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| Misc Incident Report |
The MI, or the Miscellaneous Incident
Report, will quickly become very familiar to
you. The MI can be used to document any
incident, situation, or circumstance that may,
or may not, be designated by a particular title.
The importance of the MI cannot be
overstated. Police officers are inherently
lazy when it comes to writing reports. While
the MI affords you the opportunity to
document just about anything you can
imagine, most police officers fail to take
advantage of the MI to document
questionable circumstances in incidents when
reporting is not required.
You're going to work with a lot of police
officers who think their time is much too
valuable to waste on writing reports --
particularly reports they don't have to write.
You must guard against falling into this
mindset. As a police officer, documenting
the facts of any incident will never, never be
a waste of your time.
Report, will quickly become very familiar to
you. The MI can be used to document any
incident, situation, or circumstance that may,
or may not, be designated by a particular title.
The importance of the MI cannot be
overstated. Police officers are inherently
lazy when it comes to writing reports. While
the MI affords you the opportunity to
document just about anything you can
imagine, most police officers fail to take
advantage of the MI to document
questionable circumstances in incidents when
reporting is not required.
You're going to work with a lot of police
officers who think their time is much too
valuable to waste on writing reports --
particularly reports they don't have to write.
You must guard against falling into this
mindset. As a police officer, documenting
the facts of any incident will never, never be
a waste of your time.
Your department will designate those
incidents which will always require written
reports. For example, one department might
require its officers to submit a written report
for every report of a robbery -- or other
serious incident -- even if your investigation
cannot discover any evidence indicating that
a robbery occurred. Another department
may require only a code submitted orally to
your dispatcher, or entered into your mobile
computer, under the same unfounded
circumstance.
In the first instance, the purpose for your
submission of an MI is simply a factor in
maintaining the integrity of the department's
reporting system. The thinking is that it's a
lot harder to "blow off" an incident when
you're required to submit a report giving
reasons why the call is unfounded. In the
case of coding calls, no details are required,
so an officer need not overtly lie, or lie by
omission, in a written report. In either case,
whether your report is written or coded, a lie
is a lie if you "blow off" a call where evidence
exists to indicate that the crime, which would
require written reporting, did occur.
incidents which will always require written
reports. For example, one department might
require its officers to submit a written report
for every report of a robbery -- or other
serious incident -- even if your investigation
cannot discover any evidence indicating that
a robbery occurred. Another department
may require only a code submitted orally to
your dispatcher, or entered into your mobile
computer, under the same unfounded
circumstance.
In the first instance, the purpose for your
submission of an MI is simply a factor in
maintaining the integrity of the department's
reporting system. The thinking is that it's a
lot harder to "blow off" an incident when
you're required to submit a report giving
reasons why the call is unfounded. In the
case of coding calls, no details are required,
so an officer need not overtly lie, or lie by
omission, in a written report. In either case,
whether your report is written or coded, a lie
is a lie if you "blow off" a call where evidence
exists to indicate that the crime, which would
require written reporting, did occur.
There aren't too many things worse for a police officer than to have to explain
your actions -- after the fact -- when something that seemed like nothing at the
time of your initial involvement turns into something major, tragic, or even
catastrophic. Whenever you find yourself explaining your actions regarding a
particular incident without the benefit of previously submitted documentation,
provided by you, your credibility may be attacked relentlessly. The level of the
attack on your credibility will depend upon the severity of the incident's final
outcome; the political, social, financial status of parties involved, and, last but
not least, the extent of news coverage.
While you'll never become a mind reader during your police career, you will,
early on, begin developing a healthy amount of skepticism. That skepticism
will soon aid you in identifying situations where all the pieces just don't fit
together. We're not talking about logic here, because you'll rarely deal with
people who think or act logically. However, whenever you cannot logically place
all the pieces together, you should continue your efforts to do so; until, you've
exhausted all reasonable efforts. On those occasions when you go as far as you
can go without a conclusion to your personal satisfaction, the MI is available for
you to document your efforts...just in case. Just in case...something
unforeseen occurs which could expose you to criticism and place you in a
situation where you have to defend your credibility.
Let's look at an example where your submission of an MI, when not required,
would definitely be to your benefit:
Here's what you've got to understand. When something which is normally
minor turns into something major, your involvement in the minor stage
becomes a point of extreme interest. If you do everything you're supposed to
do at the minor stage, that should, and -- most of the time -- keep you out of
trouble. However, as in the example, when things turn sour due to any number
of circumstances, your credibility becomes paramount. There is no doubt that
one or more members of the example's group previously speculated that you
may not have even responded to the 911 hang up call. In fact, if you'd been
given the benefit of any doubt, that meeting would have never taken place.
