NPOST Police Test Incident Report Writing Questions and Answers 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: An officer is writing a report about a domestic disturbance. Which of the following statements is the most objective and appropriate for the report?
- The couple was having a silly argument over money.
- The male subject was clearly the aggressor and was trying to start a fight.
- I observed a broken lamp on the floor and a red mark on the female's left cheek. (Correct answer)
- The female subject seemed to be exaggerating her story to get the male in trouble.
Correct answer: I observed a broken lamp on the floor and a red mark on the female's left cheek.
Police reports must be based on objective, factual observations. Stating that a lamp was broken and a red mark was visible are verifiable facts. The other options include subjective opinions, conclusions, or assumptions ('silly argument,' 'clearly the aggressor,' 'seemed to be exaggerating'), which are inappropriate for a professional incident report.
Question 2: Which of the following is the primary reason for writing an incident report in chronological order?
- To allow the officer to omit less important details.
- To make the report more dramatic and engaging for the reader.
- To create a clear, logical, and easy-to-understand narrative of the events as they occurred. (Correct answer)
- To prioritize the most serious offenses at the beginning of the report.
Correct answer: To create a clear, logical, and easy-to-understand narrative of the events as they occurred.
Arranging events chronologically provides a clear and logical sequence, allowing anyone reading the report (e.g., supervisors, attorneys, other officers) to easily understand the timeline of the incident from beginning to end. This structure is crucial for clarity and accuracy.
Question 3: When documenting a witness's statement, it is best practice to:
- Summarize the statement using police jargon to save space.
- Correct any grammatical errors the witness made.
- Paraphrase the statement to make it sound more professional.
- Use direct quotes in quotation marks for key parts of the statement. (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Use direct quotes in quotation marks for key parts of the statement.
Using direct quotes is the most accurate way to record a witness's statement, as it preserves their exact words and avoids any potential misinterpretation by the officer. This is crucial for maintaining the integrity of the evidence for potential court proceedings.
Question 4: Read the following list of actions taken by an officer at a burglary scene: 1. Interviewed the homeowner. 2. Received the dispatch call. 3. Secured the perimeter of the property. 4. Dusted for fingerprints on the point of entry. What is the correct chronological sequence for these events in an incident report?
- 1, 4, 3, 2
- 2, 3, 1, 4 (Correct answer)
- 3, 2, 1, 4
- 2, 1, 3, 4
Correct answer: 2, 3, 1, 4
A report's narrative should follow the sequence of events as they happened. The officer first received the call (2), then arrived and secured the scene (3), then began the investigation by interviewing the victim (1), and then processed for evidence (4).
Question 5: Which of the following sentences is written with the most clarity, conciseness, and professionalism for an incident report?
- I made contact with the individual who was the victim of the alleged crime.
- The perp was hanging out on the corner, acting shady.
- It appeared to me the driver was inebriated because he was all over the road.
- The vehicle failed to stop at the red light at the intersection of Main St. and First Ave. (Correct answer)
Correct answer: The vehicle failed to stop at the red light at the intersection of Main St. and First Ave.
This sentence is a clear, factual statement that avoids jargon ('perp', 'shady'), subjective conclusions ('appeared to me'), and unnecessary wordiness ('made contact with the individual who was the victim'). It states an observable fact in professional language.
Question 6: The fundamental components of a complete incident report are often referred to as the '5 Ws and H'. What does this acronym stand for?
- Who, Witnesses, Warrants, Where, Why, and How
- Who, What, When, Where, Why, and How (Correct answer)
- What, Where, Weapons, Warnings, Why, and How
- Who, What, When, Weather, Why, and How
Correct answer: Who, What, When, Where, Why, and How
The '5 Ws and H' is a standard framework in journalism and report writing that ensures all the essential elements of an incident are covered: Who was involved? What happened? When did it happen? Where did it happen? Why did it happen? and How did it happen? Answering these questions creates a thorough and complete narrative.
NPOST Police Test Incident Report Writing Questions and Answers 1
An officer is writing a report about a domestic disturbance.
Which of the following statements is the most objective and appropriate for the report?