FDLE - Florida Department of Law Enforcement Interviewing and Report Writing Questions and Answers

Question 1

An officer is questioning a cooperative witness at the scene of a minor traffic accident to gather information about what they saw.
The questioning is non-accusatory and aims to establish the basic facts of the event.
Which term BEST describes this type of interaction?

Accepted Answer

Interview

Answer

Deposition

Answer

Interrogation

Answer

Canvass

Question 2

When writing the narrative section of an offense report, which of the following is the most critical principle to follow for ensuring clarity and legal soundness?

Accepted Answer

Organizing events in chronological order.

Answer

Writing in the third person to maintain objectivity.

Answer

Including personal opinions on the suspect's guilt.

Answer

Using complex legal terminology to demonstrate expertise.

Question 3

Which of the following statements is the MOST objective and appropriate for inclusion in a law enforcement report?

Accepted Answer

The subject clenched his fists and took a bladed stance toward me.

Answer

The driver was clearly trying to hide something when I approached the vehicle.

Answer

The suspect became agitated and appeared nervous during questioning.

Answer

The victim was uncooperative because she was angry about the situation.

Question 4

An officer wants to encourage a witness to provide a detailed, uninterrupted account of a robbery they observed. Which of the following questions would be MOST effective to start the interview?

Accepted Answer

Please tell me everything you remember about what happened.

Answer

Did you see the suspect's face?

Answer

Was the weapon a handgun or a rifle?

Answer

Why didn't you call 911 sooner?

Question 5

What is the primary purpose of an officer's field notes taken at the scene of an incident?

Accepted Answer

To provide a detailed and accurate basis for writing the official report and for testifying in court.

Answer

To serve as the final, official record of the incident for the court.

Answer

To be shared with the media to provide accurate public information.

Answer

To create a personal log of daily activities for performance reviews.

Question 6

The cognitive interview technique is designed to enhance memory recall in witnesses. Which of the following is a key component of this method?

Accepted Answer

Asking the witness to recall events in reverse order or from another person's perspective.

Answer

Asking a series of rapid-fire, yes-or-no questions to test consistency.

Answer

Challenging the witness's statements with conflicting evidence.

Answer

Focusing immediately on the most critical parts of the crime to save time.