Power To Arrest & Appropriate Use of Force Course

The California Guard Card 8-hour course is officially called the Power to Arrest & Appropriate Use of Force training required by the California Bureau of Security and Investigative Services (BSIS).

The course is now split into 2 parts:

Part A — Power to Arrest (3 Hours)

Usually can be completed online.

Topics include:

• Powers and limitations of security guards
• Citizen’s arrest laws
• When you can and cannot detain someone
• Trespassing laws
• Search and seizure restrictions
• Observation and reporting
• Legal responsibilities
• Ethics and professionalism
• Working with law enforcement
• Criminal vs civil liability
• Emergency procedures and safety awareness

Part B — Appropriate Use of Force (5 Hours)

This portion must include live instructor training/in-person instruction under current BSIS rules.

Topics include:

• De-escalation techniques
• Conflict resolution
• Verbal communication
• Situational awareness
• Defensive tactics concepts
• Reasonable vs excessive force
• Use-of-force laws
• Officer safety
• Handling aggressive individuals
• Duty to retreat vs protect
• Documentation after incidents

After completing both parts, you receive a certificate required to apply for your Guard Card through BSIS.