NPOST Report Writing 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which verb tense is normally used to describe actions already completed in a report?
- Past tense (Correct answer)
- Present tense
- Future tense
- Present continuous
Correct answer: Past tense
Because reports describe events that already happened, the past tense is standard.
Question 2: What is the best way to record a witness's exact words in a report?
- In quotation marks as a direct quote (Correct answer)
- Paraphrased loosely
- As the officer's own conclusion
- Omitted to save space
Correct answer: In quotation marks as a direct quote
Direct quotes in quotation marks preserve the witness's exact statement for accuracy.
Question 3: Which sentence is written most clearly and concisely?
- I arrested the suspect (Correct answer)
- Due to the fact that the situation arose, an arrest was effectuated by myself
- The suspect was, in my opinion, placed under arrest
- An apprehension event transpired
Correct answer: I arrested the suspect
Short, active, direct sentences communicate facts most clearly in a report.
Question 4: Why is accurate spelling of names and addresses critical in police reports?
- Errors can lead to wrong identification or invalid records (Correct answer)
- It improves the officer's grade
- It makes the report longer
- It is only a stylistic preference
Correct answer: Errors can lead to wrong identification or invalid records
Misspelled identifying details can cause serious legal and investigative problems later.
Question 5: Active voice is preferred in reports because it:
- Clearly identifies who performed each action (Correct answer)
- Hides who did what
- Sounds more formal
- Uses more words
Correct answer: Clearly identifies who performed each action
Active voice names the actor, removing ambiguity about who did what.
Question 6: Which detail is most appropriate to include when describing a suspect?
- Approximate height, weight, and clothing (Correct answer)
- Whether you personally liked them
- Your guess about their job
- Your opinion of their character
Correct answer: Approximate height, weight, and clothing
Physical descriptors are factual and useful for identification, unlike personal opinions.
Question 7: What should an officer do if they did not personally witness an event but learned of it from a witness?
- Attribute the information to the witness as a source (Correct answer)
- State it as their own observation
- Leave the source out
- Present it as proven fact
Correct answer: Attribute the information to the witness as a source
Information from others must be clearly attributed to its source to distinguish it from firsthand observation.
NPOST Report Writing 3
Which verb tense is normally used to describe actions already completed in a report?