Chicago/Illinois Security Guard PERC Practice Exam

What steps should a security officer take when witnessing suspicious behavior?

1. Confront the individual immediately

2. Ignore it and continue their duties

3. Document details and report to the appropriate authority

4. Call the police on the spot

The correct answer is: Document details and report to the appropriate authority

When a security officer witnesses suspicious behavior, documenting the details and reporting to the appropriate authority is the best course of action. This approach serves multiple important purposes. First, by documenting the behavior, the officer creates a record that can be invaluable for any future investigations or incidents that may arise. Details such as the time, location, description of the individuals involved, and the nature of the suspicious activity can provide crucial information to law enforcement or internal security teams. Second, reporting to the appropriate authority ensures that the situation is handled by those trained and authorized to deal with potentially criminal or dangerous behavior. This step allows trained professionals to assess the risk and act according to established protocols, rather than putting the security officer in a potentially harmful confrontation. In contrast to this approach, confronting an individual directly can escalate the situation, possibly leading to conflict or endangering the officer and others nearby. Ignoring suspicious behavior is unwise as it could allow a potential threat to escalate without any intervention. While calling the police might be necessary in certain situations, doing so on the spot without first assessing the situation could unnecessarily divert law enforcement resources if the behavior does not warrant such an action. Overall, documenting and reporting provides a balanced and safe response to ensuring security while maintaining an