MTA Report Writing 5

Question 1

A report written in passive voice may be problematic because:

Accepted Answer

It can obscure who performed an action, reducing accountability and clarity

Answer

Passive voice (e.g., 'the door was kicked in') hides the actor, while active voice (e.g., 'the suspect kicked in the door') clearly attributes actions.

Question 2

When an officer observes evidence of drug activity at a scene, the report should:

Accepted Answer

Describe exactly what was observed: substance appearance, packaging, location, and quantity, noting it was sent for laboratory analysis

Answer

Describing observable characteristics and noting that substances are pending lab confirmation maintains factual accuracy without premature conclusions.

Question 3

Which of the following best describes the 'five W's' in police report writing?

Accepted Answer

Who, What, When, Where, Why (and sometimes How)

Answer

The five W's — Who, What, When, Where, Why (and How) — are the foundational questions that ensure a report covers all essential information.

Question 4

Officer Lee must document a juvenile victim's information. Which rule typically applies?

Accepted Answer

Juvenile names and identifying information are often protected by law and handled according to department policy on confidentiality

Answer

Laws protecting juvenile privacy require officers to follow department policy, which often limits or restricts disclosure of a juvenile's identity in reports.

Question 5

A dispatcher's radio log and an officer's written report describe the same incident differently. Which document generally takes precedence as the official account?

Accepted Answer

The officer's written report, as the on-scene observer's firsthand account

Answer

The responding officer's written report reflects firsthand observations at the scene and is the primary official record of the incident.

MTA - Police Exam Practice Test

MTA - Police Exam Practice Test

MTA Report Writing 5