Professional Report Writing for Law Enforcement Officers
Video: Capital Letters
This video teaches you three simple rules for using capital letters correctly in your police reports.
3 thoughts on “Video: Capital Letters”
Enriqe Montoya
Why are last names in all caps utilized in police reports?
Example: Upon arrival on scene, as I walk up to the home I could hear Jane DOE and John DOE yelling.
I find it hard to read and I have tried to use the first name. I appears t read smoother.
Hi, Enrique! I don’t know how this tradition started. It’s still used in some agencies. In fact some agencies require officers to write the entire report in all capitals.
Some readers find the capital letters distracting. Others say the capital letters make reports easier to read.
It’s a local choice. Not all agencies do it.
Incidentally, I would omit “upon arrival on scene.” Police reports are supposed to be brisk and efficient. If you’re walking up to the home, obviously you arrived there! Omit anything unnecessary when you’re writing a police report.
Why are last names in all caps utilized in police reports?
Example: Upon arrival on the scene, as I walked up to the home, I could hear Jennifer CLARK and John BROWN yelling. I knocked, CLARK answered, and I could hear BROWN’s statements directing his comments to me.
I find it hard to read using the last name only, and I have tried to use the first name, and it reads smoother.
Example: Upon arrival on the scene, as I walked up to the home, I could hear Jennifer CLARK and John BROWN yelling. I knocked, Jennifer answered, and I could hear John’s statements directing his comments to me as I tried to Jeniffer.
I would like to hear what you think. Some of the “Old School” officers seem stuck in something they learned long ago. I want to make sure that its a court requirement of writing styles or if it is just a preference
Why are last names in all caps utilized in police reports?
Example: Upon arrival on scene, as I walk up to the home I could hear Jane DOE and John DOE yelling.
I find it hard to read and I have tried to use the first name. I appears t read smoother.
I appreciate your time
Hi, Enrique! I don’t know how this tradition started. It’s still used in some agencies. In fact some agencies require officers to write the entire report in all capitals.
Some readers find the capital letters distracting. Others say the capital letters make reports easier to read.
It’s a local choice. Not all agencies do it.
Incidentally, I would omit “upon arrival on scene.” Police reports are supposed to be brisk and efficient. If you’re walking up to the home, obviously you arrived there! Omit anything unnecessary when you’re writing a police report.
Why are last names in all caps utilized in police reports?
Example: Upon arrival on the scene, as I walked up to the home, I could hear Jennifer CLARK and John BROWN yelling. I knocked, CLARK answered, and I could hear BROWN’s statements directing his comments to me.
I find it hard to read using the last name only, and I have tried to use the first name, and it reads smoother.
Example: Upon arrival on the scene, as I walked up to the home, I could hear Jennifer CLARK and John BROWN yelling. I knocked, Jennifer answered, and I could hear John’s statements directing his comments to me as I tried to Jeniffer.
I would like to hear what you think. Some of the “Old School” officers seem stuck in something they learned long ago. I want to make sure that its a court requirement of writing styles or if it is just a preference
I appreciate your time.