Officer Writing Flashcards

An officer's report states: 'The complainant alleged that her neighbor, Mr. Davis, had been threatening her for the passed two weeks.' What error is present?

Answer: 'Passed' should be 'past'

'Past' (meaning previous time) is the correct word; 'passed' is the past tense of the verb 'to pass.'

Which organizational structure is MOST appropriate for a police incident report narrative?

Answer: Strictly chronological order of events

Police narratives should follow chronological order so that readers can reconstruct the sequence of events accurately.

Which sentence demonstrates the most precise and professional language for a police report?

Answer: The subject displayed signs consistent with alcohol intoxication, including slurred speech and unsteady gait.

Professional language uses precise, observable descriptors ('slurred speech,' 'unsteady gait') rather than informal terms or conclusions.

Which of the following is NOT an appropriate element to include in a formal written report?

Answer: The officer's personal opinion on the suspect's guilt

Officers must report facts and observations objectively; personal opinions about guilt are inappropriate and can compromise legal proceedings.

Select the sentence with correct comma usage:

Answer: Officer Torres and her partner searched the building.

No commas are needed because 'Officer Torres and her partner' is a compound subject without intervening phrases requiring punctuation.

A witness statement reads: 'I seen him take the wallet.' The officer documenting this should:

Answer: Write the statement exactly as spoken, in quotation marks

Direct quotes must be reproduced exactly as spoken, including grammatical errors, to preserve the integrity of the witness's statement.

Which sentence correctly uses 'its' versus 'it's'?

Answer: The vehicle had its registration expired by two months.

'Its' (possessive, no apostrophe) correctly shows that the registration belongs to the vehicle.