Arkansas Private Security Officer Practice Test 2026: Practice test 2

1. Question 1 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.

2. Question 2 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.

3. Question 3 of 20

   What should a security officer do after any use of force?

   • AAsk the person to sign a paper saying they were not hurt
   • BSay nothing unless the person who was hurt makes a formal complaint to the client later
   • CLeave the site before anyone asks questions
   • DGet medical help if needed, tell a supervisor and write a detailed report
   Show answer

   Answer: D. Get medical help if needed, tell a supervisor and write a detailed report

   Every use of force must be reported in detail. Medical care comes first if anyone is hurt.

4. Question 4 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.

5. Question 5 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.

6. Question 6 of 20

   You find a person who has collapsed and is not breathing. What should you do?

   • AWait to see if the person wakes up
   • BMove the person to a car to drive them to the hospital
   • CCall 911 or have someone call, send for an AED and start CPR if you are trained
   • DGive the person sips of water and wait a few minutes to see if they recover
   Show answer

   Answer: C. Call 911 or have someone call, send for an AED and start CPR if you are trained

   Fast action matters in cardiac arrest. Calling 911, CPR and an AED give the person the best chance.

7. Question 7 of 20

   Why must security reports be accurate and complete?

   • APolice, insurers, lawyers and courts may rely on them
   • BThey are only read by the officer who wrote them, as a memory aid
   • CThey are used mainly for advertising
   • DThey are thrown away after each shift
   Show answer

   Answer: A. Police, insurers, lawyers and courts may rely on them

   A report may become a legal record. Mistakes or missing details can hurt an investigation and the officer's credibility.

8. Question 8 of 20

   In most states, a private security officer's power to arrest is:

   • AGreater than a police officer's while on private property
   • BThe same as any private citizen's, as set by state law
   • CUnlimited while the officer is in uniform
   • DThe same as a police officer's
   Show answer

   Answer: B. The same as any private citizen's, as set by state law

   Unless a state law gives special powers, a security officer has only the arrest powers that any private person has. These rules differ from state to state.

9. Question 9 of 20

   A security officer harms someone while doing their job. Who else may be held responsible?

   • AThe local police department
   • BOnly the person who was harmed
   • CThe officer's employer, and sometimes the client
   • DNo one, because the officer was doing their job at the time
   Show answer

   Answer: C. The officer's employer, and sometimes the client

   Employers can be held responsible for what employees do within the scope of their job. This is called vicarious liability.

10. Question 10 of 20

    Why do security officers use the phonetic alphabet (Alpha, Bravo, Charlie) on the radio?

    • ATo spell letters clearly so they are not misheard
    • BTo show the officer's rank
    • CBecause it makes messages shorter
    • DTo keep every message secret from people listening in
    Show answer

    Answer: A. To spell letters clearly so they are not misheard

    Letters like B, D and P sound alike on a radio. Words such as Bravo, Delta and Papa prevent mistakes.

11. Question 11 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.

12. Question 12 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.

13. Question 13 of 20

    What is the main purpose of a security patrol?

    • ATo prevent and detect problems such as fires, hazards, theft and intruders
    • BTo find people to arrest
    • CTo check the quality of employees' work and report anyone who does not seem busy
    • DTo keep the officer busy until the shift ends
    Show answer

    Answer: A. To prevent and detect problems such as fires, hazards, theft and intruders

    Patrols let officers spot and report problems early, and a visible officer deters crime.

14. Question 14 of 20

    Why should security officers change the times and routes of their patrols?

    • ASo no one can predict when the officer will come by
    • BBecause the same route is boring
    • CTo shorten the patrol
    • DSo the officer can skip checking some doors and windows
    Show answer

    Answer: A. So no one can predict when the officer will come by

    A predictable patrol is easy for a criminal to plan around. Varying the pattern makes patrols a stronger deterrent.

15. Question 15 of 20

    A person walks through a secure door right behind an employee without using their own card. What is this called?

    • ASkimming
    • BTailgating
    • CShoplifting
    • DLoitering
    Show answer

    Answer: B. Tailgating

    Tailgating (also called piggybacking) lets unauthorized people slip into secure areas. Officers should watch for it and challenge it politely.

16. Question 16 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.

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

    The PASS method for using a portable fire extinguisher stands for:

    • APull, Aim, Squeeze, Sweep
    • BPoint, Activate, Squeeze, Stop
    • CPush, Aim, Spray, Stop
    • DPull, Alert, Spray, Shut
    Show answer

    Answer: A. Pull, Aim, Squeeze, Sweep

    Pull the pin, aim at the base of the fire, squeeze the handle and sweep from side to side.

19. Question 19 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.

20. Question 20 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.

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The real test: 70% or above