NTN Police Report Writing & Grammar 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which of the following is an example of a 'run-on sentence' in a police report?
- The officer arrived at 0300.
- The officer arrived the scene was secured all witnesses were interviewed. (Correct answer)
- Upon arrival, the officer secured the scene.
- Witnesses were interviewed, and statements were recorded.
Correct answer: The officer arrived the scene was secured all witnesses were interviewed.
A run-on sentence occurs when multiple independent clauses are written together without proper punctuation or conjunctions.
Question 2: An officer must note that a vehicle description is unconfirmed. Which entry is correct?
- The getaway vehicle was a red Honda Civic.
- The suspect drove a red Honda Civic.
- The witness described the vehicle as possibly a red Honda Civic. (Correct answer)
- A red Honda Civic was at the scene.
Correct answer: The witness described the vehicle as possibly a red Honda Civic.
Unverified information must be attributed to its source and qualified with terms like 'described as' or 'possibly.'
Question 3: Which sentence is grammatically correct?
- The officers whom responded first secured the perimeter.
- The officers who responded first secured the perimeter. (Correct answer)
- The officers which responded first secured the perimeter.
- The officers, who them responded first, secured the perimeter.
Correct answer: The officers who responded first secured the perimeter.
'Who' is the correct relative pronoun for subjects (people performing the action), not 'whom' or 'which.'
Question 4: In a use-of-force report, what is the PRIMARY reason for documenting each specific action taken?
- To justify the officer's promotion
- To provide a legal record showing force was reasonable and necessary (Correct answer)
- To satisfy department paperwork requirements only
- To ensure the suspect cannot file a complaint
Correct answer: To provide a legal record showing force was reasonable and necessary
Use-of-force documentation creates a legal record that demonstrates proportionality and justification for each action.
Question 5: Which transition word best connects these two sentences in a report: 'The victim was uncooperative. _____, officers were unable to obtain a complete statement.'
- Moreover
- Therefore (Correct answer)
- However
- Meanwhile
Correct answer: Therefore
'Therefore' indicates a logical cause-and-effect relationship between the victim's behavior and the outcome.
Question 6: An officer's report reads: 'Me and my partner responded to the call.' What correction is needed?
- Change 'responded' to 'response'
- Change 'Me and my partner' to 'My partner and I' (Correct answer)
- Change 'to the call' to 'for the call'
- No correction is needed
Correct answer: Change 'Me and my partner' to 'My partner and I'
The subject pronoun 'I' is required in the subject position, and convention places oneself last: 'My partner and I.'
Question 7: Which practice best ensures accuracy when writing a police report after a delayed period?
- Relying entirely on memory
- Consulting notes taken at the scene before writing the report (Correct answer)
- Asking a colleague what they remember
- Writing a general summary without specifics
Correct answer: Consulting notes taken at the scene before writing the report
Field notes taken at the scene are the most reliable source for accurate, detailed report writing after time has passed.
NTN Police Report Writing & Grammar 5
Which of the following is an example of a 'run-on sentence' in a police report?