OSH Security Practice Test

You are on bicycle patrol when you witness a person smash a car window. What do you do?

1. Call 911 and ask for immediate assistance as there is a break and enter in progress

2. Call for back up and wait but do not approach the person

3. Immediately arrest the person for mischief to private property

4. Observe and monitor the situation, take notes and submit an incident report at the end of your shift

The correct answer is: Call for back up and wait but do not approach the person

The best approach in this scenario is to call for backup and wait without approaching the person. This choice prioritizes your safety as well as the safety of the public and the suspect. Approaching someone who is committing a crime, such as smashing a car window, can escalate the situation and potentially lead to physical confrontation or further criminal acts. By calling for backup, you ensure that there is support available to handle the situation, which is crucial in law enforcement practices. This allows you to monitor the person’s actions from a safe distance, gathering information about the incident without putting yourself in harm's way. It also ensures that you have assistance available as soon as it is needed, which can be critical in situations that may escalate quickly. The other options involve either a more aggressive action without sufficient support or simply documenting the event without taking immediate action, which may allow the suspect to escape before authorities can respond. Therefore, waiting for backup while remaining observant aligns best with safe and effective law enforcement practices.