Wish you all the best in your exams, happy studying
BSIS Security Guard Training
Section 1: Role and Responsibilities of a Security Guard
1. The primary role of a private security guard is to:
A) Enforce all local and state laws.
B) Apprehend and interrogate suspected criminals.
C) Protect people and property by observing and reporting.
D) Assist law enforcement in high-speed pursuits. Elaboration: The fundamental duty of
a security guard is prevention. A guard acts as a deterrent and is trained to observe
incidents and report them to the proper authorities or property owners.
2. A security guard's authority to enforce laws is:
A) Equal to that of a sworn peace officer while on duty.
B) Exactly the same as any other private citizen.
C) Greater than a private citizen but less than a police officer.
D) Valid only on public property. Elaboration: Security guards are not peace officers.
Their legal authority is granted under California Penal Code Section 837, which
outlines the powers of a citizen's arrest.
3. When an emergency occurs on the property a guard is protecting, the very first action
the guard should take is:
A) Attempt to resolve the emergency independently.
B) Ensure their own personal safety before assisting others or calling for help.
C) Evacuate all personnel immediately.
D) Perform a citizen's arrest on anyone acting suspiciously. Elaboration: A security
guard cannot protect others or report an incident if they become a victim. Personal
safety is the absolute first priority in any emergency.
4. A security guard observes a crime being committed. The guard's best course of action is
to:
A) Immediately physically detain the suspect.
B) Draw their weapon to intimidate the suspect.
, C) Observe the details from a safe distance, call law enforcement, and write a detailed
report.
D) Yell at the suspect to stop and then leave the area. Elaboration: While a guard has
the authority to make a citizen's arrest, the safest and most legally sound action is to
observe, report to law enforcement, and document the event.
5. What is the significance of the "Observe and Report" doctrine in private security?
A) It prevents the guard from ever making an arrest.
B) It minimizes physical risk to the guard and reduces civil liability for the employer.
C) It grants the guard immunity from criminal prosecution.
D) It is only applicable to unarmed security guards. Elaboration: Physical interventions
carry high risks of injury and lawsuits. Observing and reporting transfers the physical
apprehension to trained law enforcement.
Section 2: Legal Authority and Powers to Arrest
6. Under California Penal Code Section 837, a private citizen (or security guard) may arrest
another person for a misdemeanor if:
A) They suspect the person is about to commit the offense.
B) The offense was committed or attempted in their physical presence.
C) A third party tells them the offense occurred.
D) The offense was committed on the property within the last 24 hours. Elaboration: For
a misdemeanor citizen's arrest to be lawful, the arresting person must have directly
witnessed the offense happening.
7. A security guard may make a citizen's arrest for a felony if:
A) A felony has been committed, and the guard has reasonable cause to believe the
person arrested committed it.
B) The guard physically witnesses the felony being committed.
C) The guard receives an alert from law enforcement about a fleeing felon.
D) Both A and B are correct. Elaboration: Unlike a misdemeanor, a citizen can arrest
for a felony even if they did not witness it, provided a felony actually occurred and
they have reasonable cause to suspect the individual.
8. Which of the following conditions must be met for a valid "reasonable cause" to make a
felony arrest?
, A) A gut feeling that the person looks suspicious.
B) Facts and circumstances that would lead a reasonable person to believe the suspect
committed the crime.
C) Absolute proof of guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
D) A direct confession from the suspect. Elaboration: Reasonable cause is an objective
legal standard based on facts, evidence, and circumstances, not mere suspicion or
prejudice.
9. Once a security guard has made a lawful citizen's arrest, what must they do
immediately?
A) Interrogate the suspect to get a confession.
B) Search the suspect's vehicle for contraband.
C) Turn the suspect over to a peace officer without unnecessary delay.
D) Transport the suspect to the nearest county jail. Elaboration: Penal Code 847
requires a private person who makes an arrest to deliver the arrested person to a
peace officer or magistrate without unnecessary delay.
10. A security guard is detaining a suspect for shoplifting. The suspect attempts to walk
away. The guard may legally:
A) Use deadly force to prevent the escape.
B) Use reasonable and necessary force to effect the arrest and prevent escape.
C) Shoot the suspect with a TASER or pepper spray immediately.
D) Do nothing; the guard cannot touch the suspect. Elaboration: A person making a
lawful citizen's arrest may use reasonable force to detain the suspect, overcome
resistance, and prevent escape.
11. According to the BSIS, what is the most frequent cause of security guards being sued or
criminally charged?
A) Falling asleep on duty.
B) Failing to write an incident report.
C) Making an unlawful arrest or using excessive force.
D) Wearing an improper uniform. Elaboration: False imprisonment, assault, and
battery claims arise directly from guards acting outside their legal authority or using
force beyond what is reasonable.
