California BSIS Guard Card Exam Questions & Answers 2026 (11–20)

Q11Which scenario does NOT justify a citizen's arrest by a security officer?

• AAn employee told the officer that someone shoplifted yesterday but the officer did not witness it
• BA person is caught vandalizing a wall in the officer's presence
• CA person physically assaults another guest in the officer's presence
• DA person refuses to leave after being asked several times

Q12The term 'reasonable cause' (also called probable cause) in the context of a citizen's arrest means:

• AA gut feeling that someone is acting suspiciously
• BAny accusation made by a store employee
• CEvidence that is 100% conclusive proof of guilt
• DFacts and circumstances that would lead a reasonable person to believe a crime has been committed

Q13When a security officer uses a citizen's arrest, they are acting under:

• AFull police authority granted by the state
• BSpecial powers granted only by their employer's license
• CThe same legal authority as any private person under California Penal Code
• DFederal law enforcement authority

Q14A person being detained under citizen's arrest demands to see the security officer's badge. The officer should:

• ARefuse, as sharing badge information is a security risk
• BShow their guard registration card and identify their employing agency if asked
• CTell the person their credentials are confidential
• DOnly show credentials after police arrive

Q15A security officer arrests someone for what they believe is a felony, but it turns out no felony was actually committed. The officer may face liability for:

• AFalse arrest and false imprisonment
• BNothing, because intent is what matters
• COnly a minor disciplinary action from their employer
• DCriminal charges of impersonating a police officer

Q16Which best describes a 'detention' versus a 'full arrest' in California?

• AThey are legally identical and carry the same consequences
• BA detention allows handcuffing; an arrest does not
• CAn arrest can be made for any suspicion; a detention requires certainty
• DA detention is a brief investigative stop; an arrest means the person is formally taken into custody

Q17Under PC 490.5, a merchant (or their agent, such as a security officer) may detain a person in a reasonable manner for a reasonable time in order to:

• APunish them for the theft
• BCollect payment for stolen merchandise
• CInvestigate whether shoplifting occurred
• DDocument all personal information in the store's database

Q18If a security officer witnesses a person commit a misdemeanor battery against another person, the officer:

• AHas no authority to act since battery requires a police officer
• BMay make a citizen's arrest because the offense was committed in their presence
• CMust wait until the victim files a police report
• DCan only take action if authorized by a supervisor

Q19The term 'false imprisonment' as it applies to security officers means:

• AUnlawfully restraining or confining another person without legal authority
• BAny use of physical force during an arrest
• CDetaining someone inside a building
• DUsing handcuffs during any detention

Q20A security officer receives a radio call that a person matching a certain description committed a robbery an hour ago and may be in the parking lot. The officer locates the person. Which action is MOST appropriate?

• AImmediately tackle and handcuff the person
• BMake a citizen's arrest without calling police
• CIgnore the information since the officer did not witness the crime
• DObserve from a safe distance, contact police, and provide updates