This diagnostic test will help you make a study plan to improve your report writing skills.
INSTRUCTIONS: Evaluate the sentences below: Are they suitable for a modern police report? If yes, choose a. If not, mark the letter in front of the best sentence.
When you’re finished, check your answers by clicking on this link.
1. The Suspect was seen crouched behind a Dumpster in the parking lot.
a) The sentence is correct.
b) I saw Williams crouched behind a Dumpster in the parking lot.
c) This officer saw Williams crouched behind a Dumpster in the parking lot.
2. The house was empty all week because the Browns were on vacation in Miami.
a) The sentence is correct.
b) The house was empty all week because the Brown’s were on vacation in Miami.
c) The house was empty all week because the Browns’ were on vacation in Miami.
3. Mrs. Johnson was uncooperative when I questioned her about her son’s whereabouts.
a) The sentence is correct.
b) Mrs. Johnson indicated that she was unwilling to talk about what her son, Tom, had been doing recently.
c) Mrs. Johnson shook her head and said, “I’m not talking to you about Tom, and that’s that.” When I questioned her again, she shook her head and said, “Stop pestering me.”
4. I opened the box, it was empty.
a) The sentence is correct.
b) I opened the box it was empty.
c) I opened the box. It was empty.
5. The woman in the back seat was trembling, and her mascara was smeared.
a) The sentence is correct.
b) In the back seat, a frightened woman was seen by this officer.
c) There were signs of agitation on the woman in the back seat.
6. A group of officers and concerned citizens are meeting to discuss the traffic problems in our city.
a) The sentence is correct.
b) A group of officer’s and concerned citizen’s are meeting to discuss the traffic problem’s in our city.
c) A group of officers and concerned citizens is meeting to discuss the traffic problems in our city.
7. Chief Morrow asked Officer Canady and I to meet with the district attorney tomorrow.
a) The sentence is correct.
b) Chief Morrow asked if Officer Canady and I could meet with the district attorney tomorrow?
c) Chief Morrow asked officer Canady and me to meet with the district attorney tomorrow.
8. Linda Santos advised me that she and her mother have lived in the apartment for five years.
a) The sentence is correct.
b) Linda Santos told me that she and her mother have lived in the apartment for five years.
c) Linda Santos advised me that her and her Mother have lived in the apartment for five years.
9. Carmen told me, “that her husband came home drunk at least once every weekend.”
a) The sentence is correct.
b) Carmen told me, “that her husband came home drunk at least once every weekend”.
c) Carmen told me that her husband came home drunk at least once every weekend.
10. The institution revised its policies after the accreditation review last July.
a) The sentence is correct.
b) The institution revised it’s policies after the accreditation review last July.
c) The institution revised its’ policies after the accreditation review last July.
11. Rogers was obviously planning to kidnap and murder the child.
a) The sentence is correct.
b) I found a baby doll, duct tape, and 12 feet of rope in the back seat of the car.
c) I concluded from the evidence I found that Rogers was planning to kidnap and murder the child.
12. I asked Maureen where her husband was. She advised me that he was in the garage working on their car. I asked if I could talk to him. She said yes.
a) The sentence is correct.
b) Maureen told me her husband was in the garage.
c) I asked, “Where is your husband, Maureen?” She replied, “He’s in the garage working on our car.” I asked, “Can I talk to him?” She said, “Yes.”
13. After interviewing Mrs. Smith about the break-in, her daughter advised me that she had seen a stranger in the backyard the previous afternoon.
a) The sentence is correct.
b) After Mrs. Smith was interviewed about the break-in, her daughter advised me that she had seen a stranger in the backyard the previous afternoon.
c) After I interviewed Mrs. Smith about the break-in, her daughter told me she had seen a stranger in the backyard the previous afternoon.
14. I processed the scene.
a) The sentence is correct.
b) I looked for the point of entry, and I checked the windowsill for fingerprints.
c) I found shards of glass on the kitchen table and on the floor near the broken window. I lifted two sets of fingerprints from the windowsill.
15. I entered the living room and saw a man with his hands around a women’s neck.
a) The sentence is correct.
b) I entered the living room and saw a man acting in a threatening manner towards a women.
c) I entered the living room and saw a man with his hands around a woman’s neck.
16. Brown said, “There’s alot of blood, and you need to call an ambulance”.
a) The sentence is correct.
c) Brown said, “There’s alot of blood,” “and you need to call an ambulance”.
17. After I saw that the bedroom was empty, I checked the bathroom.
a) The sentence is correct.
b) After I ascertained that the bedroom was empty, I proceeded to check the bathroom.
c) It was confirmed that both the bedroom and bathroom were empty.
18. Alice Patel told me the Toyota was her’s.
a) The sentence is correct.
b) This officer was able to determine that the Toyota belonged to Alice Patel.
c) Alice Patel told me the Toyota was hers.
19. There’s two reasons the inmates were kept in their dorms this afternoon.
a) The sentence is correct.
b) There are two reasons the inmates were kept in their dorms this afternoon.
c) The inmates where kept in there dorms this afternoon for two reasons.
20. On July 12, at approximately 10:10 AM, while in full uniform, I was dispatched to 1307 Clark Lane in regard to a domestic, and I knocked on the front door at approximately 10:15.
a) The sentence is correct.
b) On July 12, at approximately 10:10 AM, while in full uniform, this officer was dispatched to 1307 Clark Lane in regard to a domestic, and the front door was knocked on at approximately 10:15.
c) I knocked on the front door at approximately 10:15.
Finished? Check your answers here.