4-602 - Report Writing

Policy

Specific reports are written for specific purposes. Offense reports detail the elements of the crime or incident. Arrest reports detail the elements of probable cause for the arrest. Statements are made by individual officers pertaining to what the specific officer observed or heard and what action the officer took. The officer’s statement includes what the officer can testify to in court. Arrest reports, officer statements, and reports for seizures of personal property shall include rationale and legal justification for the initial stop as well as justification for subsequent search/seizure. (08/01/08)

All police reports shall include the following:

• All principal and relevant data fields on the CAPRS report pertaining to the case at hand shall be completed.
• All principal and relevant individuals involved in the incident shall be listed in the case.
• * This includes making a proper identification and documentation of all involved and/or associated individuals.
• A short public narrative statement describing the offense or incident. No names, addressees or anything that identifies a victim or witness shall be included in the public narrative.
• A probable cause statement in felony arrests.
• A description of the incident that occurred and documentation of the necessary elements related to the crime or basis for arrest.
• Documentation of reason(s) for an in-custody arrest versus issuance of a citation.
• A comprehensive individual statement in all felony arrests when an officer has information that is important to the case and in all other incidents where statements are required. (In critical incidents, this statement will generally be taken by an investigator in a question and answer format.)
• All principal and relevant information available to the officer at the time of the report shall be included in the report.

All police reports identifying and/or involving juveniles shall include:

• The school where the juvenile is enrolled or last attended.
• The parent/guardian information, including all contact phone numbers (home/work/cellular).

All handwritten reports must be legible and written in ballpoint pen.

• Critical Incident:

  An incident involving any of the following situations occurring in the line of duty:

  • The use of Deadly Force by or against a Minneapolis Police Officer
  • Death or Great Bodily Harm to an officer
  • Death or Great Bodily Harm to a person who is in the custody or control of an officer
  • Any action by an officer that causes or is intended to cause Death or Great Bodily Harm
• Juvenile: An individual who is under the age of eighteen (18) years.
• Police Report: A report or statement in a report that sets forth the officer's account of an incident and is entered into the MPD's Records Management System.
• Probable Cause: Having reasonable grounds for supporting the requested Court order, to include: search warrants, arrests or other legal process. Probable cause is required by the Fourth Amendment. Officers must have an objectively reasonable basis for believing that a crime may have been committed or that there is evidence of the crime present in the place to be searched.