Cdi 5 - Technical English 1 (Investigative Report Writing and Presentation)

Student Handout in Police Report Writing – Midterms
CDI 5 – TECHNICAL ENGLISH 1

(INVESTIGATIVE REPORT WRITING AND PRESENTATION)
CHAPTER IV
TYPES AND FORMATS OF POLICE REPORT
POLICE BLOTTER
Police Blotter is a record of daily events occurring within the territories/jurisdiction of a given
police unit or command. It contains material detail concerning the event for legal and statistical
purposes.
A. Contents of Entry
The entry in the police blotter should answer the following cardinal elements of a police
record, to wit: who; what; why; where; how and disposition of the case.
B. Incidents to be Recorded
1. All violations of laws and ordinances reported and discovered;
2. All calls in which any member of the police force is dispatched or has taken an
official action;
3. All legal papers handled such as warrants, subpoenas, summonses, citations and the
like;
4. All fire alarms, reports and information received by the stations;
5. Movement of prisoners with corresponding notations on the authority for such
movements;
6. Cases of missing and found persons, animals and properties;
7. Vehicular and other types of accidents which require police actions;
8. All personal injuries, bodies found and suicides;
9. Damage to property;
10. All cases in which a police member is involved;
11. All arrests and returns made; and
12. Miscellaneous cases, general and special orders, violations of rules and regulations
and any other reportable incident that the Chief of Police desires to be recorded.
C. Procedure in Making Entries

1. All entries in the police blotter shall be handwritten in a clear, concise and simple manner
but answering as far as practicable the 5Ws and 1H. Clarity should not be sacrificed for
brevity.
2. Only facts, not opinions are entered in the blotter.
Instructor: SHERWIN H. PINALGAN, LPT Mobile Number: +63 919 002 7591
Facebook Account: www.facebook.com.ph/sherwinhpinalgan Email Address: shpinalgan14@gmail.com
3. No erasures shall be made on the entries. Corrections are made by drawing one horizontal
line over such word or phrases and the actual entry initiated by the police officer making
the correction.
4. A ball pen or pen with blue, black or blue-black ink is used for making the entries.
5. Misrepresentation in the blotter or any attempt to suppress any information therein are
punishable criminally and administratively.
6. The entries must be legibly written in long hand and consecutively numbered.
7. Every page of the blotter shall be consecutively or chronologically filled-up. No line of space
shall be left blank between any two entries.
8. Any development of a case to be reflected in the blotter should be a new entry at the time
and day it was reported. A reference to the previous entry number of the case, however,
should be made.
9. In every shift, the Duty Sergeant, under the supervision of the Duty Officer or Complaint
Desk Officer, shall make the actual entries in the blotter and at the end of his tour of duty,
both the Duty Sergeant and Duty Complaint Desk Officer shall sign the blotter.
CERTIFICATION OF POLICE BLOTTER EXCERPT

For whatever legal purpose, interested persons always seek a copy of a police blotter. Since
the entry in the police blotter is difficult to be machine-copied due to its size (bigger than the
ordinary document), a certification of its contents is the only way to have it. In copying the contents
of a blotter entry, it should be copied verbatim, meaning, it should be copied word for word and no
correction in the grammar or any mistake should be made in the entry.
MEMORANDUM
Common practices of inter office communication in the police service is the memorandum.
Interpreted the simplest way, a memorandum is “a note to help the memory”. A memorandum may
be general in application, requiring compliance by or information of a majority of all the officers and
members of the police organization.
A. Tones of Memorandum – in accordance with the person or persons reading it.
a. Chief of Police to his subordinates – Impersonal (i.e., “For guidance and strict
compliance”)
b. Writer sending memorandum to somebody of equal rank – Casually Personal (i.e.,
“The undersigned noticed changes in…”)
c. Subordinate Police Officer writing memorandum to a higher police officer – Formal Tone
(i.e., “For info and request acknowledge.”)
d. “MEMORANDUM FOR:” – is written above the addressee if sent to a superior officer
e. “MEMORANDUM TO:” – if sent to subordinate officer or to same rank and position
B. Parts of a Memorandum
1. THE HEADING – All the materials above the first line of the body comprise the Heading.
a. Letterhead – Printed Letterhead stationery is normally used for the first page. If
not available, a typed letterhead may be used.
Example:
Republic of the Philippines
Department of Interior and Local Government
Philippine Public Safety College
NATIONAL FORENSIC SCIENCE TRAINING INSTITUTE
Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City
Tel No. 8812722 (loc 112)
b. File Reference or Office Symbol – It is placed at the left margin, usually two (2)
spaces below the letterhead. Each part of the reference has a meaning. File
references are also used as identifying information on the second and subsequent
pages.
Example: NFSTI-Admin
c. Addressee – The title of the addressee is entered after the “MEMORANDUM FOR” if
sent to superior office, “MEMORANDUM TO” if sent to subordinates.
Example:
MEMORANDUM:
FOR: The Director, HPG
MEMORANDUM:
TO: The Director, CIDG
d. Addressor – The title of the addressor (sender) is entered after “FROM”.
Authorized abbreviations are used.
Example: FROM: The Director, HPG
e. Channels – Correspondence can be routed THRU channels, through a lower Chief
or Supervisor expected to exercise control, taken action or to be concerned and
normally placed two (2) spaces after the addressee.
Example: THRU: _________________
f. Attention Address – To speed routing, correspondence may be addressed to the

