Professional Standards and Ethics Flashcards

A CPP discovers that his employer is falsifying safety inspection records. After internal reporting fails, the most appropriate next step is:

Answer: Report to the appropriate regulatory authority through lawful channels

When internal escalation fails, lawful external reporting to regulators aligns with the duty to act in accordance with law.

Which practice best demonstrates the ethical obligation of professional competence?

Answer: Accepting only engagements within one's qualifications or obtaining needed expertise

Competence means taking on work you are qualified to perform or securing the necessary expertise.

A security officer accepts free meals weekly from a tenant whose deliveries he inspects. The primary ethical concern is:

Answer: Creating an appearance of impropriety that may influence objectivity

Recurring gifts from parties subject to your oversight create a conflict or appearance of bias.

What is the main purpose of a written code of conduct for a security department?

Answer: To establish clear expectations for behavior and a basis for accountability

A code of conduct sets behavioral standards and supports consistent discipline and accountability.

During an internal investigation, an interviewer threatens an employee with arrest unless she confesses. This primarily risks:

Answer: A coerced, unreliable confession and potential civil liability

Threats and coercion produce unreliable statements and expose the organization to claims such as false imprisonment or intentional infliction of distress.

A CPP falsely claims on a résumé to hold a PSP certification. If discovered, the likely consequence from the certification board is:

Answer: Disciplinary action, which may include revocation of the CPP

Misrepresenting credentials violates the certification code of professional responsibility and can lead to sanctions including revocation.

When security staff use surveillance video for purposes unrelated to security, such as tracking a coworker's personal life, the primary issue is:

Answer: Misuse of information and invasion of privacy

Using security data for personal purposes breaches privacy and the duty to use information only for legitimate purposes.