1. PURPOSE

Reports create realistic documentation and accountability. Reports should clearly explain what happened, why action was taken, and what evidence supports the decision.

2. REPORT QUALITY

Reports shall be:
A. Accurate.
B. Clear.
C. Detailed.
D. Professional.
E. Chronological.
F. Free from unnecessary slang.
G. Based on observed or reported facts.

3. BASIC INCIDENT REPORT TEMPLATE

Incident Number:
Date/Time:
Reporting Deputy:
Location:
Call Type:
Involved Parties:
Summary:
Probable Cause:
Actions Taken:
Evidence:
Charges:
Use of Force:
Supervisor Notifications:
Disposition:

4. NARRATIVE STANDARD

A good narrative should answer:
A. Who was involved?
B. What happened?
C. When did it happen?
D. Where did it happen?
E. Why did deputies respond?
F. How was the investigation handled?
G. What law/policy supports the action?

5. EVIDENCE LOG TEMPLATE

Item Number:
Description:
Location Found:
Collected By:
Date/Time:
Related Incident:
Disposition:

6. INCIDENT NUMBERING

Incident numbers should follow the department format assigned by command or CAD. If no CAD exists, use a consistent format such as:

YYYYMMDD-UNIT-RANDOM

Example: 20260526-21D14-042

7. SUPERVISOR REVIEW

Reports involving force, pursuits, felony arrests, complaints, or major incidents may require supervisor review.

8. FALSE REPORTS

Knowingly false reports are dishonesty and may result in termination.