California Security Guard Examination
with Practice Questions And Correct
Answers (Verifi
1. A security guard witnesses a suspect commit a felony assault in a retail store. The
suspect flees but the guard pursues and apprehends 3 blocks away. Under California
Penal Code 837, which condition must be met for this citizen's arrest to be lawful?
A. The suspect must have actually committed the felony, regardless of the guard's
reasonable belief.
B. The guard must have probable cause and the arrest must occur immediately after the
felony.
C. The guard must have a warrant or explicit police authorization before making the
arrest.
D. The guard may arrest only if the suspect is still on the premises where the felony
occurred.
Answer: B. The guard must have probable cause and the arrest must occur
immediately after the felony.
Rationale: PC 837 permits a private person to arrest when they have probable cause to
believe the person committed a felony, and the arrest must be made immediately or in fresh
pursuit. Option A is wrong because reasonable belief suffices for felony arrests. Option C
is incorrect as no warrant is required for citizen's arrest. Option D is wrong because fresh
pursuit beyond premises is allowed.
Page 1 of 89
,2. In California, which factor is MOST critical in determining whether a security
guard's use of force was reasonable under Penal Code 835a and relevant case law?
A. The severity of the crime at issue and whether the suspect posed an immediate threat.
B. The guard's subjective fear alone, regardless of objective circumstances.
C. The amount of force the guard was trained to use in similar situations.
D. Whether the suspect was later convicted of the crime.
Answer: A. The severity of the crime at issue and whether the suspect posed an
immediate threat.
Rationale: Under PC 835a and Graham v. Connor, reasonableness is judged objectively
based on the severity of the crime, immediate threat, and active resistance. Subjective fear
alone (B) is insufficient. Training (C) informs but does not determine reasonableness. Later
conviction (D) is irrelevant to the moment of force.
Page 2 of 89
,3. A guard detains a shoplifting suspect in a back room for 45 minutes, repeatedly
accusing them of theft, and refuses to let them leave until they sign a confession.
Which tort has the guard MOST likely committed?
A. Defamation
B. False imprisonment
C. Assault
D. Intentional infliction of emotional distress
Answer: B. False imprisonment
Rationale: False imprisonment requires intentional confinement without consent or lawful
privilege. The prolonged detention and refusal to release constitute false imprisonment.
Defamation (A) involves reputational harm. Assault (C) requires apprehension of imminent
harmful contact. IIED (D) requires extreme outrageous conduct, which may apply but is
secondary to the confinement.
4. During a patrol, a guard observes a suspicious package with wires near a building
entrance. According to current DHS and FBI guidance, what is the FIRST action the
guard should take?
A. Use a radio to call for help while standing near the package.
B. Immediately evacuate the area and notify law enforcement from a safe distance.
C. Take a photo of the package to document it for the incident report.
D. Carefully move the package to an isolated area to minimize damage.
Answer: B. Immediately evacuate the area and notify law enforcement from a safe
distance.
Rationale: Current DHS/FBI protocols emphasize not touching or approaching suspicious
packages, evacuating the immediate area, and notifying authorities from a safe distance.
Using a radio near the package (A) could trigger a device. Taking photos (C) risks
detonation. Moving the package (D) is extremely dangerous.
Page 3 of 89
, 5. A security guard is writing an incident report about a use-of-force event. Which
statement BEST reflects a legally defensible and professionally written report?
A. The subject was acting crazy and I had to take him down.
B. I observed the subject swinging a metal pipe at a customer, so I intervened and used a
wrist lock to disarm him.
C. The subject was a known troublemaker and I used necessary force.
D. I used force because I felt threatened and the subject deserved it.
Answer: B. I observed the subject swinging a metal pipe at a customer, so I intervened
and used a wrist lock to disarm him.
Rationale: A legally defensible report must be objective, specific, and avoid conclusory or
biased language. Option B describes observable actions and the specific force used.
Options A, C, and D contain subjective, prejudicial, or conclusory statements that
undermine credibility.
6. A guard seizes a knife used in an assault and places it in a plastic bag. Which action
would BEST preserve the chain of custody for court?
A. Label the bag with the date, time, location, and the guard's initials, then store it in a
secure locker.
B. Give the knife to the first police officer on scene without documentation.
C. Keep the knife in a personal backpack until the end of the shift.
D. Clean the knife of fingerprints before bagging to avoid contamination.
Answer: A. Label the bag with the date, time, location, and the guard's initials, then
store it in a secure locker.
Rationale: Chain of custody requires documenting when, where, and by whom evidence
was collected and maintaining secure storage. Option A meets these requirements. Option
B fails documentation. Option C compromises security. Option D destroys evidence.
