NPOST Report Writing 2

Question 1

Which order should events be presented in a standard police narrative report?

Accepted Answer

Chronological order

Answer

Most serious crime first

Answer

Alphabetical by suspect name

Answer

Random as remembered

Question 2

What point of view should an officer use when writing a report?

Accepted Answer

First person

Answer

Second person

Answer

Third person omniscient

Answer

No consistent person

Question 3

An officer writes 'The suspect appeared to be lying.' What is the main problem with this sentence?

Accepted Answer

It states an opinion/conclusion rather than fact

Answer

It is too short

Answer

It uses the wrong tense

Answer

It is grammatically incorrect

Question 4

Which of these is the best example of an objective statement in a report?

Accepted Answer

The driver's eyes were red and his speech was slurred

Answer

The driver was obviously drunk

Answer

The driver seemed like a troublemaker

Answer

The driver was clearly guilty

Question 5

Why should abbreviations and slang generally be avoided in police reports?

Accepted Answer

They can be misinterpreted by readers

Answer

They make reports too long

Answer

They are illegal to use

Answer

They improve readability

Question 6

What does the 'who' element of the Five Ws require an officer to document?

Accepted Answer

The people involved and their identities

Answer

The location of the incident

Answer

The time the crime occurred

Answer

The reason for the crime

Question 7

If an officer makes a handwriting error in a paper report, what is the correct procedure?

Accepted Answer

Draw a single line through it and initial the change

Answer

Erase it completely

Answer

Use correction fluid over it

Answer

Scribble it out heavily