Free NY Security Guard Exam Flashcards

The felony must have actually been committed, and the arrest can be made anywhere in New York State. The guard does not need to have witnessed the crime, unlike a misdemeanor arrest.

The offense must have occurred in the guard's presence, and the arrest is valid only within the county where it happened. This presence-and-county rule is stricter than the felony rule.

No. A guard's subjective belief alone is not legally sufficient for a citizen's arrest; the crime must have actually occurred. Acting on belief alone exposes the guard and employer to false-imprisonment liability.

Deliver or attempt to deliver the arrested person to police without unnecessary delay. Guards have no power to detain someone indefinitely, issue a summons, or investigate further themselves.

No. Guards are private citizens exercising citizen's-arrest and shopkeeper's-privilege authority only; they and their employer can be personally sued for false imprisonment, assault, or other civil claims arising from an improper detention.

Verbal de-escalation. Physical force is a last resort under Penal Law Article 35's justification standard, used only when verbal methods fail and a real threat exists.

When it is proportional to the threat faced, such as to make a lawful citizen's arrest or defend against an attack. Reasonable force must never exceed what the situation actually requires.

Only to protect against imminent death or serious physical injury to the guard or another person. Deadly force is never justified to protect property alone, no matter how valuable.

Before using deadly force, a person must retreat if they can do so with complete safety. The exception is the castle-doctrine rule: no duty to retreat when the guard is in their own dwelling.

It is a complete defense to what would otherwise be a criminal charge, such as assault. If the force used met the statute's conditions, the guard is not criminally liable for using it.

Call 911 immediately. Guards act as first responders who summon professional help and provide basic aid; they are not a substitute for EMS.

Only when the person is unresponsive and not breathing normally. Use an AED as soon as one is available on-site to improve survival odds before EMS arrives.

It shields a guard who provides good-faith emergency medical assistance from civil liability for ordinary negligence, encouraging bystanders and guards to help without fear of being sued.

No, generally do not move them — moving an unconscious person risks worsening a spinal or other serious injury. Keep the area safe and wait for trained responders unless there is an immediate danger like fire.

Call 911 and do not enter or physically intervene. Domestic violence calls are volatile and outside a guard's authority and safety training; law enforcement handles the response.

Pull the safety pin, Aim at the base of the fire, Squeeze the handle, and Sweep side to side. A guard should only attempt this on a small, contained fire.

Sound the fire alarm and begin evacuation procedures immediately, then call 911. Do not attempt to fight a fire that has grown beyond a small, containable stage.

Preserve the message exactly as received, do not forward or alter it, and call 911, then notify a supervisor. The original message may contain evidence for investigators.

It can indicate pre-attack surveillance and is a terrorism-awareness red flag. Guards are trained to notice and report this kind of suspicious activity rather than ignore it.

Evacuate the area, avoid creating sparks such as flipping light switches, and do not use elevators, since a spark or power interruption could trigger an explosion.

Active listening — fully focusing on and understanding what a person is saying before responding. It underlies effective de-escalation and accurate incident reporting.

Calm, active-listening-based de-escalation — acknowledging the person's concern and lowering tension through tone and word choice, before any physical response is considered.

Use simple words, short sentences, and visual aids or gestures rather than complex language or jargon. The goal is mutual understanding, not literal translation.

Share it only on a need-to-know basis, such as with supervisors, police, or those directly involved. Discussing incidents or personal details outside that circle breaches guard ethics and trust.

A calm, professional, respectful tone builds trust and cooperation with tenants, visitors, and the public. Guards are often the first and most visible representative of a property or company.

Objective — facts only, with no personal opinions or speculation about intent. Reports document what was observed, not what the guard assumes happened.

Who, What, When, Where, and Why — covering the parties involved, what happened, the time and date, the location, and the cause or context.

As soon as possible after the event, while details are fresh. Timeliness protects accuracy and credibility if the report is later used in court.

It can refresh a guard's memory before testifying and may be entered as evidence, so accuracy and completeness at the time of writing directly affect its later value in legal proceedings.

It can be a criminal offense, separate from any workplace discipline. Knowingly false written statements undermine investigations and expose the guard to prosecution.

Tracking who enters and exits a property, including time in and out. It creates an accountability record for access control and later investigations.

Deny entry, but do not confiscate the ID — guards have no legal authority to seize someone's identification. Report the incident to a supervisor instead.

Written, post-specific instructions covering duties, procedures, and expectations for that exact location. Following them consistently is central to a guard's job performance and liability protection.

Log it and take reasonable steps to locate the owner or turn it in through the proper chain. Never use it for personal access or simply ignore it.

Layered security barriers moving from the outer perimeter inward to the interior. Each layer, such as a fence, lobby, or controlled floor, adds another checkpoint before reaching sensitive areas.

Observe, document, and report. Patrol is primarily a deterrence and detection function; guards are trained to notice and record, not to act as police investigators.

It deters crime through visibility alone — potential wrongdoers are less likely to act when they see an active, uniformed patrol presence.

Maintain continuous, unbroken observation rather than confronting immediately. Losing sight of the suspect can break the chain needed to support a later detention or arrest.

Preserve it and do not touch or move it. Guards protect the scene for investigators rather than handling potential evidence themselves.

It ensures the incoming guard knows about outstanding issues, ongoing incidents, or special instructions. Gaps in handoff communication create security blind spots.

The DCJS-approved 8-hour Pre-Assignment Training Course — it is a prerequisite for registration, not something completed afterward.

Within 90 working days of starting employment. It is a one-time requirement that follows the initial 8-hour course.

8 hours every 12 months. This is a recurring requirement that continues throughout a guard's registration, unlike the one-time 16-hour OJT.

2 years from the date of issuance. Guards may file for renewal up to 90 days before it expires.

They must reapply as a new applicant, generally repeating the training and application process rather than simply renewing the old registration.

The Department of State (DOS) issues registration; the Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) approves training schools and curricula. DOS licenses, DCJS trains.

$36, paid to the Department of State, separate from the roughly $102.50 fingerprinting fee charged through the state's authorized vendor.

Report it to a supervisor and document the concern. Looking the other way on misconduct violates the professional-conduct standards guards are trained to uphold.

Stay neutral and focus on keeping access and safety intact, rather than taking a side in the labor dispute. Guards are not there to enforce management's position on the dispute itself.

Yes. ADA compliance requires guards not to use discriminatory procedures against people with disabilities; the same reasonable, non-discriminatory standards apply to everyone accessing the site.