Communication & Documentation Flashcards

A 10-4 radio code most commonly means:

Answer: Acknowledgment / Understood

10-4 is a standard radio code meaning 'acknowledgment' or 'message received and understood.'

When completing a use-of-force report, the officer must document:

Answer: The level of resistance, force used, and resulting injuries

Use-of-force reports require comprehensive documentation of the subject's resistance level, the force response, and all resulting injuries to both parties.

Which of the following best describes 'chain of custody' documentation?

Answer: A chronological record tracking evidence from collection to court

Chain of custody is a legal record documenting who collected, handled, transferred, and stored evidence to ensure its integrity.

What is the primary purpose of a field interview (FI) card?

Answer: To document a contact with a suspicious person for future reference

Field interview cards record information about suspicious individuals contacted by officers, creating a database useful for future investigations.

An officer must relay a suspect's vehicle description over the radio. Which order is standard?

Answer: Color, year, make, model, license plate

The standard order for broadcasting a vehicle description is color, year, make, model, then license plate number.

Why are abbreviations in police reports generally discouraged?

Answer: They may be misunderstood by courts, attorneys, or other agencies

Abbreviations can be misinterpreted by courts, defense attorneys, prosecutors, or officers from other jurisdictions, potentially harming a case.

When broadcasting a suspect description, which physical trait should be mentioned FIRST?

Answer: Race and sex

Race and sex are the broadest identifiers that help officers quickly narrow the search, so they are listed first in a suspect description broadcast.