MTA Report Writing 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which of the following statements is the BEST example of objective report writing?
- 'The victim was clearly in great pain.'
- 'The suspect appeared to be intoxicated and belligerent.'
- 'The victim stated she sustained a cut to her left forearm approximately 3 inches long.' (Correct answer)
- 'The scene was chaotic and disorganized.'
Correct answer: 'The victim stated she sustained a cut to her left forearm approximately 3 inches long.'
Quoting the victim's statement and providing a measurable description is objective, factual, and verifiable.
Question 2: An officer responding to a burglary finds a window broken from the outside. How should this be documented?
- 'Someone broke in through the window.'
- 'The window was broken, with glass fragments found inside the residence, suggesting entry from the exterior.' (Correct answer)
- 'The burglar entered through the broken window.'
- 'The window appeared to have been broken intentionally.'
Correct answer: 'The window was broken, with glass fragments found inside the residence, suggesting entry from the exterior.'
Documenting observable evidence (glass inside, exterior damage) supports a conclusion without asserting guilt before an investigation concludes.
Question 3: What does the acronym 'FIDO' remind officers to include in reports?
- Facts, Incidents, Details, Observations (Correct answer)
- Findings, Interviews, Documentation, Outcomes
- First responders, Injuries, Damages, Officers
- Force, Identification, Detention, Orders
Correct answer: Facts, Incidents, Details, Observations
FIDO helps officers remember to include Facts, Incidents, Details, and Observations to produce thorough reports.
Question 4: An officer should proofread a report before submission primarily to:
- Make the report longer to show thoroughness
- Catch errors that could affect the report's credibility and legal use (Correct answer)
- Add more personal observations to support the case
- Ensure the report matches exactly what a supervisor expects
Correct answer: Catch errors that could affect the report's credibility and legal use
Errors in spelling, grammar, or facts can undermine a report's credibility in court and during internal reviews.
Question 5: When a witness refuses to provide their name, an officer should:
- Omit any mention of the witness from the report
- Document that a witness was present but declined to provide identifying information (Correct answer)
- Detain the witness until they provide their name
- File a separate refusal report
Correct answer: Document that a witness was present but declined to provide identifying information
Documenting the existence of an uncooperative witness maintains an accurate record while respecting the limits of the officer's authority.
Question 6: Officer Torres is writing a domestic disturbance report and wants to include a statement made by the suspect. The correct way to record it is:
- Paraphrase the suspect's words to make them clearer
- Write 'the suspect said something about leaving'
- Quote the suspect's exact words and attribute them clearly, e.g., 'Suspect Smith stated: "I didn't touch her."' (Correct answer)
- Only include suspect statements if they confess to a crime
Correct answer: Quote the suspect's exact words and attribute them clearly, e.g., 'Suspect Smith stated: "I didn't touch her."'
Exact quotations preserve the suspect's actual words, which is critical for legal proceedings and avoids misrepresentation.
Question 7: The 'chain of custody' section of a report refers to:
- The sequence of officers who responded to the scene
- The documented handling and transfer of evidence from collection to court (Correct answer)
- The order in which witnesses were interviewed
- The ranking of supervisors who reviewed the report
Correct answer: The documented handling and transfer of evidence from collection to court
Chain of custody documents who handled evidence and when, ensuring its integrity and admissibility in court.
MTA Report Writing 3
Which of the following statements is the BEST example of objective report writing?