Oregon Security Guard Certification Practice Exam

When security guards witness a crime in progress, the most appropriate response is to contact law enforcement and observe from a safe distance. This approach emphasizes the importance of personal safety and the effective handling of the situation. By notifying law enforcement, security personnel ensure that trained professionals are dispatched to deal with the crime, which increases the likelihood of apprehending the perpetrators and maintaining public safety.

Observing from a safe distance allows security guards to gather valuable information and provide accurate descriptions to law enforcement, which can assist in subsequent investigations or responses. This strategy avoids escalating the situation or putting themselves or others at risk through direct intervention.

While recording the incident can be useful, it should not take precedence over notifying authorities. Attempting to intervene physically can often lead to dangerous confrontations, and ignoring the incident altogether is not a responsible approach to the duties of a security guard. The primary responsibility is to protect individuals and property, which involves alerting professional law enforcement rather than managing the situation independently.