The example gives you a glimpse into what can happen when the pressure is on,
and there's no good news forthcoming from an investigation. You might
wonder why no one in the group was aware that you'd written a report. While
some probably didn't even know the CAD code indicating that a report had been
written, none of them were looking for a report. While the contents of your
report could provide no knew evidence to aid the investigation, it did completely
solidify your credibility, and it verified, without any doubt, your efforts on the
previous evening. By the way, you'll probably never hear another word about
the incident from anyone. Ironically, instead of having your head, your bosses
will spin your competent actions as a positive aspect of the investigation.
You're not going to write a report for every call you handle, but you should
understand that the MI is always there when you feel that a report would be
appropriate to protect and enhance your credibility. In those instances when
it's totally your choice to document your actions on an MI, it will always be a
judgement call. As your experience grows, you'll become ever more aware
when to take the time to utilize the MI for your own benefit.
your actions -- after the fact -- when something that seemed like nothing at the
time of your initial involvement turns into something major, tragic, or even
catastrophic. Whenever you find yourself explaining your actions regarding a
particular incident without the benefit of previously submitted documentation,
provided by you, your credibility may be attacked relentlessly. The level of the
attack on your credibility will depend upon the severity of the incident's final
outcome; the political, social, financial status of parties involved, and, last but
not least, the extent of news coverage.
While you'll never become a mind reader during your police career, you will,
early on, begin developing a healthy amount of skepticism. That skepticism
will soon aid you in identifying situations where all the pieces just don't fit
together. We're not talking about logic here, because you'll rarely deal with
people who think or act logically. However, whenever you cannot logically place
all the pieces together, you should continue your efforts to do so; until, you've
exhausted all reasonable efforts. On those occasions when you go as far as you
can go without a conclusion to your personal satisfaction, the MI is available for
you to document your efforts...just in case. Just in case...something
unforeseen occurs which could expose you to criticism and place you in a
situation where you have to defend your credibility.
Let's look at an example where your submission of an MI, when not required,
would definitely be to your benefit:
Here's what you've got to understand. When something which is normally
minor turns into something major, your involvement in the minor stage
becomes a point of extreme interest. If you do everything you're supposed to
do at the minor stage, that should, and -- most of the time -- keep you out of
trouble. However, as in the example, when things turn sour due to any number
of circumstances, your credibility becomes paramount. There is no doubt that
one or more members of the example's group previously speculated that you
may not have even responded to the 911 hang up call. In fact, if you'd been
given the benefit of any doubt, that meeting would have never taken place.
The example gives you a glimpse into what can happen when the pressure is on,
and there's no good news forthcoming from an investigation. You might
wonder why no one in the group was aware that you'd written a report. While
some probably didn't even know the CAD code indicating that a report had been
written, none of them were looking for a report. While the contents of your
report could provide no knew evidence to aid the investigation, it did completely
solidify your credibility, and it verified, without any doubt, your efforts on the
previous evening. By the way, you'll probably never hear another word about
the incident from anyone. Ironically, instead of having your head, your bosses
will spin your competent actions as a positive aspect of the investigation.
You're not going to write a report for every call you handle, but you should
understand that the MI is always there when you feel that a report would be
appropriate to protect and enhance your credibility. In those instances when
it's totally your choice to document your actions on an MI, it will always be a
judgement call. As your experience grows, you'll become ever more aware
when to take the time to utilize the MI for your own benefit.
While the MI can be used as a quality control feature for a department's
reporting system, you should understand that the MI affords you an even
greater benefit. You're going to handle incidents on a regular basis; wherein,
written reporting will not be required. You will encounter these incidents
either my way of being assigned by CAD (Computer Aided Dispatch), or you'll
come upon them [on view] during your routine patrol activities.
reporting system, you should understand that the MI affords you an even
greater benefit. You're going to handle incidents on a regular basis; wherein,
written reporting will not be required. You will encounter these incidents
either my way of being assigned by CAD (Computer Aided Dispatch), or you'll
come upon them [on view] during your routine patrol activities.
As you may have already
noticed, the credibility of
police officers is being
attacked all the time. A
certain amount of
credibility will be attached
to you by virtue of your
position as a police
officer; however, that
amount is minimal and
vulnerable. It will always
be your responsibility, as
an individual police
officer, to establish,
maintain, and protect
your credibility.
noticed, the credibility of
police officers is being
attacked all the time. A
certain amount of
credibility will be attached
to you by virtue of your
position as a police
officer; however, that
amount is minimal and
vulnerable. It will always
be your responsibility, as
an individual police
officer, to establish,
maintain, and protect
your credibility.
You'll be working in the era of 911. I'm not talking about the
terrorist related 911...I'm referring to the 911 emergency telephone
number. In most cases, your communications division will be able to
identify the location or residence from which a 911 call is received.
