Listening and Memory Recall Flashcards

A caller reports a vehicle accident and gives you four cross streets in quick succession before the line drops. You are confident about three of them. What should you do?

Answer: Dispatch to the three streets you are confident about and note the discrepancy

Dispatching with the confirmed information and noting the discrepancy allows responders to begin while the fourth street is clarified.

After a long call with multiple details, you are writing your incident notes. You are unsure if the caller said the suspect was wearing a 'gray' or 'green' shirt. What is the best action?

Answer: Write 'gray or green shirt — unconfirmed'

Documenting both possibilities with an unconfirmed note maintains accuracy and gives officers something to work with.

A caller tells you, 'There are about ten people fighting outside.' When you ask if anyone has a weapon, they say, 'I don't know, maybe.' How do you log this?

Answer: Large fight, weapons possible — caller uncertain

Logging 'weapons possible — caller uncertain' correctly conveys that the caller couldn't rule out weapons, prompting appropriate officer response.

A caller speaks very quickly and provides details in a disorganized order. What is the best technique for gathering organized information?

Answer: Let them finish, then recap the details back to them for confirmation

Letting the caller finish and then recapping ensures you capture all information without interrupting and then verify accuracy.

A caller reports seeing someone breaking into a car: 'It's a red car — no wait, maybe maroon — in the mall parking lot on the east side, near the food court entrance.' What do you log for vehicle color?

Answer: Red/maroon — caller self-corrected, unconfirmed

Noting the self-correction and logging both possibilities gives officers the most accurate picture of what the caller observed.

You receive a call from someone reporting a missing child. The parent provides the child's description including age, clothing, and last known location. What detail is MOST critical to broadcast immediately?

Answer: Last known location and clothing description together

Officers need both where to search and what the child looks like simultaneously to begin an effective search.

During a burglary-in-progress call, the caller says, 'I hear them in the back bedroom — wait, now I think they moved to the kitchen.' How should you handle this real-time location update?

Answer: Update CAD with the most recent location and note the progression

Real-time updates should be logged with the most current information while noting the progression to help officers anticipate suspect movement.