Many officers say that as their experience grows, so does their intuition. Out of nowhere comes a warning, a suspicion, or a hunch that can alert them to danger or help solve a crime.

Sometimes there’s a dramatic flash; at other times it’s a gut feeling or a hunch. Some officers even say that they owe their lives to a sudden intuition that something serious was about to happen.

But when the incident is over and the suspect has been apprehended, there’s a report to be written – and a problem.

Hunches, intuition, and experience can’t be documented:

I had a hunch…
He looked suspicious…
I could tell that he was about to…

As Sgt. Joe Friday used to say: “Just the facts, Ma’am.”

So what should you put into your police report?  You need to figure out what triggered your intuition.

For example, you’re walking along a sidewalk on your way to a local business to investigate a theft. Suddenly you  have a hunch that one of the passersby is up to no good.

If you’re observant (and all cops are!), and you’ve practiced recalling incidents, you’re likely to come up with the detail that triggered your intuition. That guy was dressed too warmly!

In your everyday life – both on and off duty – practice paying attention and recalling details later. Train your mind to remember. You’ll be glad you did!