MTA Report Writing 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A police report describes a suspect as 'approximately 6 feet tall, heavyset, wearing a red hoodie.' What type of information is this?
- Circumstantial evidence
- Physical description (Correct answer)
- Character assessment
- Hearsay testimony
Correct answer: Physical description
Physical descriptions of suspects document observable characteristics and are a standard component of police reports.
Question 2: When documenting a crime scene in a report, an officer should describe the location using:
- Personal opinion about the neighborhood
- Compass directions and fixed reference points (Correct answer)
- Approximate guesses about distances
- Only photographs without written description
Correct answer: Compass directions and fixed reference points
Compass directions and fixed reference points provide precise, reproducible location descriptions that others can verify independently.
Question 3: Which of the following should an officer AVOID when writing a police report?
- Using the victim's exact words in quotation marks
- Including the date and time of the incident
- Using slang or informal language (Correct answer)
- Documenting witness names and contact information
Correct answer: Using slang or informal language
Slang and informal language undermine a report's professionalism and can create ambiguity in legal proceedings.
Question 4: Officer Chen writes: 'The suspect seemed nervous and guilty.' What is wrong with this statement?
- It is too long
- It contains subjective opinion rather than observable facts (Correct answer)
- It does not include the suspect's name
- It should be written in past tense
Correct answer: It contains subjective opinion rather than observable facts
Stating someone 'seemed guilty' is an opinion; reports should document observable behaviors like 'the suspect avoided eye contact and fidgeted.'
Question 5: A supplemental report is typically filed when:
- The original report was submitted on time
- New information becomes available after the initial report (Correct answer)
- The officer wants to correct a spelling error only
- A supervisor requests a copy of the original
Correct answer: New information becomes available after the initial report
Supplemental reports document new evidence, witness statements, or developments discovered after the initial report was completed.
Question 6: In a use-of-force report, an officer must document:
- Only injuries sustained by the officer
- The level of force used and the reason it was necessary (Correct answer)
- The suspect's prior criminal history only
- Whether the officer felt threatened emotionally
Correct answer: The level of force used and the reason it was necessary
Use-of-force reports must justify the force applied by documenting the specific threat level and why the response was proportionate.
Question 7: When writing the narrative section of a report, information should generally be presented:
- In reverse chronological order (most recent first)
- In chronological order (first to last) (Correct answer)
- By level of importance regardless of time
- Alphabetically by witness name
Correct answer: In chronological order (first to last)
Chronological order mirrors how events actually unfolded, making the report easier to understand and verify.
MTA Report Writing 2
A police report describes a suspect as 'approximately 6 feet tall, heavyset, wearing a red hoodie.' What type of information is this?