You're about midway through your 4 x 12 shift when you're assigned
to investigate a "911 hang up" from a residence. Someone from the
residence dialed 911; however, the caller hung up before any
conversation with the 911 operator. You knock on the front door of
the residence, and a middle aged woman answers the door. While the
woman's physical appearance is quite normal, you immediately sense
a level of emotional agitation. When you state the reason for your
response, the woman denies making the call. Once you establish that
the woman is the only person inside the home, she continues to deny
making the 911 call.
As you diplomatically explain why you believe she did make the call,
the level of her agitation grows. She's not upset with you. She's
more upset because she's caught in a lie, and your gentle pressure
finally wins out as she admits that she did make the call. She now
seems more relieved as you begin to question her as to why she made
the call. While not as tense as she was initially, she assures you that
she made a mistake insisting that no emergency existed. As much as
you try, she will not tell you the reason for her call to 911. When you
offer to inspect the inside of her home, she smiles and states, "That
won't be necessary officer, There's no one else here." The tone of
her response is calm and appreciative indicating to you that she is
being truthful.
While you've handled a number of 911 hang up calls where
everything was resolved to your satisfaction, this one just doesn't set
well with you. Before you depart, you give the woman your business
card, and you even write your personal cell phone number on the
card. You tell the woman you have four hours left on your shift
during which time she can contact you directly if she should decide
that she does need police assistance.
When you return to your car, you prepare to clear the call. It's
pretty simple. All you need to do is submit a code indicating that no
police service was needed, and go back in service. As you sit there
with questions nagging at you, you decide to do some more checking.
It just so happens that you have some good capabilities on your
mobile computer. You soon find that no previous calls for police
service are data based for either the residence or under the woman's
name. Now...there is absolutely no reason why you should submit a
written report regarding what you did on this call since it doesn't
require a written report, and you did everything you could to resolve
the call. In fact, you did resolve the call giving it more effort than
many others would. Even though there's no requirement for a report,
you decide to document all the details listed above. You return to
service, and you end your shift without any further contact with the
woman.
The next day you arrive for your 4 x 12 shift, and you see three
television news vans parked alongside the station house. All three
have their microwave antennas raised, and the reporters and their
crews are scurrying around preparing for their six-o'clock newscast.
You're barely out of your car when you're greeted by your sergeant.
The sergeant's greeting is serious and to the point. He tells you that
you're to immediately respond with him to the district commander's
office. Your sergeant can't tell you the reason you're wanted in the
office since he was not given any explanation for the meeting.
You enter the office which you remember as being rather large.
Today, the office seems much smaller...probably because there are so
many people seated inside. There's only one chair which is
unoccupied, and your district commander politely tells you to be
seated. Your sergeant, with no further seating available, steps back
and stands near the door...probably for a quick getaway. The
introductions are brief. Aside from your commander, his
commander, two homicide detectives, two detectives from the
department's Internal Affairs Unit, and a lawyer from the
department's Legal Department are in attendance.
To say that you feel intimidated would be an understatement. Of
course, intimidation is the primary purpose for this whole scenario.
You can be certain of one thing, something big is up, and your welfare
is not on this group's list of priorities. In the seconds preceding the
beginning of the inquisition, your mind is racing trying to think of
something you did, or didn't do, that would create this really
uncomfortable situation.
Your anxiety begins to drain away as one of the homicide detectives
begins his questioning. All the questions are directed at your
handling of that 911 hang up call you responded to the previous
evening. You quickly realize that none of these people are aware that
you submitted a written report regarding the incident. As the
detective asks question number four, you respond by asking, "Have
you read the report I submitted on this incident?"
Talk about a reversal of fortune. The expressions on the faces
around you are priceless. After a few seconds of shock and silence,
the whispering and seat squirming begins. The district commander
and his boss turn their heads away from you for a brief whispered
conversation. The district commander then turns and says to you,
"You're excused Officer. I'll get back with you later."
You soon learn that the lady from the night before is missing, and
evidence has been developed to indicate that she may well be a victim
of foul play. You also learn that the woman has a lot of friends in
high places and that investigators don't yet have a worthwhile clue in
solving what is so far a complete mystery.
terrorist related 911...I'm referring to the 911 emergency telephone
number. In most cases, your communications division will be able to
identify the location or residence from which a 911 call is received.
You're about midway through your 4 x 12 shift when you're assigned
to investigate a "911 hang up" from a residence. Someone from the
residence dialed 911; however, the caller hung up before any
conversation with the 911 operator. You knock on the front door of
the residence, and a middle aged woman answers the door. While the
woman's physical appearance is quite normal, you immediately sense
a level of emotional agitation. When you state the reason for your
response, the woman denies making the call. Once you establish that
the woman is the only person inside the home, she continues to deny
making the 911 call.
