Correct answer.
  2. handle the case quietly to protect the family member.
  3. investigate but leave the relative's name out of the report.
  4. warn the brother-in-law first, then investigate fairly.

Explanation

An investigation must be impartial, and a close personal relationship creates an obvious conflict of interest whether or not the officer feels biased. Disclosing the relationship and stepping aside protects the officer, the relative, and the integrity of the findings.

Question 37Roles, Responsibilities, and Professional Conduct of the Security Officer

A fire alarm activates in the office tower lobby where the officer is posted. The officer's proper role is to:

  1. finish the current patrol round before responding to the alarm.
  2. silence the alarm and wait for the fire department to arrive.
  3. direct people to the marked exits and keep stairwells clear. Correct answer.
  4. tell occupants to use the elevators so they exit more quickly.

Explanation

On an alarm, the officer supports evacuation by pointing people to designated exits and keeping escape routes usable, following the post orders for the site. The officer does not decide whether the alarm is real and does not direct people into elevators during a fire emergency.

Question 38Roles, Responsibilities, and Professional Conduct of the Security Officer

A client's manager orders the officer to remove an employee from the lobby, while the officer's supervisor has said the same employee may stay. The officer should:

  1. follow the client's order at once, because the client pays for the security contract.
  2. remove the employee first and explain the situation to the supervisor afterward.
  3. tell both parties to settle it themselves and take no further action.
  4. follow the employer's direction and report the conflict to the supervisor. Correct answer.

Explanation

The officer answers to the employing security company, which assigns the post and sets the officer's instructions, even though the work is performed for a client. When instructions collide, the officer keeps the situation calm and refers the dispute up the chain of command rather than improvising.

Question 39Roles, Responsibilities, and Professional Conduct of the Security Officer

An off-duty security officer in street clothes witnesses a felony assault in a shopping center parking lot. What is the officer's legal position?

  1. The officer has full police powers while the registration card is in his wallet.
  2. The officer must act because the SORA registration is in effect at all times.
  3. The officer has no lawful ability to intervene in any way.
  4. The officer has the same authority as any other private citizen. Correct answer.

Explanation

Registration authorizes employment as a security officer; it does not create police powers, and it certainly does not follow the officer around off duty. Off duty in street clothes, the officer stands in the same position as any member of the public, which normally means calling the police and giving an accurate account as a witness.

Question 40Roles, Responsibilities, and Professional Conduct of the Security Officer

A client's employee tells the officer to hold a delivery driver in the back room because 'something is missing,' offering no facts and no evidence. The officer should:

  1. decline to detain without a lawful basis and notify the supervisor. Correct answer.
  2. hold the driver but let him keep his phone and call his dispatcher.
  3. hold the driver in the back room until the client finishes checking inventory.
  4. search the driver's vehicle before deciding whether to hold him.

Explanation

Detention requires a lawful basis such as reasonable grounds connected to an observed theft, and a vague suspicion supplied by someone else does not meet that standard. The officer declines, documents the request, and reports it so the employer can address the client's demand.

Question 41Legal Authority, Limitations, and Relevant New Jersey Law

A registered New Jersey security officer working at a shopping mall has what arrest authority compared with an ordinary member of the public?

  1. Police powers limited to the officer's assigned shift
  2. The same authority any private citizen has Correct answer.
  3. Statewide police powers granted by registration
  4. No authority to detain any person at any time

Explanation

Registration under New Jersey's Security Officer Registration Act is a licensing credential; it does not confer police powers. A security officer remains a private citizen whose authority comes from the citizen's arrest rules that apply to everyone, plus whatever authority the property owner lawfully delegates.

Question 42Legal Authority, Limitations, and Relevant New Jersey Law

What is the minimum age for a person to be registered as a security officer in New Jersey?

  1. 19
  2. 16
  3. 21
  4. 18 Correct answer.

Explanation

New Jersey requires a security officer applicant to be at least 18 years old, along with passing a background check and completing required training. Age 21 applies to other licenses, such as carrying a handgun, not to basic security officer registration.

Question 43Legal Authority, Limitations, and Relevant New Jersey Law

Which agency registers security officers in New Jersey?