attention of an individual or head of a subdivision or by the use of an office symbol.
Example: Addressed to the Attention of an individual
MEMORANDUM:
TO: Regional Director, PRO CALABARZON
Camp Vicente Lim, Canlubang, Laguna
ATTN: PSINSP JUAN B DELA CRUZ
g. Subject – The subject line should contain not exceeding ten (10) words. It starts
two (2) spaces below the addressor. The capitalization rules may be used.
Example: SUBJECT: Request for Optional Retirement of
PSINSP JUAN B DELA CRUZ
h. Date – This refers to the date of signature and it is placed at the left portion of the
page on the last line below the subject.
Example: DATE: March 15, 2020
2. THE BODY – The body of the letter is the message itself. It is the substance of the typed
letter as distinct from the formal beginning and ending. This part of the letter is single-
spaced. The use of the third person, such as “the undersigned”, “this unit” or “this office”,
is prescribed to achieve objectivity.
a. Paragraphing – When a letter consists of only one paragraph, the paragraph will
not be numbered, although its sub-paragraph will be lettered, if there are two or
more. When there are two (2) or more paragraphs, they will be numbered
consecutively. The second succeeding lines will begin at the left margin.
b. Abbreviations – They are usually written without spacing or periods except
geographical locations which can be written with or without periods. If the full name
is used, the abbreviated rank is permissible, if family name only, the rank is spelled
out.
c. References – References to publication must be specific and fully identified.
References will not be made to a publication or document which is not available to
the addresses of the correspondence.
d. Page Numbering – The first page should not be numbered (silent pagination).
Subsequent pages, including those on which endorsements are prepared, will be
numbered consecutively beginning with the second page as 2.
e. Dividing a Paragraph – Three (3) or fewer lines will not be divided between
pages. At least two (2) lines of a divided paragraph will appear on each page. In
dividing a sentence between pages, at least two (2) words will appear on each
page.
3. COMPLEMENTARY ENDING – This refers to the material found below the last paragraph
of the body. It consists of the Authority Line (if used), signature, list of enclosures and list
of copies.
a. Authority Line – an authority line will be shown when the correspondence is
signed for the Chief or Head of Office by an individual authorized to do so.
b. Signature – contains the name of the Officer, signed in ink (black or blue-black,
never blue or any other color); the name being typed, stamped or printed capital
letters identical with the written name, the officer’s rank or service and title or
designation.
c. Enclosures – are supplementary documents which are sent with communications to
provide additional information.
RADIO MESSAGE FORM

