A guard's 'fear' alone — without articulable facts indicating an imminent threat — is:
Explanation
The reasonableness standard is objective. A jury (or judge) asks what a reasonable person/officer in the guard's position would have perceived — sincere subjective fear is insufficient if articulable facts do not support imminent threat. This protects citizens from force premised on bias, anxiety, or unrelated stressors. Options (a), (b), (d) treat subjective fear as dispositive, which California law (and federal §1983 jurisprudence) rejects. Documenting articulable observations is essential when force is used.
Law Reference: Cal. Penal Code §835a; objective reasonablenessThis topic, taught in full in the California Guard Card (BSIS Security Guard) guide. California Guard Card — Complete Study Guide (2026) — PDF + EPUB, $9.99 · 14-day refund →
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