California Security Guard Practice Exam

An incident happens when you arrive to the location and you come across a witness who advises they saw everything. How do you take their statement?

1. Record all information from the witness word for word

2. Make clear the statement is in your note taking is from the witness

3. Have the witness verify the information given and then sign their statement on the memo book

4. All of the above

The correct answer is: All of the above

When taking a statement from a witness as a security officer, it's crucial to perform all the steps mentioned in the options. Firstly, you need to record all information from the witness word for word. This ensures that you are not altering, omitting, or putting your interpretation on the statement given by the witness. It helps maintaining the accuracy and integrity of the information. Secondly, it's paramount to mark clearly in your notes that the statement originates from a particular witness. It helps to distinguish between your observations and someone else's account of the incident. This also assists in maintaining traceability of where that piece of information came from. Lastly, asking the witness to verify the information provided and then sign their statement in your memo book is extremely important. It affirms the validity of the statement by the witness themselves, helps in maintaining the authenticity of the statement and the chain of custody. If the case goes to court, a signed, verified statement from a witness is stronger and more credible evidence. Henceforth, the correct answer is "All of the above" as a security guard needs to perform all these actions while taking a statement from a witness during an incident.