Pennsylvania Security Guard Practice Exam

Placing a choke hold on an individual you have arrested because you have a feeling he may escape could be excessive use of force

1. True

2. False

The correct answer is: True

Indeed, under Ontario law and as established in security principles, using a chokehold on an individual merely based on the assumption that they may try to escape is considered an excessive use of force. The use of physical force by a security guard should always be the last resort, and when it is necessary, the force applied must be reasonable and proportional to the situation. Just a mere speculation or fear that a person might escape or cause harm does not justify using potentially lethal force like a chokehold. In Ontario, any force used must align with the principles of the National Use of Force Framework, which emphasizes the necessity of using the least amount of force possible under a given situation. A chokehold could lead to serious, potentially lethal, harm and would only be justified in life-threatening situations. The concept of “Reasonable Force” is grounded in Canadian Criminal Law, where Section 25 of the Criminal Code of Canada allows security personnel to use force in order to carry out their duties, but only to the extent of what is 'reasonable in the circumstances'. Therefore, in this case, implementing a chokehold based on a feeling is deemed excessive and can result in liability for the guard and their employer. Hence, the statement is True.