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Report Writing Flashcards

7 cards from real DPSST practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.

Read the first 7 Report Writing flashcards as text

  1. A report contains the sentence: 'The victim said the suspect was big.' What revision best meets professional report-writing standards?

    Answer: 'The victim reported the suspect was approximately 6'2" and 220 lbs.'

    Specific measurements replace vague descriptors, providing objective, actionable information for investigators and court proceedings.

  2. Which of the following correctly identifies a 'conclusory statement' that should be avoided in a report narrative?

    Answer: 'The suspect was obviously guilty.'

    Determining guilt is a judicial function; 'obviously guilty' is a legal conclusion that has no place in an objective report narrative.

  3. Why is it important to document the exact time of each event in a use-of-force incident report?

    Answer: To establish a timeline that can verify or refute conflicting accounts

    Precise timestamps create a verifiable timeline that supports or challenges witness accounts and ensures investigative accuracy.

  4. Under Oregon law and DPSST standards, which of the following is an officer required to document when conducting a Terry stop?

    Answer: Reasonable, articulable facts that justified the stop

    A Terry stop requires reasonable, articulable suspicion, and the report must document the specific facts that created that suspicion.

  5. What does the acronym 'FARO' stand for in the context of report-writing structure taught in DPSST curricula?

    Answer: Facts, Actions, Results, Observations

    FARO—Facts, Actions, Results, Observations—is a structural framework used to organize narrative elements logically in a law enforcement report.

  6. An officer writes in a report: 'I believe the subject was lying.' This statement is problematic primarily because it is:

    Answer: A subjective opinion rather than an observable fact

    Reports must document observable facts; personal beliefs about credibility are opinions that can undermine the report's objectivity.

  7. Which best describes the role of 'exculpatory information' in a law enforcement report?

    Answer: It must be documented even if it contradicts the officer's theory of the case

    Brady obligations require that exculpatory information be disclosed and documented, regardless of whether it supports or undermines the prosecution's case.