What makes a good police report?

• A. Lengthy narrative with opinionated statements.
• B. Vague descriptions with missing times.
• C. Clarity, objectivity, completeness, accuracy, proper grammar, and clear chain-of-custody details.
• D. Minimal documentation and no chain of custody.

Answer: (C)

A good police report communicates exactly what happened in a way that any reader—another officer, a supervisor, or a prosecutor—can understand and rely on. It should be objective rather than opinionated, sticking to facts and observations rather than judgments. It must be complete, including who was involved, what occurred, when and where it happened, and how events unfolded, plus relevant details about witnesses, victims, suspects, and any evidence. It should be accurate, with precise times, locations, descriptions, and measurements, free from contradictions, and it should be well written with clear grammar and organization so the sequence of events is easy to follow. It should also document chain-of-custody for any physical evidence, showing who handled it, when, and where it was stored or transported to preserve its integrity. These elements make the report credible and usable in investigations, court proceedings, and future inquiries. Conversely, a report filled with opinionated statements undermines objectivity, vague descriptions with missing times reduce reliability, and minimal documentation with no chain-of-custody undermines evidentiary value and can jeopardize an investigation.