NM Security Guard flashcards

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

Citizen's arrest authority

Under New Mexico law, a private person may arrest for a felony committed in their presence, a felony they have probable cause to believe occurred, or a misdemeanor breach of the peace in their presence.

Private security license

A credential issued by the New Mexico Private Investigations and Private Security Advisory Board that authorizes a person to perform security work; it must be carried on duty and renewed on the board's cycle.

Scope of practice

The boundary of duties an officer may lawfully perform, set by license class, statute, and post orders; exceeding it creates criminal, civil, and licensing exposure.

Impersonating a peace officer

A criminal offense in which a private security officer uses words, badges, or conduct implying law enforcement authority; guards must identify themselves only as security.

Negligence elements

Duty, breach of that duty, proximate cause, and actual damages. All four must be proven for a plaintiff to recover against an officer or employer.

Respondeat superior

A legal doctrine holding an employer liable for the acts of employees committed within the scope of employment, which is why security companies train and supervise officers closely.

Objective reasonableness

The use-of-force standard judging force from the perspective of a reasonable officer facing the same circumstances, considering threat severity, proportionality, and the need to act.

Defense of property limit

Reasonable non-deadly force may be used to prevent trespass or damage, but deadly force to protect property alone is generally unlawful and creates serious criminal exposure.

Probable cause

Facts and circumstances that would lead a reasonable person to believe a crime has been or is being committed; required for a felony citizen's arrest.

Investigative detention

A brief stop based on specific and articulable facts suggesting criminal activity; it must be limited in scope and duration and ends when the basis is resolved.

Consent search

A search permitted by voluntary agreement of a person with authority over the area; consent can be limited or withdrawn at any time and must be documented.

Plain view doctrine

Allows seizure of evidence when an officer is lawfully present, has lawful access to the item, and its incriminating character is immediately apparent.

Chain of custody

A documented record of every person who handled evidence, when, and why; gaps in the chain undermine admissibility and credibility in court.

Report writing rule

Record observable facts, not conclusions. Describe behavior, speech, appearance, and exact words rather than labels such as drunk, suspicious, or aggressive.

Report addendum

A separate dated and initialed supplement used to correct or add information after a report is submitted; the original report is never altered or rewritten.

Head-to-toe description

A standardized method of describing a person using sex, age, height, weight, build, hair, clothing, marks, and direction of travel for later identification.

Life safety priority

The first principle of emergency response: protect human life before stabilizing the incident, and protect property last.

Run, Hide, Fight

Active-threat response options: evacuate if a safe route exists, barricade and hide if not, and fight only as a last resort when directly confronted.

Shelter in place

A protective action used for severe weather, outdoor hazardous-material release, or an external threat; occupants remain inside, secure openings, and monitor information.

Implied consent

Legal permission to render emergency aid to an unresponsive person or a minor without a guardian, based on the assumption a reasonable person would want help.

Patrol deterrence

The effect of visible, unpredictably timed patrols that raise the perceived risk of detection and discourage criminal activity at a site.

Tailgating

An access-control breach in which an unauthorized person follows an authorized person through a controlled door; prevented by one-person-per-credential rules and door alarms.

CPTED

Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design: using natural surveillance, natural access control, territorial reinforcement, and maintenance to reduce opportunity for crime.

Security survey

A systematic inspection identifying lighting gaps, blind spots, uncontrolled openings, and other vulnerabilities; findings are documented and reported to the client in writing.

De-escalation sequence

Establish distance, identify yourself, listen actively, acknowledge the concern, offer lawful options, and allow time to comply before considering any physical response.

Radio protocol

Standard transmission format: identify the unit, state location, state the condition, and request the resource, using only codes defined in post orders and keeping traffic brief.

Nonverbal communication

Posture, distance, gesture, tone, and eye contact that convey intent; calm posture and adequate space reduce escalation even when words are neutral.

Universal precautions

Treating all blood and body fluids as infectious by using gloves, barriers, and hand hygiene; every exposure incident is reported immediately.

PASS technique

Fire extinguisher use: Pull the pin, Aim at the base of the fire, Squeeze the handle, Sweep side to side, only with a clear exit behind you.

Lone-worker procedure

Required check-in intervals, a working communication device, and a defined escalation path when a check-in is missed, used for posts staffed by one officer.

Implicit bias

An unconscious association that can shape perception and rapid decisions; countered by behavior-based criteria, documented reasoning, and periodic self-review.

Confidentiality duty

The obligation to protect client information, access lists, and incident details, disclosing them only to authorized persons and never discussing them off duty.

Pre-attack indicators

Observable behaviors such as unusual surveillance, photography of security features, probing of procedures, and testing of responses that may precede a terrorist attack.