OACP Report Writing Fundamentals 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: When documenting a witness statement in a police report, which approach best ensures accuracy?
- Summarize the statement in the officer's own words
- Record the witness's exact words using quotation marks where possible (Correct answer)
- Paraphrase to make the statement more concise
- Include only the portions relevant to the primary charge
Correct answer: Record the witness's exact words using quotation marks where possible
Using the witness's exact words in quotation marks preserves evidentiary integrity and avoids misrepresentation.
Question 2: Which verb tense is standard for factual narrative sections of an occurrence report?
- Present tense to convey immediacy
- Future tense to indicate expected outcomes
- Past tense to reflect completed events (Correct answer)
- Mixed tense depending on the officer's preference
Correct answer: Past tense to reflect completed events
Past tense is used because the narrative documents events that have already occurred.
Question 3: What does the acronym 'GIPAP' stand for in OACP report writing guidelines?
- General Information, Person, Address, Property (Correct answer)
- Ground Incident Protocol and Arrest Procedure
- Gather, Identify, Preserve, Analyze, Present
- Guidelines for Incident, Person, and Asset Processing
Correct answer: General Information, Person, Address, Property
GIPAP is a mnemonic for the key elements an officer must capture: General Information, Person, Address, and Property.
Question 4: An officer writes 'the suspect appeared nervous.' Why is this problematic?
- It is too short to be informative
- It contains a subjective interpretation rather than observable facts (Correct answer)
- It uses incorrect grammar
- It fails to identify the suspect by name
Correct answer: It contains a subjective interpretation rather than observable facts
'Appeared nervous' is an opinion; reports should describe observable behaviours such as 'suspect's hands were trembling.'
Question 5: Which section of a police report typically contains the officer's opinion on the credibility of evidence?
- Narrative section
- Supplemental section
- Synopsis/summary section
- Generally, officer opinions are not included in any section (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Generally, officer opinions are not included in any section
Police reports record facts and observations; opinions on credibility are reserved for court testimony or separate analytical documents.
Question 6: When must an officer submit a supplemental report?
- Only when a supervisor requests one
- Whenever new information is obtained after the initial report is filed (Correct answer)
- Only if an arrest is made
- At the end of every shift regardless of new information
Correct answer: Whenever new information is obtained after the initial report is filed
A supplemental report is required whenever new, material information is discovered that affects the original occurrence.
Question 7: Which of the following best describes the purpose of the 'synopsis' in a police report?
- A detailed account of all investigative steps taken
- A brief overview of the incident that allows a reader to understand the matter quickly (Correct answer)
- A list of all persons involved with their contact information
- A legal conclusion about the offence committed
Correct answer: A brief overview of the incident that allows a reader to understand the matter quickly
The synopsis gives readers a concise snapshot of the incident so they can decide whether to read the full report.
OACP Report Writing Fundamentals 2
When documenting a witness statement in a police report, which approach best ensures accuracy?