The radio message form is that one used when preparing radiographic messages intended for
transmission throughout the Philippine National Police (PNP).
1. Message – is any idea expressed in plain languages prepared in a form suitable for
transmission by any means of communications.
a. Single – a message which has only one addressee
b. Book – a message which has two or more addressees and is of such nature that the
originator considers that no addressee need be informed of the identity of other
addresses.
c. Multiple – a message which has two or more addressees and is of such nature that
the originator considers that each addressee must be aware of all the addressees to
whom the message was addressed.
2. Originator – is the authority in whose message is sent, or is the police officer and/or unit
in whose name a message is sent, or is the police office and/or unit under the correct
control of the authority approving a message for transmission.
3. Drafter – is a person who actually composes a message for release by the originator or
the releasing officer.
4. Releasing Officer – is a person who may authorize the transmission of a message for
and in the name of the originator.
5. Text – is that part of a message which contains the idea that the originator desires to
communicate.
6. Message Instructions – normally reserved for communication center use by the
originator to indicate the desired method of delivery of a message, e.g., radio, landline,
visual, mail, by hand or convey any other appropriate instructions.
7. From – In this block is entered the designation of the originator. Police abbreviations
should not be used if addressees outside the police service are included.
8. To and Attn or Info – Addressees may be designated as either action or information.
Again, police abbreviations should not be used if addressees outside police service are
included.
9. Security Classification – Messages are to be classified as Top Secret, Secret,
Confidential or Restricted whenever their content falls within the definition set forth in
appropriate regulations.
10. Cite Number – This is to be filled-up by the originator with the office, unit or originator’s
cite number for the message.
11. Text – To save transmission and circuit time required for, normally the message text
should be prepared in block form, i.e., without paragraph numbering, indenting.
12. Reference Message – If the message refers to another message, appropriate identifying
data of the reference message will be inserted in the block.
13. Classified – If the reference message id classified, the YES block will be marked, and if
unclassified, the NO block will be marked.
14. Page Number and Number of Pages – This block will be filled according to the number
of messages from pages used to complete the message.
15. Drafter’s Name Title and Phone Number – Data identifying the drafter is entered in
this block.
16. Releasing Officer’s Name, Title and Signature – Data identifying the individual
authorities to release the message is to be entered in this block.
17. PNP Addressees
a. The title and location or unit designation of the signing authority will be indicated
b. ZIP Codes of Post Office Numbers or another coded distribution lists will not be used
as originator’s address as part of an address.
c. Messages to a police addressee will be addressed to the chief of an installation or
head of an agency
d. Geographical location of an installation or agency will be included.
18. Purely Civilian Addressees
a. The originator’s designation will consist of the full title of the chief or head in those
messages addressed to another line agency in the government.
b. When a message is for another line agency addressee or is to be delivered by a
commercial carrier, handling instructions will be included in the address portion of
the message form.
SPOT REPORT
Refers to an immediate initial investigative or incident report addressed to Higher
Headquarters pertaining to the commission of the crime, occurrence of natural or man-made disaster
or unusual incidents involving loss of lives and damage of properties. Such incidents must be acted
upon and reported to higher police office whether verbal or written within twenty-four hours.
INCIDENT REPORT
An incident report is a written account of an event or occurrence. The purpose of this report is
to document the exact details of the occurrence as basis for further actions of concerned public
safety officers. Incident reports are the jump-off points of investigations designed to ferret out the
facts and recommend solutions.
INITIAL INVESTIGATION REPORT

Initial investigation is the first action to be undertaken when there is a reported or discovered
incident. The conduct of initial investigation is one of the standard operating procedures in all police
stations. This is where the spot report will be relied on.
PROGRESS REPORT
Progress Report is being submitted if there is new finding or development in the case. For
example, the unidentified assailant reported in the initial investigation report had already been
identified after follow-up operations or if the total amount of the stolen properties had already been
computed or recovered.
FINAL INVESTIGATION REPORT

