Written Comm - Category

Question 1

Brief notations concerning specific events and circumstances that are recorded while fresh in the officers mind and used to prepare a report.

Answer 1

Field notes

Question 2

Uses of field notes

Answer 2

• Provides basis for report
• Reduces need to re-contact parties involved
• Provides greater accuracy relative to time, statements, and events than memory alone

Question 3

All five senses (sensory input) are used in __________.

Answer 3

observation

Question 4

What can help you better describe things?

Answer 4

Better observation

Question 5

What are the five senses?

Answer 5

sight, hearing, touch, taste, and smell

Question 6

The better an officer ________ things, the better the officer can describe them.

All five senses (sight, hearing, touch, taste, and smell) are used in __________.

Since all of the senses must be sharp for peace officers to do their job, they should _______ practice using different senses at various times to improve each of them.

Answer 6

• observes
• observation
• frequently

Question 7

Describing ______ is the most difficult. Include all descriptive characteristics of persons, such as their manner of speaking or walking, their movements, or the things they are carrying.

Answer 7

people

Question 8

______ should be described beginning at one point then proceeding in one direction, such as left-to-right or top-to-bottom, to ensure that the description is thorough and systematic. The goals is to paint a picture with your words.

Answer 8

Places

Question 9

When describing _______, look for all distinguishing marks and anything that might be compared or related to a commonly known thing or idea. Look for color, size, shape, texture, location, and type.

Answer 9

things

Question 10

What are the most significant uses of the police report?

Answer 10

• Permanent record of facts
• Coordination of follow-up
• Basis for prosecution and defense
• Performance evaluations of officer
• Statistical data
• Reference material

Question 11

What are the Eight (8) essential criteria of a good police report?

Answer 11

• Accurate
• Concise
• Complete
• Clear
• Legible
• Objective
• Grammatically correct
• Correct spelling

Question 12

What are the common types of police reports?

Answer 12

• Arrest reports
• Incident reports
• Offense reports
• Crash reports
• Supplemental reports

Question 13

Arrangement of information by ______ (e.g., witnesses, suspects, crime elements) is _______

Answer 13

category

categorical

Question 14

What are the basic elements of information necessary in police reports?

Answer 14

• ID - Identification of the involved persons, vehicles, etc.
• Narrative - Narrative description of the offense or incident
• EEO - Elements of the offense or probable cause

Question 15

A victim may choose a ____________ to designate his or her identity in all public files and records concerning the offense.

Answer 15

pseudonym

Question 16

Unless required, officers’ ________ should not be included in the police report. Anything other than ______ must be labeled as such to avoid any possible confusion.

Answer 16

opinions

facts

Question 17

A word that typically describes or modifies the meaning of a noun is an _______

Answer 17

Adjective

Example: brave officer, new car

Question 18

A word or combination of words typically serving as a modifier of a verb, an adjective, another adverb, a preposition, a phrase, a clause, or a sentence, and expressing some relation of manner or quality, place, time, degree, number, cause, opposition, affirmation, or denial.

Usually answer questions like when, how long, where, how.

Answer 18

Adverb

Example: when (at once), how long (forever), where (there), how (quickly)

Question 19

A word that is the name of something (as a person, animal, place, object, quality, concept or action).

Answer 19

noun

Question 20

A word that is used as a substitute for a noun or noun equivalent.

Answer 20

pronoun

Example: he, she, him, her, it, they

Question 21

A word that combines with a noun, pronoun, or noun equivalent (as a phrase or clause) to form a phrase that usually acts as an adverb, adjective, or noun.

Answer 21

Preposition

Example: on his part, beside her

Question 22

_____ expresses an act, occurrence, or mode of being.

Answer 22

verb

Question 23

A ______ is a group of words that expresses a complete thought.

Answer 23

sentence

Question 24

Importance of Complete Sentences in Written Communications

• Your written communication ______ be one of the factors used to evaluate your competence as a peace officer.
• Your written communication may be seen by a _______ ________ (your agency, the criminal justice system, the public, etc.).
• Your written communication may serve as a source document for ________ and _________ proceedings.

Answer 24

• Will
• Diverse audience
• Judicial, administrative

Question 25

A sentence _____ is a group of words that is only a piece, or “________,” of a complete sentence.

Answer 25

fragment