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NY Security Guard Cheat Sheet

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Legal Powers & Citizen's Arrest

  • Not published of exam
  • Citizen's Arrest Shopkeeper's Privilege Guard Liability False Imprisonment

Use of Force & Penal Law

  • Not published of exam
  • Reasonable Force Deadly Force Duty to Retreat De-escalation

Emergency & Fire Procedures

  • Not published of exam
  • Emergency Response Fire & PASS Method Bomb Threats Terrorism Awareness

Patrol, Access & Observation

  • Not published of exam
  • Access Control Patrol & Observation Post Orders Visitor Logs

Communications & Public Relations

  • Not published of exam
  • Active Listening De-escalation Language Barriers Public Relations

Report Writing & Documentation

  • Not published of exam
  • Incident Reports Objectivity Evidence Preservation Court Testimony

Ethics, Conduct & Registration

  • Not published of exam
  • Registration Timeline Training Requirements Ethics & Conduct DOS vs DCJS

Quick Facts

  • Credential NYS Security Guard Registration
  • Body NY DOS / DCJS
  • Statute GBL Article 7-A
  • Pass Score 70%
  • Format School-administered MCQ
  • Pre-Assignment 8 hours
  • OJT 16 hrs / 90 days
  • Annual Training 8 hrs / 12 months
  • Registration Validity 2 years
  • Min Age 18 years old

CPL 140.30 Standard LE

  • Felony: fact and anywhere; Misdemeanor: presence and county
  • Felony: actual crime, anywhere Misdemeanor: presence, same county

Security Guard vs Peace Officer LE

Security Guard

  • Private citizen only
  • Citizen's-arrest power only
  • No qualified immunity

Peace Officer

  • Sworn government employee
  • Broad arrest authority
  • Has qualified immunity
  • Private vs sworn authority

Citizen's Arrest Decision LE

  • Felony witnessed → Arrest anywhere in NY ( CPL 140.30 )
  • Felony not witnessed → Arrest if actually committed ( No presence needed )
  • Misdemeanor witnessed → Arrest in that county ( Presence required )
  • Misdemeanor not witnessed → No citizen's arrest power ( Call police instead )
  • Suspected shoplifting → Detain under GBL 218 ( Reasonable grounds needed )
  • No crime witnessed → Observe and report only ( Call law enforcement )

Citizen's Arrest — CPL 140.30 LE

  • Felony standard Actually committed, presence not required CPL 140.30
  • Felony location Arrest anywhere in New York
  • Misdemeanor standard Must occur in guard's presence
  • Misdemeanor location Only in county committed
  • Guard's belief alone Not legally sufficient
  • After arrest Deliver to police promptly
  • No probable-cause power Guards need actual crime

Felony vs Misdemeanor Arrest LE

Felony Arrest

  • No presence required
  • Anywhere in New York

Misdemeanor Arrest

  • Presence required
  • County of offense only
  • Presence needed for misdemeanors

Shopkeeper's Privilege — GBL 218 LE

  • Reasonable grounds Required to detain suspect GBL 218
  • Reasonable manner No excessive force allowed
  • Reasonable time Only for investigation
  • Concealed merchandise Valid reasonable-grounds example
  • Anti-theft device Valid reasonable-grounds example
  • Privilege scope Defense only, not immunity

Shopkeeper's Privilege vs Citizen's Arrest LE

Shopkeeper's Privilege

  • Reasonable grounds only
  • Detain, then call police

Citizen's Arrest

  • Actual crime required
  • Formal custody, deliver to police
  • Detain vs formal arrest

Liability & Guard Limits LE

  • Qualified immunity Guards do not have it
  • False imprisonment Unlawful restraint, no justification PL 135.05
  • Civil liability Guard and company both
  • Summons power Guards cannot issue one
  • Search warrants Guards cannot obtain them
  • False written statement Criminal offense if knowing
  • Harassment Penal Law 240 conduct PL 240

Reasonable Force vs Deadly Force US

Reasonable Force

  • Proportional to threat
  • Effects a lawful arrest

Deadly Force

  • Imminent death or injury
  • Duty to retreat first
  • Escalation must match the threat

Use of Force Decision US

  • Verbal conflict only → De-escalate, no force ( Always try first )
  • Physical threat to guard → Reasonable, proportional force ( PL 35.15 )
  • Imminent death or injury → Deadly force justified ( Self-defense only )
  • Threat to property only → No deadly force ( Never justified )
  • Safe retreat available → Retreat before deadly force ( Duty to retreat )
  • Guard's own dwelling → No duty to retreat ( Castle exception )

Use of Force — Penal Law 35 US

  • Reasonable force Proportional to the threat
  • Deadly force trigger Imminent death or serious injury
  • Deadly force limit Never justified for property
  • Duty to retreat Required if safely possible
  • Retreat exception Guard's own dwelling
  • Justification Complete legal defense
  • First response Verbal de-escalation always

Fire Extinguisher PASS EM

  • Pull pin, Aim base, Squeeze, Sweep side to side
  • Pull: safety pin Aim: base of fire Squeeze: the handle Sweep: side to side

