Hawaii Security Officer Practice Exam

Identify a major difference between public and private security.

1. Public security is government-funded, private security is not

2. Public security enforces laws, while private security protects business assets

3. Private security has more authority than public security

4. Public security is only present in urban areas

The correct answer is: Public security enforces laws, while private security protects business assets

The correct choice highlights a fundamental distinction in the roles of public and private security. Public security, typically associated with government agencies such as police forces, is responsible for enforcing laws, maintaining public order, and protecting the general public. This involves a broad range of responsibilities, including crime prevention, responding to emergencies, and upholding the laws of the state. On the other hand, private security is focused primarily on safeguarding the interests of individual businesses or organizations. Their main goal is to protect property, assets, and personnel from theft, vandalism, or other forms of harm. While private security can collaborate with law enforcement, their authority and scope of work are limited to the premises they are hired to protect and do not involve general law enforcement duties unless specifically authorized to do so. This differentiation between law enforcement duties and asset protection underscores the primary roles of public versus private security.