Arizona Security Guard Knowledge Quiz 2026: Practice test 3

1. Question 1 of 20

   On patrol you find a broken window and signs that someone forced their way in. What should you do first?

   • AGo inside alone to catch the intruder
   • BStay outside, call the police and your supervisor, and watch from a safe place
   • CClean up the broken glass so no one is hurt
   • DWait until morning so the day shift supervisor can decide what to do next about it
   Show answer

   Answer: B. Stay outside, call the police and your supervisor, and watch from a safe place

   An intruder may still be inside. Entering alone is dangerous and can destroy evidence.

2. Question 2 of 20

   You find a fire in a storage room. What should you do first?

   • AFinish your patrol first and report it when you get back to the security desk
   • BRaise the alarm and call the fire department, following site procedures
   • CTry to put it out alone, no matter how big it is
   • DOpen all the windows to let the smoke out
   Show answer

   Answer: B. Raise the alarm and call the fire department, following site procedures

   Early warning saves lives. Only try to fight a small fire if you are trained, it is safe and you have a clear way out.

3. Question 3 of 20

   When should a security officer consider making a citizen's arrest?

   • AOnly when state law allows it, employer policy permits it, and it is safe and necessary
   • BWhenever someone breaks a site rule
   • CAny time the officer has a feeling someone is guilty
   • DWhenever a customer or the client asks for it and agrees to sign a written statement
   Show answer

   Answer: A. Only when state law allows it, employer policy permits it, and it is safe and necessary

   Citizen's arrest rules differ by state and carry real legal risk. Many employers tell officers to observe and report and let police make arrests.

4. Question 4 of 20

   How should you record what a witness said in a report?

   • AWrite their exact words in quotation marks when you can
   • BWrite only the parts you agree with
   • CReplace their words with your opinion of what they meant
   • DChange their words so they sound more professional
   Show answer

   Answer: A. Write their exact words in quotation marks when you can

   Exact quotes are more accurate and more useful as evidence than a summary.

5. Question 5 of 20

   What does federal guidance tell people to do in an active shooter situation?

   • ARun, hide, fight
   • BStop, drop and roll
   • CDuck, cover and hold
   • DStay, call and wait
   Show answer

   Answer: A. Run, hide, fight

   The Department of Homeland Security advises running if there is a safe way out, hiding if not, and fighting only as a last resort.

6. Question 6 of 20

   What is the best way to ask a trespasser to leave?

   • AShout at them in front of other people
   • BTake their ID card and keep it until they leave
   • CExplain politely and clearly that they must leave, and give them time to go
   • DTake their arm firmly and walk them out the nearest door without saying much
   Show answer

   Answer: C. Explain politely and clearly that they must leave, and give them time to go

   A clear, polite request gives the person a chance to comply and reduces the chance of a fight.

7. Question 7 of 20

   Which body language helps calm an angry person?

   • ACrossed arms and a hard stare
   • BStanding close to the person's face to show confidence
   • COpen hands, a relaxed stance and a safe distance
   • DPointing your finger at the person
   Show answer

   Answer: C. Open hands, a relaxed stance and a safe distance

   Calm, non-threatening body language helps lower tension. Keeping a safe distance also protects the officer.

8. Question 8 of 20

   A shopper is loud and upset at the service desk. What should the security officer try first?

   • AHolding the shopper's arms
   • BCalm, respectful conversation
   • CThreatening to call the police right away
   • DPepper spray
   Show answer

   Answer: B. Calm, respectful conversation

   Talking is the first and safest option. Physical force is a last resort and only when it is lawful and necessary.

9. Question 9 of 20

   How should a security officer decide whom to watch more closely?

   • ABy their race, ethnic background or accent
   • BBy the language they speak
   • CBy what people do, not by how they look
   • DBy their age or how they dress
   Show answer

   Answer: C. By what people do, not by how they look

   Watching behavior is fair and effective. Profiling people by appearance is unfair and can break anti-discrimination laws.

10. Question 10 of 20

    What does "civil liability" mean?

    • ABeing legally responsible to pay money for harm you caused someone
    • BLosing your driver's license because of unpaid parking and traffic tickets
    • CBeing sent to prison for a serious crime
    • DHaving to work extra shifts as a punishment
    Show answer

    Answer: A. Being legally responsible to pay money for harm you caused someone

    Civil liability is decided in a lawsuit. A court can order the person who caused harm, and sometimes the employer, to pay damages.

