Former Vice-Presidential candidate Sarah Palin has been back in the news recently. Many voters cheered when she endorsed Republican Presidential candidate Donald Trump. Less happily, her 26-year-old son Track was recently arrested for domestic violence.

If you read the police report, you will notice that it’s well written – but with one significant problem: A lack of specifics about the reasons for the arrest. Some observers have speculated that the report may not hold up if it’s challenged in court.

Here’s one problematic paragraph:

Upon contacting Palin, he was uncooperative, belligerent, and evasive with my initial line of questions. I asked him numerous times to tell me what happened, why 911 was called, and the location of the female who also called 911. Palin stated he didn’t know where she was and denied that there was a firearm involved, but did state that there were several spread throughout the residence. Due to Palin’s escalating hostility, the unknown whereabouts of the female 911 caller, and Officer safely, Palin was placed into handcuffs.

The first problems I noticed were the use of passive voice:

“Upon contacting Palin” [who contacted him, and how? Was it by phone, or did you meet with him in person?]

“Palin was placed into handcuffs” [by whom?]. 

More seriously, the report describes Palin as “uncooperative, belligerent, and evasive.” and it refers to his “escalating hostility.” But there isn’t a single detail in the report to support those claims. What did he say? Did his body language suggest hostility? Writing down his exact words and gestures would build a case that’s more likely to stand up in court.

The police report actually weakens the case against Palin by recording what he did say: Palin stated he didn’t know where she was and denied that there was a firearm involved, but did state that there were several spread throughout the residence.

It’s quite possible that Palin really was hostile, belligerent, evasive, and so on – but the evidence isn’t there in the report.

In fact experienced officers say that providing specific details might even prevent a court hearing. A defense attorney might not see any point in trying to challenge a report written by an  officer who has proven that he’s a consummate professional.

Bottom line: Be sure to write a detailed police report.

              Sarah Palin