POWER TO ARREST FINAL EXAM PRACTICE ACTUAL QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS 100% CORRECT | 2025
Question 1
What is the primary role of a security guard BEFORE a violation has been committed?
A) Observe and report
B) Apprehend suspects
C) Prevention
D) Investigation
Correct Answer: C) Prevention
Rationale: The main duty of a security guard is to be a visible deterrent. By being present
and observant, a guard's primary role is to prevent incidents like theft, vandalism, or
trespassing from happening in the first place.
Question 2
What is the security guard's primary role AFTER a crime has been committed?
A) Prevention
B) Observe and report
C) Investigate and interrogate
D) Make an immediate arrest
Correct Answer: B) Observe and report
Rationale: Once a violation has occurred, the guard's role shifts to that of a good witness.
Their job is to safely observe the situation, gather information about the suspect and the
event, and accurately report this information to the police and their employer.
Question 3
Acting in such a way as to make someone think that you are a peace officer is:
A) Legal if you are on duty.
B) Illegal and should never be done.
C) Legal if you have made a citizen's arrest.
D) Part of a security guard's duties.
Correct Answer: B) Illegal and should never be done.
Rationale: Impersonating a peace officer is a criminal offense. A security guard must be
clear that they are a private citizen working as a security guard and must not wear
uniforms, use language, or act in a way that could mislead the public into believing they are
a police officer.
Question 4
You are patrolling a company parking lot and see two people trespassing near a car. What should
be your first action?
A) Immediately attempt to arrest them.
B) Block their exit with your vehicle.
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C) Use your radio to call for police backup.
D) Politely ask them what they are doing.
Correct Answer: D) Politely ask them what they are doing.
Rationale: The first step should be a non-confrontational approach. By engaging them in
conversation, you can assess their intentions. They may be lost or have a legitimate reason
to be there. This verbal intervention can often resolve the situation without escalation.
Question 5
Security officers have the same power to arrest as:
A) Peace officers on duty.
B) Off-duty peace officers.
C) Private persons (citizens).
D) Federal agents.
Correct Answer: C) Private persons (citizens).
Rationale: A security guard's authority to arrest is derived from their status as a private
citizen. They do not have any special police powers. Their power to make an arrest is
exactly the same as any other citizen's power to make a citizen's arrest.
Question 6
Who is legally authorized to make a felony arrest?
A) A peace officer only
B) A security guard only
C) Any private person
D) A peace officer, a security guard, or any other private person
Correct Answer: D) A peace officer, a security guard, or any other private person
Rationale: Any person, whether they are a police officer or a private citizen (including a
security guard), can legally make an arrest if they have reasonable cause to believe the
person they are arresting has committed a felony.
Question 7
If a security guard uses excessive force while making an arrest, what are the potential
consequences?
A) The guard may receive a commendation.
B) The guard may be sued, face criminal charges, or both.
C) The guard's employer is solely responsible.
D) There are no consequences if the arrest was lawful.
Correct Answer: B) The guard may be sued, face criminal charges, or both.
Rationale: The law only permits the use of reasonable and necessary force to make an
arrest. If a guard uses more force than is necessary, they can be held liable in civil court for
damages (sued) and can also face criminal charges such as assault or battery.
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Question 8
When arresting a suspect for suspicion of burglary, which of the following is an appropriate
statement to make?
A) "You're under arrest, punk!"
B) "I am making a citizen's arrest for burglary."
C) "Police are on the way, you'd better not move."
D) "I am a security officer, and you are being detained."
Correct Answer: B) "I am making a citizen's arrest for burglary."
Rationale: When making a citizen's arrest, it is important to be clear and professional. You
must inform the person that they are under arrest and state the specific offense for which
they are being arrested.
Question 9
If you are not sure whether a person has committed a crime that would justify an arrest, you
should:
A) Arrest them and let the police sort it out.
B) Detain them until you can find more evidence.
C) Observe and report, and do not detain or arrest.
D) Ask the person if they committed the crime.
Correct Answer: C) Observe and report, and do not detain or arrest.
Rationale: A wrongful arrest can lead to serious legal consequences for you and your
employer. If you do not have the necessary level of certainty (probable cause) that a crime
has been committed and that the suspect is the one who committed it, the safest and most
professional course of action is to not make an arrest. Instead, continue to observe and
report your observations to the police.
Question 10
You are on duty alone and observe a crime. The suspect appears to be much larger and stronger
than you. Is this a good reason not to attempt a citizen's arrest by yourself?
A) Yes, your safety is a primary concern.
B) No, you have a legal duty to make the arrest.
C) No, you should always attempt an arrest regardless of the risk.
D) Yes, but only if the crime was a misdemeanor.
Correct Answer: A) Yes, your safety is a primary concern.
Rationale: You are not legally required to make an arrest. If attempting an arrest would
place you in unreasonable danger, the prudent course of action is to not engage physically.
Your priority should be your own safety, followed by observing and reporting.
Question 11
Are you legally permitted to search people before you have arrested them?