11. Question 11 of 20

    An upset person is shouting at you. Which reply is most likely to calm things down?

    • A"I can see you're frustrated. Let's see how I can help."
    • B"Calm down right now, or I'm going to have to ask you to leave!"
    • C"That's not my problem, go ask someone else."
    • D"You're being ridiculous about this."
    Show answer

    Answer: A. "I can see you're frustrated. Let's see how I can help."

    Showing empathy and offering help lowers tension. Orders and insults usually make people angrier.

12. Question 12 of 20

    A good incident report answers which questions?

    • AOnly who and when
    • BOnly what happened to the officer
    • CWho, what, when, where, why and how
    • DOnly what the client wants to hear about
    Show answer

    Answer: C. Who, what, when, where, why and how

    The six basic questions make sure the reader understands the full incident.

13. Question 13 of 20

    What is access control?

    • ALocking all fire exits during business hours
    • BMaking sure only authorized people and vehicles enter an area
    • CCounting visitors for marketing reports
    • DTurning the building lights and alarms on and off at set times
    Show answer

    Answer: B. Making sure only authorized people and vehicles enter an area

    Access control uses checks such as ID badges, sign-in sheets and locks to keep unauthorized people out.

14. Question 14 of 20

    At shift change you find that a key to a secure area is missing. What should you do?

    • AWait for the monthly key count to see if it turns up
    • BHave a copy made from another key
    • CReport it right away and record it in the log
    • DSay nothing and hope it turns up
    Show answer

    Answer: C. Report it right away and record it in the log

    A missing key can let someone into a secure area. Reporting it quickly allows the client to change locks if needed.

15. Question 15 of 20

    What is "deadly force"?

    • ATouching someone's shoulder or arm without their permission
    • BForce likely to cause death or serious bodily injury
    • CAny force used at night
    • DPlacing handcuffs on a person
    Show answer

    Answer: B. Force likely to cause death or serious bodily injury

    State laws allow deadly force only in very narrow situations, such as an immediate threat of death or serious injury.

16. Question 16 of 20

    When force is allowed, how much force may a security officer use?

    • AAny amount of force the client approves in writing in the post orders
    • BAs much force as it takes to win
    • CTwice as much force as the other person uses
    • DOnly the force that is reasonable and necessary for the situation
    Show answer

    Answer: D. Only the force that is reasonable and necessary for the situation

    The law allows only reasonable force. Using more than is needed can make the officer guilty of assault and liable for damages.

17. Question 17 of 20

    You made a mistake in your field notebook. What is the correct way to fix it?

    • ACover it with correction fluid, then neatly write the right words over the top
    • BTear the page out
    • CDraw a single line through it, write the correction and add your initials
    • DScribble over it until it cannot be read
    Show answer

    Answer: C. Draw a single line through it, write the correction and add your initials

    Notes can be used as evidence. A single line keeps the original words readable and shows the change was honest.

18. Question 18 of 20

    Which description is best for an incident report?

    • AA suspicious-looking guy hanging around
    • BA man who looked like he was up to no good, hanging around the loading dock
    • CA man about 6 feet tall, wearing a red hooded sweatshirt and blue jeans
    • DA tall person wearing normal clothes
    Show answer

    Answer: C. A man about 6 feet tall, wearing a red hooded sweatshirt and blue jeans

    Reports should give facts and details that someone else can use, not opinions or vague words.

19. Question 19 of 20

    You feel very tired during a night shift. What is the professional choice?

    • ATurn off your radio so you can rest
    • BLeave early without telling anyone
    • CTake a short nap in your car during a quiet part of the shift
    • DTell your supervisor and use approved ways to stay alert
    Show answer

    Answer: D. Tell your supervisor and use approved ways to stay alert

    An officer who is asleep cannot protect anyone. Sleeping on duty can lead to dismissal and liability.

20. Question 20 of 20

    Which statement about a security uniform is true?

    • AIt gives the officer the right to search anyone on the client's property
    • BIt allows the officer to direct traffic on any public street
    • CIt shows the officer works for the site, but it gives no police powers
    • DIt allows the officer to hold people for questioning
    Show answer

    Answer: C. It shows the officer works for the site, but it gives no police powers

    A uniform makes an officer easy to find and can deter crime. It does not turn the officer into a law enforcement officer.

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