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The Importance Of Writing An Officer's Notes

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An officer should start taking notes as soon as physically possible when entering a potential crime scene. An officer needs to use discernment when taking notes while interviewing a victim or a witness who may not want to be recorded. It may be more productive to write the notes immediately after the interview. Officers should first record all the general information such as time, date, and location. Notes should include a description of location including variables such as weather and visibility at the location. Notes should include as many facts as possible to answer questions such as when, where, who, what, how, and why. An officer's notes will become part of the official record and should be factual, precise, and free from opinion.

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