An Investigation Report is an objective statement of the investigator’s findings. It is an official
record of information relevant to the investigation which the investigator submits to his superior. The
effectiveness of an investigator is judged to a large extent by his/her reports of investigation.
A. Purposes of Investigation Report
1. Record – the report provides permanent official record of relevant information obtained in
the course of the investigation.
2. Leads – the report provides other investigators with information necessary to further
advance their own investigation.
3. Prosecution Action – the report is a statement of facts on which designated authorities
may base a criminal, corrective or disciplinary action.
B. Criteria of Good Investigation Report
1. It must be grammatically correct
2. Abbreviation must be used appropriately and correctly
3. The report should avoid slang, colloquialism or unnecessary technical terms
C. Requisites of Good Investigation Report
1. Accuracy – the report should be a true representation of the facts to the best of the
investigator’s ability. Information both favorable and unfavorable to the suspect should be
included.
2. Completeness – the questions WHEN, EHERE, WHAT, WHY, WHO and HOW should be
answered. The elements of crime should be established and the additional facts developed
should tend to prove these elements.
3. Brevity – Irrelevant or unnecessary materials should be omitted.
4. Fairness – The investigator should take the facts as he/she finds them, and if ever he/she
has theories, it must be consistent with these facts.
5. Form and Style – The arrangement of the materials presented should be in a manner
which will make the report easy to read.
6. Prompt – The report must be completed in a timely manner. Your credibility may be
opened to speculation if this requisite is not followed.
D. Characteristics of Report Writers
1. Those who write without thinking
2. Those who write and think at the same time
3. Those who think first and write afterwards
E. How the Investigators are Rated on Report Writing
1. Points to be considered
a. Conciseness
b. Clarity
c. Organization
d. Thoroughness
e. Accuracy
f. Adequacy
g. Pertinence of leads
2. Errors of Form
a. Grammar and syntax errors
b. Misspelling
c. Typographical errors
d. Wrong File Number
e. Wrong Block
f. Others of the same nature
3. Errors of Substance
a. Delay in investigation
b. Delay in Reporting
c. Omission in the investigation whether intentional or not
d. Misstatement of facts
e. Incomplete description
f. Neglect to state that the subject is dangerous or has homicidal tendencies
g. Failure to cover previous leads
h. Inadequate interviews
i. Lack of imagination in solving the case
j. Improper handling of evidence
k. Failure to include essential facts which shows jurisdiction, prosecutive action taken
and basis for investigative steps taken
l. Failure to include essential facts which were undoubtedly available and known to the
investigator
F. Supervision of Reports
1. Assure good reports

2. Protect Reputation of the Department and its Officers
G. Methods of Supervision
1. Tickler System – the supervisory official keeps a “3x5” index cards on each case
showing the basic data, dates, etc. and to whom it was assigned.
2. Assignment Record – this should show the cases assigned to each officer and should
include a record or reports submitted
3. All reports should be read and signed by the supervisory official.
H. Approved SOP in the Investigation of Cases
1. Upon receipt of the case, the duty PNCO/Desk Officer enters it in the Complaint
Logbook/Blotter and then, refer it to the OIC/Chief of the Investigation Unit.
2. The OIC/Chief of the Investigation Unit assigns the case to an investigator. The
Chief Investigator should maintain a Logbook of all cases referred to him either in
person or through communications, recording therein the nature of the case, name
of complainant, name of investigator and the date it was assigned.
3. If the nature of the case so warrants, the Officer-On-Case should immediately
respond to the crime, conduct an ocular investigation/inspection and interview the
complainant, witnesses and all persons who could shed light on the case.
4. Based on the initial investigation, the Officer-On-Case should prepare any of the
following police reports:
a. Alarm Report – for theft and robbery cases
b. Advance Information Report – for the crimes against persons
c. Crime Report – for all other cases
d. Information Report – for some cases initially taken cognizance by a police
station but later turned over to or found out to be handled by special
operating units.
5. The investigator should then take the sworn statements of the complainants/s,
witness/es, and if possible, suspect/s. At this stage, the investigator should exert all
efforts to unearth and gather all evidence relevant to the case.
6. Invitation for suspect/s to appear before any investigating unit/group should be
signed by the Chief of Unit/Group and duly accorded in a logbook intended for this
purpose.
7. A Progress report should be submitted by the investigator regarding the
apprehension of the suspect/s, recovery of evidence and all other development on
the case.
8. Once the suspect/s has been apprehended and duly investigated, the investigator
should prepare the corresponding referral to the inquest prosecutor for appropriate
recommendation.
9. Before the investigator file the case with Prosecutor’s office, the case should be first
endorsed, through channel, to the Legal Division for appraisal, evaluation,
recommendation or legal advice and such other legal measures as may be
necessary.
10. Final Investigation Report should be prepared by the Investigator in all cases
involving high government officials, wherein the complainant is a government
agency or entity.
AFTER OPERATIONS REPORT

