1. INTRODUCTION TO POLICE REPORT WRITING

2. REPORT WRITING LITERARY - JOURNALISTIC IMAGERY, ENTERTAINMENT
CRIME REPORT
FACTUAL, ACCURATE

3. COMMUNICATION PROCESS
THOUGHT
TRANSMISSION
REPLY
UNDERSTOOD
RECEIVED

4. PURPOSES OF A POLICE REPORT
DOCUMENT
REPORT, STATISTICAL ANALYSIS
POLITICAL REASONS
TO MAKE A RECORD OF THE INCIDENT
INVESTIGATIVE FOLLOW UP
LEADS
WORD PICTURE
INFORMATION

5. INTRODUCTION TO POLICE REPORT WRITING
CRITICALITY OF EFFECTIVE POLICE REPORT WRITING - AN ESSENTIAL SKILL
PROBLEMS WITH POOR WRITING - CONSEQUENCES
COURSE METHOD: PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATION; ROLE PLAYING

6. INTRODUCTION TO POLICE REPORT WRITING
SKILLS PRACTICED: WRITING, INTERVIEWING, CRIME SCENE SEARCHING, EVIDENCE HANDLING
GRADING SYSTEM FOR REPORTS
5 POINTS SPELLING
5 POINTS GRAMMAR
15 POINTS CONTENT

7. INTRODUCTION TO POLICE REPORT WRITING
PERSPECTIVES: COURSE IS BASED UPON SIMULATED PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATIONS
STUDENT AS POLICE OFFICER/WRITER
TEACHER AS FTO/FIELD SUPERVISOR/DETECTIVE
STANDARDS FOR ACCEPTANCE
FILING DEPUTY DA/FOLLOW UP DECECTIVE

8. POLICE AND CITY MANAGEMENT
DOJ/FBI
RECORDS
CRIME
REPORT
INTERNAL FILES
DETECTIVES
PATROL
REGIONAL CRIME IMPACT TEAMS
COURT/DA

9. PURPOSES PROSECUTORIAL PURPOSES PUBLIC INFORMATION
ELEMENTS OF THE CRIME
WORD PICTURE
PUBLIC INFORMATION
MEDIA
INFORMATION EXCHANGE

10. WAYS TO IMPROVE REPORT WRITING
BE BRIEF/CONCISE
ELIMINATE VAGUENESS
MAKE IT UNDERSTANDABLE
RE-READ AS YOU WRITE
KEEP OBJECTIVE IN FOCUS
REDUCE EGO
WHEN STUCK, REMEMBER CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER

11. NARRATIVE STYLE STYLE SHOULD BE EFFICIENT ACCURATE AND FACTUAL
OBJECTIVE - NOT PERSONALIZED
WRITTEN IN FIRST PERSON
REFLECTING WRITER’S ACTIONS
STATEMENTS IN 3RD PERSON
AVOID DIRECT QUOTES EXCEPT TO EMPHASIZE A POINT

12. INTRODUCTION TO REPORT WRITING
F CTUAL
A CCURATE
C LEAR
C ONCISE
C OMPLETE
T IMELY

13. NARRATIVE STYLE REPORTS SHOULD BE CLEAR AND UNDERSTANDABLE
MINIMIZE EXTRANEOUS VERBIAGE
STICK TO THE POINT
USE OF HEADING SYSTEM

14. ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS WHO: VICTIMS, SUSPECTS, WITNESSES
WHAT: ELEMENTS OF CRIME, DETAILS OF INCIDENT
WHERE: EXACTLY IF KNOWN
ADDRESSES, SPECIFIC AREAS
WHEN: TIME FRAME

15. ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS
HOW: M.O. IF KNOWN
WHY: IF KNOWN

16. “FUZZY WORDS” INDICATED (SAID) CONTACTED (PHONED, TALKED TO)
RESPONDED (DROVE, WENT, CAME)
OBSERVED (SAW)
DETECTED (SMELLED, HEARD, SAW)
EXITED (LEFT, GOT OUT OF..)

17. “FUZZY WORDS” PROCEEDED TO -(WENT, DID) ALTERCATION - (FIGHT)
UTILIZE - (MAKE USE OF)

18. REPORT FORMAT FACE PAGE NARRATIVE STATISTICAL BIOGRAPHICAL
CRIME ANALYSIS INFORMATION
BOXES AND CHECK-OFFS - A FORM-
NARRATIVE
“THE STORY”

19. PRELIMINARY INFORMATION
NARRATIVE HEADINGS
PRELIMINARY INFORMATION
FIRST PARAGRAPH
WHAT INITIATES THE ACTION?
HOW DID THE CALL START?
OFFICER OBSERVATION?
“CITIZEN FLAG-DOWN”
RADIO CALL
TIME CALL WAS RECEIVED

20. NARRATIVE HEADINGS NATURE OF THE CALL IN PROGRESS? JUST OCCURRED?
WEAPONS INVOLVED?
INJURIES? DEATHS? SUSPECT/VEH DESCRIPTION
DIRECTION OF TRAVEL

21. NARRATIVE HEADINGS INITIAL OBSERVATION SECOND PARAGRAPH
OR SUBSEQUENT CATEGORY
WHAT OFFICER FIRST SEES ON SCENE OR WHAT WITNESSES/VICTIMS FIRST TELL HIM/HER ABOUT THE INCIDENT
PROTECTIVE SWEEPS
AID TO INJURED PERSONS
UPDATING BROADCASTS

22. REPORTING PARTY STATEMENT
NARRATIVE HEADINGS
REPORTING PARTY STATEMENT
OFTEN THE VICTIM
DETAILS OF INCIDENT
MAY PROVIDE SUSP DESCRIPTION
WHAT DID RP ACTUALLY SEE?
CAN ID SUSPECT?
EVIDENCE TO CONTRIBUTE?
VICTIM STATEMENTS IF NOT RP
WITNESS STATEMENTS

23. CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SCENE
METHODICAL AND ORGANIZED
ALL EVIDENCE IN SCENE DESCRIBED
WHAT WAS OBSERVED AND COLLECTED.
MAY PRECEDE WITNESS STATEMENTS
ASSISTANCE OF OTHERS AT SCENE

24. EVIDENCE ITEMIZED LISTING OF PHYSICAL EVIDENCE COLLECTED
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
NUMBERED AND REFERENCED TO LOCATION

25. CONCLUSION HOW WAS CRIME COMMITTED? WHEN? BY WHOM?
SUPPORTING EVIDENCE?
DISPOSITION OF PRISONERS, VEHICLES AND INJURED OR KILLED PERSONS