Note-Taking for Law Enforcement Officers

NOTEBOOKS OBJECTIVES • Understand the importance of note-taking for law enforcement officers. • Identify why officers take notes and what officers will include in the notes. • Understand and apply the general notebook rules. WHY KEEP NOTES ? 1. To remember. (if you simply rely upon your ability to recall precise facts of investigations or events, you will fail) 2. Part of your duty. (according to guidelines established in Ontario through historical precedent, police service policy, Ministry Standards, and/or other regulations) 3. Will be required to give accurate evidence in court. (if in the witness stand and your are lacking notes or detail and you are unable to recount necessary facts, your credibility as a reliable professional will be in question) Identifying Factors of YOUR Notebook • Name, Rank and Badge# • Police Service or other Law Enforcement Agency • Start Date/Finish Date Basic Entries Continued - assigned equipment – vehicle#, portable # - Parade Information – supervisors present, any information provided – ex: wanted persons, stolen vehicles, missing persons, special attentions OTHER NOTEBOOK ENTRIES • • • • Radio Call Information Traffic Stops Initiated Occurrences/ Arrests/ Searches Any other items in relation to your duty – observations, interviews, sketches, measurements • ALL ACTIVITY has a corresponding time recorded using the 2400hr clock GENERAL NOTEBOOK RULES • Black ink • No blank spaces • Use a single line and initial for errors…no liquid paper • No personal items • All information should be in your own legible handwriting Rules Continued • • • • 24 hour clock Signature after the last entry of shift To be made at the time or shortly there after Do not tear out any pages from your notebook • Complete notes prior to shift ending CORRELATING ENTRIES (Used to tie entries together that were made at different times and/or dates) • • • • Use an incident/occurrence number Enter “ongoing investigation” Refer back to entry by date See officer…notes KEY TO GOOD NOTES IS DETAIL • CLEAR • CONCISE • ACCURATE CASE STUDY • “Officer’s tainted notes kill drug case, other trials at risk after constable admits rewriting her memo book” • Read the article and answer the following questions. • Which notebook rule did the officer breach? • How did the breach affect other cases the officer was involved in? • How long had the case in question been in court and how many court appearances were there? • The officer admits her mistake in open court, what penalty did she face? • When were the original notes made by the officer? • What two differences revealed the officers breach? • What are personal and professional consequences will the officer face as a result of her misconduct?