RCMP Written Communication Skills 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: When writing an RCMP occurrence report, which sentence structure is most appropriate?
- Complex sentences with multiple subordinate clauses
- Short, active-voice sentences with clear subjects and verbs (Correct answer)
- Passive-voice constructions to maintain objectivity
- Lengthy descriptive sentences to capture all details
Correct answer: Short, active-voice sentences with clear subjects and verbs
Active-voice, concise sentences improve clarity and readability in police reports.
Question 2: A witness statement reads: 'The man, who was wearing a red jacket and was approximately 6 feet tall, ran quickly.' What is the best way to revise this for a report?
- Leave it exactly as written since it is already clear
- The suspect wore a red jacket, stood approximately 6 feet tall, and fled on foot. (Correct answer)
- A man in red ran.
- The individual described as tall with a red jacket engaged in flight from the scene.
Correct answer: The suspect wore a red jacket, stood approximately 6 feet tall, and fled on foot.
The revised sentence is concise, uses parallel structure, and avoids vague language while retaining key details.
Question 3: Which word best replaces 'utilized' in the sentence 'The officer utilized a flashlight during the search'?
- Employed
- Used (Correct answer)
- Operated
- Deployed
Correct answer: Used
'Used' is the simplest, clearest word and is preferred in plain-language police reports.
Question 4: In a police report, the phrase 'at this point in time' should be replaced with:
- Currently
- Now (Correct answer)
- At the present moment
- At this juncture
Correct answer: Now
'Now' is the shortest and clearest replacement, consistent with plain-language writing standards.
Question 5: Which of the following best demonstrates the correct use of chronological order in a police report?
- Beginning with the most serious event, then backtracking to earlier events
- Describing events in the order they occurred, from first to last (Correct answer)
- Grouping similar events together regardless of when they happened
- Starting with witness accounts before physical evidence
Correct answer: Describing events in the order they occurred, from first to last
Chronological order helps investigators and courts reconstruct events accurately and logically.
Question 6: An officer writes: 'It appeared to this officer that the vehicle in question was moving at a high rate of speed.' What is the main problem with this sentence?
- It uses passive voice
- It is wordy and uses indirect language instead of a direct observation (Correct answer)
- It contains a spelling error
- It fails to identify the type of vehicle
Correct answer: It is wordy and uses indirect language instead of a direct observation
Writing 'The vehicle was travelling at high speed' is more direct and eliminates unnecessary hedging.
Question 7: Which of the following is an example of biased language that should be avoided in an RCMP report?
- The suspect was identified as a 35-year-old male.
- The complainant stated she heard a loud noise.
- The accused, being a known troublemaker, was arrested. (Correct answer)
- The vehicle was described as a blue sedan.
Correct answer: The accused, being a known troublemaker, was arrested.
Phrases like 'known troublemaker' introduce bias and are based on opinion rather than fact.
RCMP Written Communication Skills 2
When writing an RCMP occurrence report, which sentence structure is most appropriate?