NPOST Report Writing 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which order should events be presented in a standard police narrative report?
- Chronological order (Correct answer)
- Most serious crime first
- Alphabetical by suspect name
- Random as remembered
Correct answer: Chronological order
Police narratives are written in chronological order so readers can follow events as they unfolded.
Question 2: What point of view should an officer use when writing a report?
- First person (Correct answer)
- Second person
- Third person omniscient
- No consistent person
Correct answer: First person
Officers write in the first person to reflect their own direct observations and actions.
Question 3: An officer writes 'The suspect appeared to be lying.' What is the main problem with this sentence?
- It states an opinion/conclusion rather than fact (Correct answer)
- It is too short
- It uses the wrong tense
- It is grammatically incorrect
Correct answer: It states an opinion/conclusion rather than fact
Reports should record observable facts, not the officer's unsupported conclusions about a person's truthfulness.
Question 4: Which of these is the best example of an objective statement in a report?
- The driver's eyes were red and his speech was slurred (Correct answer)
- The driver was obviously drunk
- The driver seemed like a troublemaker
- The driver was clearly guilty
Correct answer: The driver's eyes were red and his speech was slurred
Describing observable signs is objective, while labeling someone 'drunk' or 'guilty' is a conclusion.
Question 5: Why should abbreviations and slang generally be avoided in police reports?
- They can be misinterpreted by readers (Correct answer)
- They make reports too long
- They are illegal to use
- They improve readability
Correct answer: They can be misinterpreted by readers
Plain, standard language ensures the report is clear to anyone who reads it later.
Question 6: What does the 'who' element of the Five Ws require an officer to document?
- The people involved and their identities (Correct answer)
- The location of the incident
- The time the crime occurred
- The reason for the crime
Correct answer: The people involved and their identities
'Who' captures the identities of victims, witnesses, suspects, and other involved parties.
Question 7: If an officer makes a handwriting error in a paper report, what is the correct procedure?
- Draw a single line through it and initial the change (Correct answer)
- Erase it completely
- Use correction fluid over it
- Scribble it out heavily
Correct answer: Draw a single line through it and initial the change
A single line with initials keeps the original entry legible and preserves the report's integrity.
NPOST Report Writing 2
Which order should events be presented in a standard police narrative report?