ASO Security Patrol Procedures & Emergency Response 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: During an active shooter event in a facility, the Department of Homeland Security recommends civilians follow which response protocol?
- Shelter in place, then fight, then run when safe
- Run, hide, fight — in that order of preference (Correct answer)
- Fight the shooter first to protect others in the building
- Call 911, barricade doors, and wait for police regardless of proximity to exit
Correct answer: Run, hide, fight — in that order of preference
DHS's 'Run, Hide, Fight' protocol prioritizes evacuation first, then concealment, and fighting as a last resort when escape is impossible.
Question 2: When approaching and stopping a suspicious person for questioning on private property, an armed security officer should:
- Draw their firearm before initiating contact to ensure safety
- Maintain a safe distance, identify themselves, and ask open-ended questions (Correct answer)
- Detain the person physically until police arrive
- Follow the person discreetly without making contact
Correct answer: Maintain a safe distance, identify themselves, and ask open-ended questions
Maintaining a safe tactical distance, identifying oneself as security, and using open-ended questions is the appropriate professional approach to field interviews.
Question 3: Which of the following best describes the legal concept of 'reasonable force' for a private security officer?
- Any force necessary to subdue a subject, regardless of the threat level
- Force equal to or slightly greater than the threat posed by the subject (Correct answer)
- Only verbal commands without any physical contact under any circumstances
- Whatever force is authorized by the security company's internal policy
Correct answer: Force equal to or slightly greater than the threat posed by the subject
Reasonable force means using only the amount of force proportionate to and necessary to address the level of threat presented.
Question 4: A patrol officer observes two individuals arguing loudly near the building entrance. The situation appears to be escalating. The BEST initial response is:
- Immediately restrain both individuals to prevent violence
- Observe from a distance and call police without intervening
- Approach calmly, identify yourself, and attempt verbal de-escalation (Correct answer)
- Warn the individuals once then leave them to resolve the dispute
Correct answer: Approach calmly, identify yourself, and attempt verbal de-escalation
A calm professional approach with verbal de-escalation techniques is the appropriate first response to a non-violent confrontation.
Question 5: What information should a security officer relay when calling in a medical emergency over the radio?
- Location, nature of the emergency, number of victims, and officer's position (Correct answer)
- Only the officer's badge number and the victim's name
- A general description of the emergency without specific details to avoid panic
- The victim's insurance information and next of kin contact
Correct answer: Location, nature of the emergency, number of victims, and officer's position
Effective emergency radio communication must include location, emergency type, victim count, and officer position to enable rapid and appropriate response.
Question 6: An officer discovers evidence of a break-in at a secured facility. Before investigators arrive, the officer should:
- Clean up the area to prevent contamination of the facility
- Touch and examine physical evidence to better document it in the report
- Secure and preserve the scene, limit access, and document observations without disturbing evidence (Correct answer)
- Immediately pursue the suspect based on tracks or other evidence at the scene
Correct answer: Secure and preserve the scene, limit access, and document observations without disturbing evidence
Preserving the crime scene intact is critical to a successful investigation; evidence must not be disturbed until law enforcement arrives.
Question 7: Which of the following is the correct description of a 'perimeter patrol'?
- A patrol conducted exclusively inside a building's interior hallways
- A systematic check of a property's outer boundaries, fences, gates, and access points (Correct answer)
- A random walk through the property with no defined route or checkpoints
- A patrol conducted only by K-9 units along the property edge
Correct answer: A systematic check of a property's outer boundaries, fences, gates, and access points
A perimeter patrol involves systematically checking the outer boundaries of a property, including fences, gates, and access points, to detect breaches or vulnerabilities.
ASO Security Patrol Procedures & Emergency Response 3
During an active shooter event in a facility, the Department of Homeland Security recommends civilians follow which response protocol?