Page 4 of 89
with Practice Questions And Correct
Answers (Verifi
1. A security guard witnesses a suspect commit a felony assault in a retail store. The
suspect flees but the guard pursues and apprehends 3 blocks away. Under California
Penal Code 837, which condition must be met for this citizen's arrest to be lawful?
A. The suspect must have actually committed the felony, regardless of the guard's
reasonable belief.
B. The guard must have probable cause and the arrest must occur immediately after the
felony.
C. The guard must have a warrant or explicit police authorization before making the
arrest.
D. The guard may arrest only if the suspect is still on the premises where the felony
occurred.
Answer: B. The guard must have probable cause and the arrest must occur
immediately after the felony.
Rationale: PC 837 permits a private person to arrest when they have probable cause to
believe the person committed a felony, and the arrest must be made immediately or in fresh
pursuit. Option A is wrong because reasonable belief suffices for felony arrests. Option C
is incorrect as no warrant is required for citizen's arrest. Option D is wrong because fresh
pursuit beyond premises is allowed.
Page 1 of 89
,2. In California, which factor is MOST critical in determining whether a security
guard's use of force was reasonable under Penal Code 835a and relevant case law?
A. The severity of the crime at issue and whether the suspect posed an immediate threat.
B. The guard's subjective fear alone, regardless of objective circumstances.
C. The amount of force the guard was trained to use in similar situations.
D. Whether the suspect was later convicted of the crime.
Answer: A. The severity of the crime at issue and whether the suspect posed an
immediate threat.
Rationale: Under PC 835a and Graham v. Connor, reasonableness is judged objectively
based on the severity of the crime, immediate threat, and active resistance. Subjective fear
alone (B) is insufficient. Training (C) informs but does not determine reasonableness. Later
conviction (D) is irrelevant to the moment of force.
Page 2 of 89
,3. A guard detains a shoplifting suspect in a back room for 45 minutes, repeatedly
accusing them of theft, and refuses to let them leave until they sign a confession.
Which tort has the guard MOST likely committed?
A. Defamation
B. False imprisonment
C. Assault
D. Intentional infliction of emotional distress
Answer: B. False imprisonment
Rationale: False imprisonment requires intentional confinement without consent or lawful
privilege. The prolonged detention and refusal to release constitute false imprisonment.
Defamation (A) involves reputational harm. Assault (C) requires apprehension of imminent
harmful contact. IIED (D) requires extreme outrageous conduct, which may apply but is
secondary to the confinement.
4. During a patrol, a guard observes a suspicious package with wires near a building
entrance. According to current DHS and FBI guidance, what is the FIRST action the
guard should take?
A. Use a radio to call for help while standing near the package.
B. Immediately evacuate the area and notify law enforcement from a safe distance.
C. Take a photo of the package to document it for the incident report.
D. Carefully move the package to an isolated area to minimize damage.
Answer: B. Immediately evacuate the area and notify law enforcement from a safe
distance.
Rationale: Current DHS/FBI protocols emphasize not touching or approaching suspicious
packages, evacuating the immediate area, and notifying authorities from a safe distance.
Using a radio near the package (A) could trigger a device. Taking photos (C) risks
detonation. Moving the package (D) is extremely dangerous.
Page 3 of 89
, 5. A security guard is writing an incident report about a use-of-force event. Which
statement BEST reflects a legally defensible and professionally written report?
A. The subject was acting crazy and I had to take him down.
B. I observed the subject swinging a metal pipe at a customer, so I intervened and used a
wrist lock to disarm him.
C. The subject was a known troublemaker and I used necessary force.
D. I used force because I felt threatened and the subject deserved it.
Answer: B. I observed the subject swinging a metal pipe at a customer, so I intervened
and used a wrist lock to disarm him.
Rationale: A legally defensible report must be objective, specific, and avoid conclusory or
biased language. Option B describes observable actions and the specific force used.
Options A, C, and D contain subjective, prejudicial, or conclusory statements that
undermine credibility.
6. A guard seizes a knife used in an assault and places it in a plastic bag. Which action
would BEST preserve the chain of custody for court?
A. Label the bag with the date, time, location, and the guard's initials, then store it in a
secure locker.
B. Give the knife to the first police officer on scene without documentation.
C. Keep the knife in a personal backpack until the end of the shift.
D. Clean the knife of fingerprints before bagging to avoid contamination.
Answer: A. Label the bag with the date, time, location, and the guard's initials, then
store it in a secure locker.
Rationale: Chain of custody requires documenting when, where, and by whom evidence
was collected and maintaining secure storage. Option A meets these requirements. Option
B fails documentation. Option C compromises security. Option D destroys evidence.
Page 4 of 89
