DC Security Officer Cheat Sheet

DC Rules & Licensing

Not published of exam
Licensing & Regulators Officer Types Eligibility & Training Commission Card DLCP + SOMB

Authority & Limits

Not published of exam
Arrest & Detention Law Detain vs Arrest Citizen's Arrest Search Limits Limits & Liability

Use of Force

Not published of exam
Force Continuum Reasonable Force Deadly Force De-escalation Reactionary Gap

Emergency & Terrorism

Not published of exam
Emergency Response Suspicious Package Fire & First Aid Active Shooter Terrorism

Patrol & Access Control

Not published of exam
Patrol & Access Control Tailgating Key Control Visitor Log Post Orders

Reports & Communications

Not published of exam
Reports & Records Radio & Conduct DAR Chain of Custody 10-Codes

Quick Facts

Exam DC Security Officer
Regulator DLCP + MPD SOMB
Test Pearson VUE CBT
Questions ~40 multiple-choice
Time 1 hour
Pass 70%
Min age 18 (SPO 21)
Training 24 hrs + 16 OJT
Fees $103 + $35 check
Card Renew every 2 yrs

Security Officer vs SPO RE

Security Officer

No arrest power
Usually unarmed
Written exam required

Special Police Officer

Arrest on premises
May be armed
No written exam
Observe vs arrest

Licensing & Regulators RE

DLCP Processes SO licenses
MPD SOMB Final signoff, oversight
Pearson VUE Administers written exam
DCMR 17-21 Security officer rules
DCMR 6A-11 Special police rules
Mayor Commissions SPOs

Eligibility & Training RE

Min age 18 SO, 21 SPO
Citizenship US citizen or permit
Pre-assignment 24 hours classroom
OJT 16 hours, 90 days
In-service 8 hours yearly
Background FBI check, $35
Drug test 6-panel screening
Physical Exam within 90 days

Commission Card RE

Purpose Proves authorization
Carry On person on duty
Show Produce on request
Renewal Every two years
Sponsor Licensed agency required
Lost card Report immediately

Detain vs Arrest LE

Detain

Brief investigative hold
Reasonable suspicion
Await police

Arrest

Custodial seizure
Probable cause
Deliver to police
Hold vs take custody

Detain or Release LE

Suspect theft, unsure → Observe, gather facts ( Confirm elements )
Felony in presence → Citizen's arrest allowed ( § 23-582(b) )
No probable cause → Do not detain ( False arrest risk )
Detained lawfully → Call police promptly ( No delay )
Trespasser refuses → Warn, then call police ( Document it )
Person wants to leave → Cannot hold without cause ( Avoid liability )

Arrest & Detention Law LE

SO power Private person only
Citizen's arrest Felony in your presence
§ 23-582(b) Private-person arrest rule
Probable cause Facts showing crime
Deliver To police without delay
SPO arrest Police-like on premises
§ 23-582(a) Special police warrantless arrest
Fresh pursuit Chase off-premises offenders

Observe-Report vs Intervene LE

Observe & Report

Default SO role
Document, notify
Low liability

Intervene

Only if necessary
Imminent danger
Higher liability
Eyes and ears first

Limits & Liability LE

Search Needs consent or authority
Reasonable suspicion Articulable facts, not hunch
False imprisonment Unlawful detention
False arrest No legal grounds
Miranda Not required (private)
Duty of care Prevent foreseeable harm
Civil liability Sued for negligence
Respondeat superior Employer held liable

Suspicion vs Probable Cause LE

Reasonable Suspicion

Articulable facts
Justifies brief stop
Lower certainty

Probable Cause

Facts show crime
Justifies arrest
Higher standard
Stop vs arrest

False vs Lawful Detention LE

False Imprisonment

No legal grounds
Against their will
Civil and criminal

Lawful Detention

Probable cause
Reasonable time, manner
Prompt police
Grounds make the difference

Citizen vs SPO Arrest LE

Citizen's Arrest

Private-person power
Felony in presence
Any SO uses

SPO Arrest

Police-like on premises
Commissioned authority
Fresh pursuit
Private vs commissioned

Force Continuum FO

Presence, Voice, Empty-hand, Less-lethal, Deadly
Presence: visibility Voice: commands Empty-hand: control Less-lethal: baton/OC Deadly: last resort