As you diplomatically explain why you believe she did make the call,
the level of her agitation grows. She's not upset with you. She's
more upset because she's caught in a lie, and your gentle pressure
finally wins out as she admits that she did make the call. She now
seems more relieved as you begin to question her as to why she made
the call. While not as tense as she was initially, she assures you that
she made a mistake insisting that no emergency existed. As much as
you try, she will not tell you the reason for her call to 911. When you
offer to inspect the inside of her home, she smiles and states, "That
won't be necessary officer, There's no one else here." The tone of
her response is calm and appreciative indicating to you that she is
being truthful.
While you've handled a number of 911 hang up calls where
everything was resolved to your satisfaction, this one just doesn't set
well with you. Before you depart, you give the woman your business
card, and you even write your personal cell phone number on the
card. You tell the woman you have four hours left on your shift
during which time she can contact you directly if she should decide
that she does need police assistance.
When you return to your car, you prepare to clear the call. It's
pretty simple. All you need to do is submit a code indicating that no
police service was needed, and go back in service. As you sit there
with questions nagging at you, you decide to do some more checking.
It just so happens that you have some good capabilities on your
mobile computer. You soon find that no previous calls for police
service are data based for either the residence or under the woman's
name. Now...there is absolutely no reason why you should submit a
written report regarding what you did on this call since it doesn't
require a written report, and you did everything you could to resolve
the call. In fact, you did resolve the call giving it more effort than
many others would. Even though there's no requirement for a report,
you decide to document all the details listed above. You return to
service, and you end your shift without any further contact with the
woman.
The next day you arrive for your 4 x 12 shift, and you see three
television news vans parked alongside the station house. All three
have their microwave antennas raised, and the reporters and their
crews are scurrying around preparing for their six-o'clock newscast.
You're barely out of your car when you're greeted by your sergeant.
The sergeant's greeting is serious and to the point. He tells you that
you're to immediately respond with him to the district commander's
office. Your sergeant can't tell you the reason you're wanted in the
office since he was not given any explanation for the meeting.
You enter the office which you remember as being rather large.
Today, the office seems much smaller...probably because there are so
many people seated inside. There's only one chair which is
unoccupied, and your district commander politely tells you to be
seated. Your sergeant, with no further seating available, steps back
and stands near the door...probably for a quick getaway. The
introductions are brief. Aside from your commander, his
commander, two homicide detectives, two detectives from the
department's Internal Affairs Unit, and a lawyer from the
department's Legal Department are in attendance.
To say that you feel intimidated would be an understatement. Of
course, intimidation is the primary purpose for this whole scenario.
You can be certain of one thing, something big is up, and your welfare
is not on this group's list of priorities. In the seconds preceding the
beginning of the inquisition, your mind is racing trying to think of
something you did, or didn't do, that would create this really
uncomfortable situation.
Your anxiety begins to drain away as one of the homicide detectives
begins his questioning. All the questions are directed at your
handling of that 911 hang up call you responded to the previous
evening. You quickly realize that none of these people are aware that
you submitted a written report regarding the incident. As the
detective asks question number four, you respond by asking, "Have
you read the report I submitted on this incident?"
Talk about a reversal of fortune. The expressions on the faces
around you are priceless. After a few seconds of shock and silence,
the whispering and seat squirming begins. The district commander
and his boss turn their heads away from you for a brief whispered
conversation. The district commander then turns and says to you,
"You're excused Officer. I'll get back with you later."
You soon learn that the lady from the night before is missing, and
evidence has been developed to indicate that she may well be a victim
of foul play. You also learn that the woman has a lot of friends in
high places and that investigators don't yet have a worthwhile clue in
solving what is so far a complete mystery.
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| Copyright © 2006 - 2009 - Barry M. Baker - CareerPoliceOfficer.com |
| Disclaimer |
| CareerPoliceOfficer.com is not responsible for the contents of any linked site or any link contained in a linked site, or any changes or updates to such sites. Links are provided only as a convenience, and the inclusion of any link does not imply endorsement by this site. |
| Online Video Learning Systems: Police Exam - U.S. Border Patrol Exam |
The Elements of Style
Amazon.com - Composition
teachers throughout the
English-speaking world have
been pushing this book on
their students since it was
first published in 1957.
Co-author White later
revised it, and it remains
the most compact and lucid
handbook we have for
matters of basic principles
of composition, grammar,
word usage and misusage,
and writing style.
Amazon.com - Composition
teachers throughout the
English-speaking world have
been pushing this book on
their students since it was
first published in 1957.
Co-author White later
revised it, and it remains
the most compact and lucid
handbook we have for
matters of basic principles
of composition, grammar,
word usage and misusage,
and writing style.