  1. The county sheriff's office
  2. The municipal police department
  3. The New Jersey State Police Correct answer.
  4. The Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control

Explanation

Security officer registration in New Jersey is administered through the New Jersey State Police, which processes applications, background checks, and registration cards. Local police and sheriffs do not issue the registration.

Question 44Legal Authority, Limitations, and Relevant New Jersey Law

Before carrying a firearm on duty in New Jersey, a security officer must do which of the following?

  1. Obtain written permission from the property owner
  2. Complete the employer's internal safety class
  3. Post a surety bond with the municipal court
  4. Hold a valid New Jersey handgun carry permit Correct answer.

Explanation

Carrying a handgun in New Jersey requires a permit to carry issued under state law, and armed security work also requires the officer to meet the additional requirements imposed on armed personnel. An employer's class or a property owner's permission cannot substitute for the state permit.

Question 45Legal Authority, Limitations, and Relevant New Jersey Law

While on duty, a registered New Jersey security officer is required to do which of the following?

  1. Leave the registration card in the employer's office
  2. Wear a badge reading 'police'
  3. Carry the registration card while on duty Correct answer.
  4. Show the card only when making an arrest

Explanation

A registered officer must keep the registration card on his or her person while working so that status can be verified by law enforcement or the employer. The card is proof of registration; failing to carry it defeats that purpose.

Question 46Legal Authority, Limitations, and Relevant New Jersey Law

May a security officer use deadly force to stop a person who is running away with stolen merchandise?

  1. Yes, after a verbal warning
  2. Yes, if the merchandise is valuable
  3. No, not to protect property alone Correct answer.
  4. No, unless the officer is armed

Explanation

Deadly force is justified only to prevent imminent death or serious bodily harm, never merely to protect property. A fleeing shoplifter poses no such threat, so deadly force is unlawful regardless of the value of the goods.

Question 47Legal Authority, Limitations, and Relevant New Jersey Law

A store security officer questions a suspected shoplifter in a back office with no police involvement. Is the officer required to give Miranda warnings?

  1. Yes, before any questioning begins
  2. No, Miranda binds government actors Correct answer.
  3. Only if questioning exceeds one hour
  4. Yes, if the person is a minor

Explanation

Miranda warnings are a safeguard against coercive government interrogation, so they apply to police and to private persons acting as their agents. A security officer questioning a suspect independently is not required to give them, though bullying or coercion can still create civil liability.

Question 48Legal Authority, Limitations, and Relevant New Jersey Law

Which action by a security officer is a crime under New Jersey law?

  1. Wearing a uniform marked 'Security'
  2. Calling the local police to report a crime
  3. Telling a customer that he is a police officer Correct answer.
  4. Asking a trespasser to leave the property

Explanation

New Jersey criminalizes impersonating a law enforcement officer, and falsely claiming police status to gain compliance fits that offense. Legitimate guard functions, such as wearing a clearly marked security uniform, asking a trespasser to leave, or reporting crime, are lawful.

Question 49Legal Authority, Limitations, and Relevant New Jersey Law

Under New Jersey law, before using deadly force in self-defense outside his own home, a person must do which of the following?

  1. Announce that he is armed
  2. Wait for a supervisor's approval
  3. Retreat if that can be done with complete safety Correct answer.
  4. Fire a warning shot first

Explanation

New Jersey imposes a duty to retreat before deadly force may be used when the actor knows retreat can be accomplished with complete safety, with a limited exception for the actor's own dwelling. No warning shot or announcement is required by statute.

Question 50Legal Authority, Limitations, and Relevant New Jersey Law

Which combination best describes a lawful detention of a suspected shoplifter by a New Jersey security officer?

  1. Suspicion plus a signed confession
  2. A citizen's arrest plus a full search of the person
  3. Probable cause, a reasonable manner, reasonable time Correct answer.
  4. Manager approval plus four hours of detention

Explanation

A detention of a suspected shoplifter is defensible only when it rests on reasonable grounds amounting to probable cause, is carried out in a reasonable manner, and lasts no longer than reasonably necessary to resolve the matter and involve police. Anything beyond that exposes the officer and employer to liability for false imprisonment.