Report Writing

The Amber Heard appeal can teach police officers a lot about civil litigation. Here’s a summary of the key lessons

A study of Dutch police officers found that the officers who were able to watch their BWC footage of a training exercise wrote more accurate and complete reports

Common errors that will get your report rejected by your supervisor or the courts

Mislabeling people in police reports is a problem. Follow these steps to prevent errors

There are two things to pay attention to while using any grammar and spell checker: security and retrievability

Knowingly filing a false report could lead to termination and criminal charges, as well as an innocent person being wrongfully arrested, convicted and imprisoned

Such reporting would show how often officers face resistance and the lengths they go through to avoid using force

Agencies can improve accuracy and efficiency while promoting transparent policing

Remember to follow three simple principles: preparation, organization and clarity

It doesn’t matter if it is a witness, suspect, or business owner

Redundant question and answer phrases can cause confusion and make your reader (usually the charging attorney) lose interest in your case

The trial is a good reminder of the three things police forget about investigations

Quit “proceeded to the vicinity of” and just say where the hell you went

How to mitigate the legitimate risks of viewing video evidence, including the risk of corrupting an officer’s memory

Don’t assume you can just show up to trial and wing it