Report Writing and Grammar Flashcards
7 cards from real State Trooper practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Report Writing and Grammar flashcards as text
When writing a police report, which verb tense should be used to describe events that occurred during the incident?
Answer: Past tense
Past tense is used in police reports because the events being documented have already occurred.
Which of the following is an example of passive voice that should generally be avoided in police reports?
Answer: The vehicle was driven by the suspect.
Passive voice obscures who performed the action; active voice like 'the suspect drove the vehicle' is preferred for clarity.
What does the abbreviation 'DOB' stand for in a police report?
Answer: Date of Birth
DOB stands for Date of Birth and is used to identify subjects in police reports.
A trooper writes: 'Me and my partner responded to the scene.' What is wrong with this sentence?
Answer: It should read 'My partner and I responded to the scene'
'I' is the correct subject pronoun; 'me' is an object pronoun and should not be used as the subject of a sentence.
When documenting injuries in a report, which description is most appropriate?
Answer: The victim had a laceration approximately 2 inches long on the left forearm
Specific, objective descriptions with measurements and precise location are required for accurate injury documentation.
Which sentence correctly uses a semicolon?
Answer: The officer secured the scene; the detective conducted interviews.
A semicolon correctly joins two independent clauses without a coordinating conjunction.
What is the purpose of using chronological order in a police report narrative?
Answer: To present events in the sequence they occurred for clarity and accuracy
Chronological order allows readers to understand the sequence of events as they unfolded, which is critical for legal proceedings.