Delaware Security Guard Practice Test 2026: Practice test 4

1. Question 1 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.

2. Question 2 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.

3. Question 3 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.

4. Question 4 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.

5. Question 5 of 20

   A trespasser refuses to leave and becomes angry. What should the officer usually do?

   • AKeep a safe distance and call the police, as the post orders say
   • BBlock the exit so the person has to stay there until the police arrive
   • CLock the person in an office
   • DDrag the person off the property
   Show answer

   Answer: A. Keep a safe distance and call the police, as the post orders say

   Officers should avoid physical confrontation. Police can deal with a person who will not leave.

6. Question 6 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.

7. Question 7 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.

8. Question 8 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.

9. Question 9 of 20

   You see a spill on the floor of a busy hallway. What should you do?

   • ATell a few people nearby to be careful and do nothing else
   • BWait until someone slips, then report it
   • CWalk around it and continue your patrol
   • DGuard or mark the area, report it for cleanup and note it
   Show answer

   Answer: D. Guard or mark the area, report it for cleanup and note it

   Slips are a common cause of injury. Officers should make hazards safe and report them right away.

10. Question 10 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.

11. Question 11 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.

12. Question 12 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.

13. Question 13 of 20

    Which example best describes negligence?

    • AHitting a person on purpose during an argument
    • BNot checking a fire exit you were told to check, and someone is hurt because it was blocked
    • CRefusing to work an extra shift when a coworker calls in sick
    • DAsking a visitor to sign in at the front desk
    Show answer

    Answer: B. Not checking a fire exit you were told to check, and someone is hurt because it was blocked

    Negligence means failing to use the care a reasonable person would use, and that failure causes harm.

14. Question 14 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.

15. Question 15 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.

16. Question 16 of 20

    In "run, hide, fight," when is fighting appropriate?

    • AWhen you want to protect the building and its valuable property
    • BBefore trying anything else
    • CEvery time you see the attacker
    • DOnly as a last resort, when your life is in immediate danger
    Show answer

    Answer: D. Only as a last resort, when your life is in immediate danger

    Escaping or hiding comes first. Fighting is for when there is no other choice and your life is at risk.

17. Question 17 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.

18. Question 18 of 20

    Which of these sentences should go in an incident report?

    • AI think the night cleaner probably forgot to lock the loading dock door again.
    • BThis building is always a mess.
    • CThe east loading dock door was propped open with a brick at 2:15 a.m.
    • DProbably nothing important happened.
    Show answer

    Answer: C. The east loading dock door was propped open with a brick at 2:15 a.m.

    Reports should record facts you saw or heard, with times and places, not personal opinions.

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

    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.

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The real test: 75%