Report Writing and Grammar/Usage
Report Writing and Grammar/Usage tests whether you can produce a factual, chronological, readable law enforcement report and correct errors in standard written English. Reports are records that may be read by supervisors, prosecutors, courts, and the public; vague or edited language creates credibility problems.
Report structure and usage rules
- Write in the first person and past tense for actions you took; keep tense consistent.
- Put events in chronological order, with times and locations where known.
- Include who, what, when, where, how, and what you did; quote statements exactly and identify the speaker.
- Keep facts separate from opinions or conclusions. If you infer intoxication, state the observations (odor, slurred speech, unsteady balance) before the conclusion.
- Use active voice and complete sentences. Define abbreviations on first use. Use consistent names for people and vehicles.
Worked example
Draft: 'The suspect ran from the car and he was caught.' Problems: the pronoun he is ambiguous, and the sentence uses a comma splice if joined differently. Revision: 'The driver ran from the car; Officer Ruiz caught him after a short foot pursuit.' The revision names the actor, removes the ambiguity, and keeps the sequence clear.
Traps that cost marks
Shifting tense mid-paragraph; using 'the subject' before identifying the subject; editorializing ('the driver was obviously drunk'); omitting the disposition of evidence; dangling modifiers; and inconsistent spelling of names. Grammar questions often test subject-verb agreement, pronoun reference, punctuation, and parallel structure rather than exotic rules.