AND ANSWERS 100% CORRECT | 2025
Question 1
What is the primary role of a security guard BEFORE a violation has been committed?
A) Observe and report
B) Apprehend suspects
C) Prevention
D) Investigation
Correct Answer: C) Prevention
Rationale: The main duty of a security guard is to be a visible deterrent. By being present
and observant, a guard's primary role is to prevent incidents like theft, vandalism, or
trespassing from happening in the first place.
Question 2
What is the security guard's primary role AFTER a crime has been committed?
A) Prevention
B) Observe and report
C) Investigate and interrogate
D) Make an immediate arrest
Correct Answer: B) Observe and report
Rationale: Once a violation has occurred, the guard's role shifts to that of a good witness.
Their job is to safely observe the situation, gather information about the suspect and the
event, and accurately report this information to the police and their employer.
Question 3
Acting in such a way as to make someone think that you are a peace officer is:
A) Legal if you are on duty.
B) Illegal and should never be done.
C) Legal if you have made a citizen's arrest.
D) Part of a security guard's duties.
Correct Answer: B) Illegal and should never be done.
Rationale: Impersonating a peace officer is a criminal offense. A security guard must be
clear that they are a private citizen working as a security guard and must not wear
uniforms, use language, or act in a way that could mislead the public into believing they are
a police officer.
Question 4
You are patrolling a company parking lot and see two people trespassing near a car. What should
be your first action?
A) Immediately attempt to arrest them.
B) Block their exit with your vehicle.
,[Type here]
C) Use your radio to call for police backup.
D) Politely ask them what they are doing.
Correct Answer: D) Politely ask them what they are doing.
Rationale: The first step should be a non-confrontational approach. By engaging them in
conversation, you can assess their intentions. They may be lost or have a legitimate reason
to be there. This verbal intervention can often resolve the situation without escalation.
Question 5
Security officers have the same power to arrest as:
A) Peace officers on duty.
B) Off-duty peace officers.
C) Private persons (citizens).
D) Federal agents.
Correct Answer: C) Private persons (citizens).
Rationale: A security guard's authority to arrest is derived from their status as a private
citizen. They do not have any special police powers. Their power to make an arrest is
exactly the same as any other citizen's power to make a citizen's arrest.
Question 6
Who is legally authorized to make a felony arrest?
A) A peace officer only
B) A security guard only
C) Any private person
D) A peace officer, a security guard, or any other private person
Correct Answer: D) A peace officer, a security guard, or any other private person
Rationale: Any person, whether they are a police officer or a private citizen (including a
security guard), can legally make an arrest if they have reasonable cause to believe the
person they are arresting has committed a felony.
Question 7
If a security guard uses excessive force while making an arrest, what are the potential
consequences?
A) The guard may receive a commendation.
B) The guard may be sued, face criminal charges, or both.
C) The guard's employer is solely responsible.
D) There are no consequences if the arrest was lawful.
Correct Answer: B) The guard may be sued, face criminal charges, or both.
Rationale: The law only permits the use of reasonable and necessary force to make an
arrest. If a guard uses more force than is necessary, they can be held liable in civil court for
damages (sued) and can also face criminal charges such as assault or battery.
, [Type here]
Question 8
When arresting a suspect for suspicion of burglary, which of the following is an appropriate
statement to make?
A) "You're under arrest, punk!"
B) "I am making a citizen's arrest for burglary."
C) "Police are on the way, you'd better not move."
D) "I am a security officer, and you are being detained."
Correct Answer: B) "I am making a citizen's arrest for burglary."
Rationale: When making a citizen's arrest, it is important to be clear and professional. You
must inform the person that they are under arrest and state the specific offense for which
they are being arrested.
Question 9
If you are not sure whether a person has committed a crime that would justify an arrest, you
should:
A) Arrest them and let the police sort it out.
B) Detain them until you can find more evidence.
C) Observe and report, and do not detain or arrest.
D) Ask the person if they committed the crime.
Correct Answer: C) Observe and report, and do not detain or arrest.
Rationale: A wrongful arrest can lead to serious legal consequences for you and your
employer. If you do not have the necessary level of certainty (probable cause) that a crime
has been committed and that the suspect is the one who committed it, the safest and most
professional course of action is to not make an arrest. Instead, continue to observe and
report your observations to the police.
Question 10
You are on duty alone and observe a crime. The suspect appears to be much larger and stronger
than you. Is this a good reason not to attempt a citizen's arrest by yourself?
A) Yes, your safety is a primary concern.
B) No, you have a legal duty to make the arrest.
C) No, you should always attempt an arrest regardless of the risk.
D) Yes, but only if the crime was a misdemeanor.
Correct Answer: A) Yes, your safety is a primary concern.
Rationale: You are not legally required to make an arrest. If attempting an arrest would
place you in unreasonable danger, the prudent course of action is to not engage physically.
Your priority should be your own safety, followed by observing and reporting.
Question 11
Are you legally permitted to search people before you have arrested them?
