New York Security Guard Practice Test 2026: Practice test 3

1. Question 1 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.

2. Question 2 of 20

   What is a security officer's role during a building evacuation?

   • AGo back inside to collect belongings
   • BGuide people to exits and the assembly point and help account for everyone
   • CUse the elevators to move people faster
   • DLock the exit doors behind people so no one can go back inside the building
   Show answer

   Answer: B. Guide people to exits and the assembly point and help account for everyone

   Officers help people leave calmly by the nearest safe exit and report anyone missing to emergency responders.

3. Question 3 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.

4. Question 4 of 20

   A visitor asks how to find an office in the building. What should you do?

   • AAsk the visitor to leave the building
   • BIgnore the visitor, because giving directions is not security work
   • CHelp politely and clearly, or find someone who can
   • DTell the visitor to find it alone
   Show answer

   Answer: C. Help politely and clearly, or find someone who can

   Officers are often the first person a visitor meets. Helpful, polite service is part of the job.

5. Question 5 of 20

   When using a fire extinguisher, where should you aim it?

   • AAt the base of the fire
   • BInto the smoke
   • CAt the ceiling above the fire
   • DAt the top of the flames
   Show answer

   Answer: A. At the base of the fire

   Aiming at the base puts the extinguishing agent on the fuel that is burning.

6. Question 6 of 20

   A crime has just happened in a store office. Until police arrive, what should the security officer do?

   • APick up important items and keep them safe in your pocket
   • BLet staff walk through to see what happened
   • CKeep people out of the area and avoid touching anything
   • DClean up so the office looks normal
   Show answer

   Answer: C. Keep people out of the area and avoid touching anything

   Protecting the scene preserves evidence. Officers should note who was there and anything they saw.

7. Question 7 of 20

   What is the main job of most private security officers?

   • AObserve, deter and report problems to the right people
   • BInvestigate crimes and arrest suspects in the same way as the police
   • CPunish people who break site rules
   • DEnforce traffic laws on public roads
   Show answer

   Answer: A. Observe, deter and report problems to the right people

   Security officers protect people and property mostly by being visible, watching carefully and reporting what they see. Law enforcement is the job of the police.

8. Question 8 of 20

   A person is on private property, is told by the owner's agent to leave, and refuses. What is the person usually doing?

   • AUsing a legal right to stay
   • BCommitting robbery
   • CTrespassing
   • DCommitting burglary
   Show answer

   Answer: C. Trespassing

   In most states, staying on private property after the owner or the owner's agent says to leave is trespass.

9. Question 9 of 20

   In most situations, when may a private security officer look inside a person's bag?

   • AAny time a person refuses to answer the officer's questions politely
   • BWhen the person agrees or it is a posted condition of entry
   • CWhenever the officer has a feeling about them
   • DOnly after the officer takes off the uniform
   Show answer

   Answer: B. When the person agrees or it is a posted condition of entry

   Private officers do not have police search powers. Searches usually depend on consent and the site's posted rules.

10. Question 10 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.

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 store manager offers you free merchandise if you "look the other way" now and then. What should you do?

    • AAsk for cash instead
    • BRefuse and report it to your supervisor
    • CAccept it but keep doing your job properly
    • DAccept it if the items are small
    Show answer

    Answer: B. Refuse and report it to your supervisor

    Accepting gifts in return for ignoring problems is unethical and may be a crime. Officers must stay honest and neutral.

13. Question 13 of 20

    During a fire evacuation, what should people NOT use?

    • AEmergency lighting
    • BStairs
    • CMarked exits
    • DElevators
    Show answer

    Answer: D. Elevators

    Elevators can stop working or open onto a fire floor. People should use the stairs.

14. Question 14 of 20

    What is good practice when using a two-way radio?

    • AHold long personal conversations
    • BShout into the microphone
    • CUse code words you made up so others cannot understand you
    • DThink before you speak and keep messages short and clear
    Show answer

    Answer: D. Think before you speak and keep messages short and clear

    Others may need the channel for an emergency. Clear, brief messages are easier to understand.

15. Question 15 of 20

    Why must a security officer never say or suggest that they are a police officer?

    • APolice officers may ask the officer to work for them
    • BClients only allow it during night shifts when the police are busy elsewhere
    • CPretending to be a police officer is a crime and can lead to lawsuits
    • DIt makes incident reports harder to write
    Show answer

    Answer: C. Pretending to be a police officer is a crime and can lead to lawsuits

    Impersonating a law enforcement officer is a criminal offense. It also exposes the officer and employer to civil lawsuits.

16. Question 16 of 20

    Why do many sites make visitors sign in and wear visitor passes?

    • ATo slow visitors down
    • BBecause a single federal law requires it at every building with security officers
    • CSo security knows who is on site, why they are there and when they leave
    • DTo collect personal data to sell
    Show answer

    Answer: C. So security knows who is on site, why they are there and when they leave

    Visitor logs and passes help staff spot people who do not belong and help account for everyone in an emergency.

17. Question 17 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.

18. Question 18 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.

19. Question 19 of 20

    What are "post orders"?

    • AWritten instructions that describe an officer's duties at a specific site
    • BOrders given by police officers to security staff at a crime scene they control
    • CA list of people who are banned from all stores
    • DLetters that arrive in the mail for the client
    Show answer

    Answer: A. Written instructions that describe an officer's duties at a specific site

    Post orders tell officers what to do at their post, such as patrol times, access rules and emergency contacts.

20. Question 20 of 20

    You find an unattended, suspicious package. What should you do?

    • AOpen it to see what is inside
    • BPick it up gently and shake it to hear what is inside
    • CCarry it outside to a safer place
    • DDo not touch it, move people away and report it
    Show answer

    Answer: D. Do not touch it, move people away and report it

    A suspicious item may be dangerous. Keep people away and let trained responders deal with it.

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