The Basic Elements Custody / Patrol Reports Should Include

A police report is an account of your contact with members of the public during the course of your duties. Depending on the circumstances, it can be used to document your observations and actions or as an investigative tool. At a minimum, any report you write should reflect, show, or include the following information:

Beginning
  1. Why you were there (at the location) in the first place – general circumstances or your legal standing, i.e., the result of a call for service or an observation
  2. What you saw (observed) . . . suspicious activity? Crime in progress? exigent circumstances? Be specific!

Middle
  1. What happened:
  1. What the suspect did (his/her actions, including the corpus of the crime)
  2. What you did (your actions . . . use of force? requested assistance? handcuffed? seized evidence? questioned witnesses?)
  3. Your partner’s actions and/or the actions of other deputies

End

Conclusion or end result. . . an arrest, cite, transport, escort, notifications, medical treatment, transfer to discipline module?????