BSIS Security Guard Training
Section 1: Role and Responsibilities of a Security Guard
1. The primary role of a private security guard is to:
A) Enforce all local and state laws.
B) Apprehend and interrogate suspected criminals.
C) Protect people and property by observing and reporting.
D) Assist law enforcement in high-speed pursuits. Elaboration: The fundamental duty of
a security guard is prevention. A guard acts as a deterrent and is trained to observe
incidents and report them to the proper authorities or property owners.
2. A security guard's authority to enforce laws is:
A) Equal to that of a sworn peace officer while on duty.
B) Exactly the same as any other private citizen.
C) Greater than a private citizen but less than a police officer.
D) Valid only on public property. Elaboration: Security guards are not peace officers.
Their legal authority is granted under California Penal Code Section 837, which
outlines the powers of a citizen's arrest.
3. When an emergency occurs on the property a guard is protecting, the very first action
the guard should take is:
A) Attempt to resolve the emergency independently.
B) Ensure their own personal safety before assisting others or calling for help.
C) Evacuate all personnel immediately.
D) Perform a citizen's arrest on anyone acting suspiciously. Elaboration: A security
guard cannot protect others or report an incident if they become a victim. Personal
safety is the absolute first priority in any emergency.
4. A security guard observes a crime being committed. The guard's best course of action is
to:
A) Immediately physically detain the suspect.
B) Draw their weapon to intimidate the suspect.
, C) Observe the details from a safe distance, call law enforcement, and write a detailed
report.
D) Yell at the suspect to stop and then leave the area. Elaboration: While a guard has
the authority to make a citizen's arrest, the safest and most legally sound action is to
observe, report to law enforcement, and document the event.
5. What is the significance of the "Observe and Report" doctrine in private security?
A) It prevents the guard from ever making an arrest.
B) It minimizes physical risk to the guard and reduces civil liability for the employer.
C) It grants the guard immunity from criminal prosecution.
D) It is only applicable to unarmed security guards. Elaboration: Physical interventions
carry high risks of injury and lawsuits. Observing and reporting transfers the physical
apprehension to trained law enforcement.
Section 2: Legal Authority and Powers to Arrest
6. Under California Penal Code Section 837, a private citizen (or security guard) may arrest
another person for a misdemeanor if:
A) They suspect the person is about to commit the offense.
B) The offense was committed or attempted in their physical presence.
C) A third party tells them the offense occurred.
D) The offense was committed on the property within the last 24 hours. Elaboration: For
a misdemeanor citizen's arrest to be lawful, the arresting person must have directly
witnessed the offense happening.
7. A security guard may make a citizen's arrest for a felony if:
A) A felony has been committed, and the guard has reasonable cause to believe the
person arrested committed it.
B) The guard physically witnesses the felony being committed.
C) The guard receives an alert from law enforcement about a fleeing felon.
D) Both A and B are correct. Elaboration: Unlike a misdemeanor, a citizen can arrest
for a felony even if they did not witness it, provided a felony actually occurred and
they have reasonable cause to suspect the individual.
8. Which of the following conditions must be met for a valid "reasonable cause" to make a
felony arrest?
, A) A gut feeling that the person looks suspicious.
B) Facts and circumstances that would lead a reasonable person to believe the suspect
committed the crime.
C) Absolute proof of guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
D) A direct confession from the suspect. Elaboration: Reasonable cause is an objective
legal standard based on facts, evidence, and circumstances, not mere suspicion or
prejudice.
9. Once a security guard has made a lawful citizen's arrest, what must they do
immediately?
A) Interrogate the suspect to get a confession.
B) Search the suspect's vehicle for contraband.
C) Turn the suspect over to a peace officer without unnecessary delay.
D) Transport the suspect to the nearest county jail. Elaboration: Penal Code 847
requires a private person who makes an arrest to deliver the arrested person to a
peace officer or magistrate without unnecessary delay.
10. A security guard is detaining a suspect for shoplifting. The suspect attempts to walk
away. The guard may legally:
A) Use deadly force to prevent the escape.
B) Use reasonable and necessary force to effect the arrest and prevent escape.
C) Shoot the suspect with a TASER or pepper spray immediately.
D) Do nothing; the guard cannot touch the suspect. Elaboration: A person making a
lawful citizen's arrest may use reasonable force to detain the suspect, overcome
resistance, and prevent escape.
11. According to the BSIS, what is the most frequent cause of security guards being sued or
criminally charged?
A) Falling asleep on duty.
B) Failing to write an incident report.
C) Making an unlawful arrest or using excessive force.
D) Wearing an improper uniform. Elaboration: False imprisonment, assault, and
battery claims arise directly from guards acting outside their legal authority or using
force beyond what is reasonable.
