1. You Have the Right to Remain Silent: The Rhetoric of Police Reports
Leslie Seawright Assistant Professor of English Texas A&M University at Qatar

2. describe report writing as “painting a picture” or “telling a story.”
I have often heard
police officers
describe report writing as
“painting a picture” or
“telling a story.”

3. Problems with this analogy:
Self- Reflective
Advocates for an action rather than describes an action
Complicates decisions for prosecutors
Creates ethical and legal dilemmas for officers and police departments

4. The Report:

5. Suspect’s statements made to officer
Silence:
Witness Information
Witness’ Statement
Consent to enter home
Miranda rights
Suspect’s statements made to officer

6. Conclusion
The presence of police report silences have the potential to cause multiple problems for the officer, police departments, prosecutor’s office, and legal system as a whole.
Officers need training in police report genre and audience awareness.
Departments and Academies should replace the “telling a story” and “painting a picture” analogy of report writing with one that better describes the officer’s duty in accurately and ethically reporting on an event.

7. Works Cited