Arkansas Private Security Officer Practice Test 2026: Practice test 3

1. Question 1 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.

2. Question 2 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.

3. Question 3 of 20

   A person who was struggling stops resisting and is now calm. What should happen to the officer's use of force?

   • AIt should increase so the person does not try again
   • BIt should stay exactly the same
   • CIt should stop or be reduced right away
   • DIt should continue until the police arrive
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   Answer: C. It should stop or be reduced right away

   Force must end when the threat ends. Force used after a person stops resisting is not reasonable and may be a crime.

4. Question 4 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.

5. Question 5 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.

6. Question 6 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.

7. Question 7 of 20

   A security officer holds a person in a room against their will with no legal right to do so. The officer may be sued for:

   • ALoitering
   • BBreach of contract
   • CNegligent hiring
   • DFalse imprisonment
   Show answer

   Answer: D. False imprisonment

   Unlawfully restricting someone's freedom to leave is false imprisonment. It can lead to a lawsuit and sometimes criminal charges.

8. Question 8 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.

9. Question 9 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
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   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.

10. Question 10 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
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    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.

11. Question 11 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.

12. Question 12 of 20

    An employee forgot their ID badge and says, "Everyone knows me, just let me in." What should you do?

    • ALet them in because they look familiar
    • BLet them in if they promise to bring the badge tomorrow and sign the log
    • CTell them to go home for the day
    • DFollow site procedure to confirm who they are before letting them in
    Show answer

    Answer: D. Follow site procedure to confirm who they are before letting them in

    Access rules apply to everyone. Confirming identity the approved way protects the site from people who only pretend to belong.

13. Question 13 of 20

    A caller says there is a bomb in the building. What should you do?

    • AIgnore it because most calls are jokes
    • BStay calm, keep the caller talking, write down everything and follow the bomb threat procedure
    • CHang up immediately
    • DSearch the building alone first so that you do not cause a panic
    Show answer

    Answer: B. Stay calm, keep the caller talking, write down everything and follow the bomb threat procedure

    Details from the call help police judge the threat. Follow your site's procedure and notify authorities.

14. Question 14 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.

15. Question 15 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.

16. Question 16 of 20

    What does "active listening" mean?

    • AInterrupting to correct the person's facts
    • BAgreeing with everything the person says so that they calm down faster
    • CPaying full attention, letting the person speak and repeating back what you heard
    • DWaiting quietly for your turn to argue
    Show answer

    Answer: C. Paying full attention, letting the person speak and repeating back what you heard

    People calm down when they feel heard. Repeating back what they said shows you understand.

17. Question 17 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.

18. Question 18 of 20

    When should a security officer write notes about an incident?

    • AOnly if the police come to the site
    • BAt the end of the week
    • CAs soon as possible, while the details are fresh
    • DOnly if a supervisor asks for them at the end of the shift
    Show answer

    Answer: C. As soon as possible, while the details are fresh

    Memory fades quickly. Notes written right away are more accurate and more believable in court.

19. Question 19 of 20

    What three things does a fire need to burn?

    • AHeat, fuel and oxygen
    • BGas, smoke and oxygen
    • CWater, wood and wind
    • DSmoke, flames and heat
    Show answer

    Answer: A. Heat, fuel and oxygen

    This is the fire triangle. Remove any one of the three and the fire goes out.

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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The real test: 70% or above