TPS Ethics & Professional Conduct

Question 1

What does 'professional conduct' require of a Texas security officer while on duty?

Accepted Answer

Acting with integrity, courtesy, and professionalism; following post orders; respecting the rights of all persons

Answer

Following only the employer's instructions regardless of legality

Answer

Maximizing arrests and detentions to demonstrate effectiveness

Answer

Maintaining strict silence and not communicating with the public

Question 2

A security officer discovers that a colleague is falsifying daily activity reports. What is the ethical obligation of the discovering officer?

Accepted Answer

Report the falsification to a supervisor or, if necessary, to the DPS — allowing falsification to continue is itself unethical

Answer

Cover for the colleague since reporting could harm their employment

Answer

Confront the colleague directly and require them to stop without notifying supervisors

Answer

Ignore the issue since daily activity reports are not legally significant documents

Question 3

What does 'conflict of interest' mean for a security officer?

Accepted Answer

A situation where the officer's personal interests conflict with their professional duties — e.g., overlooking a friend's policy violation

Answer

A disagreement with a supervisor about post order procedures

Answer

A dispute between two clients about security coverage priority

Answer

A legal conflict between Texas law and a client's instructions

Question 4

What are the limits of a security officer's authority under Texas law?

Accepted Answer

Security officers have limited authority granted by Texas law — they may protect property, detain shoplifters under the merchant privilege, and make citizen's arrests, but have no broader police powers

Answer

Security officers have full police authority on private property

Answer

Security officers have authority over all persons, including law enforcement, on their assigned property

Answer

Security officers have authority to issue enforceable citations and fines

Question 5

What is the ethical significance of maintaining confidentiality about client and site information?

Accepted Answer

Sharing confidential security information can compromise the security of the site and violate the client's trust, potentially causing harm

Answer

Confidentiality only applies to law enforcement agencies, not security officers

Answer

Security officers may share site information with family members since they are trusted

Answer

Confidentiality is only required for government contracts

Question 6

When a security officer is asked to perform a task that they believe is unethical or illegal, what should they do?

Accepted Answer

Refuse to perform the task, document the request, and report it to their supervisor or the DPS if necessary

Answer

Perform the task since orders from management must be followed

Answer

Perform the task but document their objection in a personal journal

Answer

Resign immediately without reporting the issue