FDLE - Florida Department of Law Enforcement Interviewing and Report Writing Questions and Answers — 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?
- Deposition
- Interrogation
- Interview (Correct answer)
- Canvass
Correct answer: Interview
An interview is a non-accusatory, structured conversation with a witness or victim to obtain information about an incident. An interrogation, in contrast, is typically accusatory, more formal, and conducted with a suspect with the goal of obtaining a confession or admission.
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?
- Writing in the third person to maintain objectivity.
- Organizing events in chronological order. (Correct answer)
- Including personal opinions on the suspect's guilt.
- Using complex legal terminology to demonstrate expertise.
Correct answer: Organizing events in chronological order.
The narrative of a police report should detail the events as they occurred, from beginning to end. This chronological structure creates a clear, logical account of the incident that is easy for others in the criminal justice system to understand and follow.
Question 3: Which of the following statements is the MOST objective and appropriate for inclusion in a law enforcement report?
- The driver was clearly trying to hide something when I approached the vehicle.
- The suspect became agitated and appeared nervous during questioning.
- The subject clenched his fists and took a bladed stance toward me. (Correct answer)
- The victim was uncooperative because she was angry about the situation.
Correct answer: The subject clenched his fists and took a bladed stance toward me.
Police reports must be factual and objective. 'Clenched his fists and took a bladed stance' describes specific, observable actions. The other options include subjective conclusions, opinions, or assumptions about a person's state of mind ('trying to hide something,' 'appeared nervous,' 'was angry'), which should be avoided.
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?
- Did you see the suspect's face?
- Was the weapon a handgun or a rifle?
- Please tell me everything you remember about what happened. (Correct answer)
- Why didn't you call 911 sooner?
Correct answer: Please tell me everything you remember about what happened.
Open-ended questions, such as 'Tell me everything...', encourage a narrative response and allow the witness to recall events in their own words without influence from the interviewer. The other options are closed-ended or leading questions that limit the response or may sound accusatory.
Question 5: What is the primary purpose of an officer's field notes taken at the scene of an incident?
- To serve as the final, official record of the incident for the court.
- To be shared with the media to provide accurate public information.
- To provide a detailed and accurate basis for writing the official report and for testifying in court. (Correct answer)
- To create a personal log of daily activities for performance reviews.
Correct answer: To provide a detailed and accurate basis for writing the official report and for testifying in court.
Field notes are the basis for the formal, official report. They help ensure accuracy regarding times, statements, and events, as relying solely on memory can lead to errors. These notes are crucial for refreshing the officer's memory when writing the full report and when providing testimony later.
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?
- Asking a series of rapid-fire, yes-or-no questions to test consistency.
- Challenging the witness's statements with conflicting evidence.
- Asking the witness to recall events in reverse order or from another person's perspective. (Correct answer)
- Focusing immediately on the most critical parts of the crime to save time.
Correct answer: Asking the witness to recall events in reverse order or from another person's perspective.
The cognitive interview technique uses various methods to enhance memory retrieval. Key components include reinstating the context of the event and asking the witness to recall the incident from different perspectives or in a different chronological order (e.g., backwards), which can unlock new details.
FDLE - Florida Department of Law Enforcement Interviewing and Report Writing Questions and Answers
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?