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Synopsis of the New Police Report Manual Essay example

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Synopsis of
The New Police Report Manual Devallis Rutledge

WHAT’S THE PROBLEM?

A Field Training Officer (FTO), Rutledge (Author), is on patrol with a patrol officer. He has to type his first police report and is not doing a good job. His officer was disappointed at what he had read in his report; he’s going to show the rookie how it’s done. The officer’s report was not only 50% longer, but full of jargon. The rookie cop stated, “Why do we write like that?” “Because that’s the way we’ve always done it,” replied the officer. After years of being a cop and writing real police reports, Rutledge became a prosecutor. After numerous trails, Rutledge was still boggled at the way police reports were written. So he decided to ask …show more content…

1 and spit on Victim No. 2. So the question to the puzzle is who’s who; now you’re going back to the first page of the report to find out. Another problem is placing a label in front of a name; only adding unnecessary wording and needless work. For example, there’s no need to say Suspect Lynn told Victim Cole to, shut up or I’ll punch you again. State, "Lynn told Cole to…" Once you’ve documented who participated and to who did what, refrain from using labels. This will make the readers’ and your job easier; document all the important facts. Rutledge suggests, “Don’t use labels if you can avoid it.”

WHODUNIT?

If someone reading your police report has to play a guessing game as to who did what; then an important piece is missing from your report. When the trial date approaches, are you really going to remember who collected what, who searched what if you don’t put a name in front of the action done. For example, by stating Officer Killinger saw cocaine in plain view on the floor of the car; instead of saying the The Assigned Officer saw cocaine…., you know Officer Killinger found the cocaine in the car. Then the attorneys know who to subpoena to the fact that cocaine was found in the car. Sketches at scenes are common and are useful as to who and where certain evidence was found; sketches can paint a picture not only for jurors and judges, but it will also be beneficial for you and your colleagues to remember who did what, when they

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