Reasonable vs Deadly Force FO

Reasonable Force

Proportional, minimum
Any threat level
Most situations

Deadly Force

Death or serious harm
Imminent only
Never for property
Proportion vs last resort

Use-of-Force Picker FO

Subject present, compliant → Officer presence ( Visibility )
Not complying → Verbal commands ( De-escalate )
Passive resistance → Soft controls ( Guide, escort )
Active resistance → Hard controls ( Holds, strikes )
Armed SPO, threat → Less-lethal tools ( Baton, OC )
Imminent death threat → Deadly force ( Last resort )

Use of Force FO

Continuum Presence to deadly force
Reasonable force Minimum, proportional
Deadly force Imminent death threat only
Not property Never protect property alone
De-escalation Verbal first, stay calm
Reactionary gap Keep 6-foot distance
Baton SO's only weapon
Document Report every use

Fire Extinguisher PASS EM

Pull, Aim, Squeeze, Sweep
Pull: pin Aim: base Squeeze: handle Sweep: side to side

Emergency Response Picker EM

Unattended package → Evacuate, call police ( No touch )
White powder found → Isolate, call 911 ( Treat hazmat )
Fire alarm sounds → Evacuate occupants ( No elevators )
Small contained fire → PASS extinguisher ( If trained )
Active shooter → Run, Hide, Fight ( In order )
Person collapses → Call 911, start CPR ( Use AED )

Emergency Response EM

Suspicious package Don't touch, evacuate, call
Unknown substance Isolate, 911, no touch
Fire alarm Evacuate, no elevators
Active shooter Run, Hide, Fight
Bomb threat Note details, notify
Medical Call 911, CPR/AED
Evacuation Direct exits, check stragglers
Terrorism Report suspicious activity

Active Shooter EM

Run first, Hide next, Fight last
Run: escape Hide: barricade Fight: last resort Call 911 when safe

Fire & First Aid EM

PASS Pull, Aim, Squeeze, Sweep
Class A Wood, paper, cloth
Class B Flammable liquids
Class C Electrical fires
Class K Kitchen grease
RACE Rescue, Alarm, Contain, Extinguish
AED Use when available

Suspicious Package EM

Don't touch, Evacuate, Isolate, Notify
No touch or move Clear the area Set a perimeter Call law enforcement

Patrol & Access Control PA

Patrol purpose Deter and detect
Vary routes Stay unpredictable
Situational awareness Know your baseline
Post orders Site-specific instructions
Tailgating Unauthorized entry behind
Key control Sign in/out, secure
Visitor log Record all visitors
CCTV Monitor and record

Report Elements RE

Who, What, When, Where, Why, How
Who: people What: happened When: time Where: location Why: cause How: method

Report or Notify RE

Routine shift events → Daily activity report ( DAR )
Incident occurred → Incident report ( Six elements )
Crime discovered → Secure, call police ( Chain of custody )
Evidence found → Do not touch ( Document distance )
Radio a message → Press, pause, speak ( 10-codes )

Reports & Records RE

DAR Daily activity report
Incident report Six elements, factual
Field notes Contemporaneous details
Chain of custody Track evidence handoff
Crime scene Secure, don't touch
Objectivity Facts, not opinions

Radio & Conduct RE

10-4 Received, understood
PTT Press, pause, speak
Concise Brief, plain language
Confidentiality Protect information
Bribery Decline and report
Professionalism Courteous, impartial
Customer service Assist tourists, visitors

Common Traps

Officer vs SPO

SO has no arrest ≠ SPO arrests on premises

Detain vs arrest

Detain is brief hold ≠ Arrest is custody

Suspicion vs cause

Suspicion allows stop ≠ Cause allows arrest

Reasonable vs deadly

Reasonable is proportional ≠ Deadly needs death threat

Observe vs intervene

Default is report ≠ Intervene only if needed

Age 18 vs 21

SO minimum is 18 ≠ SPO minimum is 21

Consent vs search

No search without consent ≠ Police need warrants

Last Minute

1. Regulator: DLCP + MPD SOMB
2. Test: Pearson VUE, pass 70%
3. SO min age 18; SPO 21
4. Training: 24 classroom + 16 OJT
5. SO = observe and report
6. SO has NO arrest power
7. SPO arrests on premises only
8. Citizen's arrest: felony in presence
9. Deliver detainee to police promptly
10. Deadly force: imminent death only
11. No search without consent
12. Package: don't touch, evacuate, call
13. Powder: isolate, call 911
14. Active shooter: Run, Hide, Fight
15. Incident report: six elements, factual
16. Card: carry, renew 2 yrs

District of Columbia Security Guard

Practice Questions 136 questions Study Guide 19 topics Cheat Sheet 80 facts Flashcards 50 cards Shorts 1 short Free CE