Illinois Security Guard Practice Exam 2025 - Free Security Guard Practice Questions and Study Guide

The correct answer indicates that security guards cannot impose or enforce laws as a law enforcement officer can, yet they have the authority to report any observed violations to the police or other relevant authorities. Security guards are primarily tasked with maintaining safety and security in the areas they are assigned.

While they can take action to prevent incidents within the scope of their responsibilities, such as detaining individuals until law enforcement arrives, they do not possess the full legal authority that law enforcement officers have. This means they cannot make arrests or enforce laws in the same way that trained police officers do.

The option suggesting that they have full law enforcement powers is incorrect, as security guards operate under a different legal framework and have limited authority. The idea that they can enforce laws only on private property is misleading, as their authority is still more restricted than that of police officers, and they largely focus on security rather than law enforcement. Lastly, the statement that security guards can only enforce laws if they are licensed police officers fails to recognize the distinct roles and responsibilities of security personnel compared to law enforcement officials.