Emergency Response Decision EM

  • Small contained fire → PASS extinguisher method ( If safe only )
  • Uncontrolled fire → Sound alarm, evacuate ( Call 911 )
  • Person unresponsive → Call 911, check pulse ( CPR if trained )
  • Bomb threat received → Preserve it, call 911 ( Notify supervisor )
  • Gas smell detected → Evacuate, avoid sparks ( No elevators )
  • Mental health crisis → Stay calm, keep distance ( Call for help )

Emergency & Medical Response EM

  • First action Call 911 immediately
  • CPR If unresponsive and not breathing
  • AED Use if available on-site
  • Good Samaritan Law Protects good-faith responders PHL 3000-a
  • Unconscious victim Do not move them
  • Mental health crisis Stay calm, keep distance
  • Domestic violence call Call 911, do not enter

Fire, Bomb & Terrorism Awareness EM

  • PASS method Pull, aim, squeeze, sweep
  • Small fire Extinguish only if safe
  • Fire alarm Sound it before anything else
  • Bomb threat email Preserve it, do not forward
  • Suspicious photography Possible pre-attack surveillance
  • Gas leak No sparks, no elevators
  • Crowd crush Redirect flow, open exits

Access Control & ID Checks PA

  • Visitor log Tracks entry and exit
  • Fake ID Deny entry, do not confiscate
  • Post orders Post-specific written instructions
  • Found key or card Log it, find the owner
  • Concentric circles Layered perimeter to interior
  • Intrusion detection Motion, contact, glass-break sensors

Patrol & Observe-Report Duties PA

  • Deterrence Visible uniformed presence
  • Core guard role Observe, document, report
  • Shoplifting cases Keep continuous observation
  • Evidence found Preserve it, do not touch
  • Security lighting Deters crime, aids cameras
  • Shift handoff Share outstanding issues

Communication & De-escalation CO

  • Active listening Top DCJS communication skill
  • De-escalation Verbal first, force last
  • Language barrier Simple words, visual aids
  • Public relations Builds trust and cooperation
  • Confidentiality Need-to-know basis only
  • Tone Calm, professional, respectful

Incident Report 5 W's RE

  • Who, what, when, where, and why
  • Who: parties involved What: happened When: time and date Where: location Why: cause or context

Report Writing Standards RE

  • Objective tone Facts only, no opinion
  • Completeness Include all relevant details
  • Timeliness Write it right away
  • Court use Refreshes memory, becomes evidence
  • 5 W's Who, what, when, where, why
  • False report Criminal offense if knowing

Security Guard Training Ladder ET

  • 8-hr pre-assignment, then 16-hr OJT, then 8-hr annual
  • 8-hr: before registration 16-hr: within 90 days 8-hr: every 12 months

OJT vs Annual In-Service Training ET

16-Hr OJT

  • Within 90 working days
  • One-time requirement

8-Hr Annual In-Service

  • Every 12 months
  • Recurring requirement
  • Onboarding vs recurring training

Registration & Training Timeline ET

  • 8-hr pre-assignment Required before registration
  • 16-hr OJT Within 90 working days
  • 8-hr annual in-service Every 12 months after OJT
  • Registration validity Two years from issuance
  • Renewal window File up to 90 days early
  • Employer filing Within 24 hours of transaction #
  • Lapsed 6+ months Must reapply as new applicant

DOS vs DCJS ET

Department of State

  • Issues registration cards
  • Sets renewal fees

DCJS

  • Approves training schools
  • Sets curricula
  • Licensing vs training oversight

Fees & Costs ET

  • Application fee $36 to Department of State
  • Fingerprint fee About $102.50 to IDEMIA
  • Renewal fee $25 every two years
  • Employment status form $25 when changing employers
  • Total initial cost Roughly $190 to $390

Ethics & Professional Conduct ET

  • Integrity No bribes, no shortcuts
  • Reporting misconduct Tell supervisor, document it
  • ADA compliance No discriminatory procedures
  • Workplace violence Recognize signs, report early
  • Labor disputes Stay neutral, keep access safe
  • Governing statute GBL Article 7-A GBL 7-A

Common Traps

Citizen's Arrest ≠ Police Arrest

  • Guard needs actual crime ≠ Police needs reasonable cause

Shopkeeper Detain ≠ Formal Arrest

  • Detain is for investigation ≠ Arrest is formal custody

Reasonable Force ≠ Deadly Force

  • Reasonable force is proportional ≠ Deadly force needs imminent threat

DOS ≠ DCJS

  • DOS issues the license ≠ DCJS approves the training

OJT ≠ Annual In-Service

  • OJT is one-time, 90 days ≠ Annual training repeats every year

Observe-Report ≠ Physical Intervention

  • Guards document and notify ≠ Guards are not police officers

False Imprisonment ≠ Lawful Detention

  • No legal basis is false ≠ Reasonable grounds makes it lawful

Last Minute

  • 1. 70% passing score required
  • 2. 8-hr pre-assignment before registration
  • 3. 16-hr OJT within 90 working days
  • 4. 8-hr annual in-service every 12 months
  • 5. Registration valid for 2 years
  • 6. Felony arrest: no presence needed
  • 7. Misdemeanor arrest: presence plus county
  • 8. Deadly force: imminent threat only
  • 9. Duty to retreat unless in dwelling
  • 10. GBL 218: reasonable grounds, time, manner
  • 11. DOS registers; DCJS approves training
  • 12. Guards have no qualified immunity

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