After major operations, a report must be submitted and this is the After Operations Report.
This is an informative report detailing every action performed by personnel during police operations.
This is being done no matter what the result of operation was.
AFTER ENCOUNTER REPORT

After encounter report is a report on special missions or combat operations involving lawless
elements and subversive terrorists or rebels. This report also includes salient supporting documents
such as sketch of the encounter scene, list of participating troops, summary of ammunition
expended, summary of ammunition stock status, recommendation for an award for troop members
for exhibiting superior combat skills and bravery in the face of danger and proposed citation.
POLICE OPERATIONAL PLAN

In Police parlance, this is commonly known as OPLAN. Every police operation should have its
corresponding operational plan in order to have systematic development or personnel and economical
use of resources.
A. Parts of Police Operational Plan
1. The Heading – is in the right-most part of the document containing the number of copies
of the OPLAN, the originating office and the date.
2. Title – it is the subject of the operational plan. A code number or code name may be used.
What is important is that it must be reflective on the mission and execution of the
operational plan.
3. Situation – this portion tackles the rationale why this OPLAN is being adopted. It also
presents the current situation in the area by describing the peace and order situation as
well as the current trend of the criminality.
4. Mission – this will cover what the plan is all about and what it intends to do, in general
terms. The mission is sub-divided into purpose, goals and objectives.
5. Execution – the concept of the project will be outlined and explained. This will explain
how the operational plan will be carried out using the various aids to police organization,
the human and material resources.
6. Administrative and Logistics – involves the listing of logistical requirements. The
supplies and materials needed to implement the project will likewise be enumerated as an
annex.
7. Command and Signal – is the last portion and this pertains to the channels of
communication needed when implementing the operational plan until in full operation.
8. Signatures – only the original copy of the OPLAN should be signed by the Chief of Police
or the Chief of the Police Unit. Succeeding copies are to be signed by the Operations
Officer.
SWORN STATEMENT AND AFFIDAVIT

The Sworn Statement refers to a written statement voluntarily executed under oath by any
person, a suspect or a witness, which may be taken in a “question and answer format” or in a
“narrative format (affidavit)”. It shall state only facts of direct personal knowledge of the affiants
which are admissible in evidence and shall show their competence to testify to the matters stated
therein.
A. Types of Written Statement
a. Question and Answer Type – it is preferable to the narrative. It is easier to develop
or prove the essential elements of an offense through questions and answers.
i. Leading Question – suggests to the witness, affiant, informant, respondent or
complainant the answers which the investigator desires.
ii. Misleading Question – is one which assumes as true a fact not yet testified to
by the witness or suspect or contrary that which he/she has previously stated
b. Narrative Type (Affidavit) – it is hard for the judge to believe that in a narrative
type of confession/statement, the subject voluntarily dictated all that is in the
confession/statement.
B. Basic Parts of the Sworn Statement

a. The title or identification of the statement containing the name and address of the
affiant, the name of the investigator as well as his rank, the witnesses to the statement,
information as to where and when the statement was taken.
b. The affiant shall be informed of hid Constitutional rights
c. The question revealing the personal circumstances of the affiant
d. The question asking the affiant if he/she knows why he/she is being questioned
e. The questions proving the individual elements of the suspected violation/crime (WHAT,
WHEN, WHERE, WHO, WHY and HOW)
f. The affiant’s sworn statement should contain sufficient details as to the commission of
the offense/crime
g. The affiant shall be informed that the investigator has no more question to him/her
h. The sworn statement should contain errors or mistakes in every page intentionally
committed by the investigator
i. The signature of the affiant (if minor – to include the signature of the
parents/guardian).
COMPLETE STAFF WORK (CSW)

A complete staff work is a formal communication which contains a brief and exact analysis of a
situation, resulting from a thorough research made by its author because there is a specific problem
or a specific problem area. This study provides the chief an official report of such analysis which
helps him in making a decision on complex or controversial questions.
ENDORSEMENT
An endorsement is a reply or a forwarding statement usually added to a letter. It is a
communication within a communication. It becomes an integral part of the correspondence and is not
withdrawn from the basic communication to which it is appended.
A communication being sent by indorsement to a superior office is always “RESPECTFULLY
FORWARDED” or “RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED” and never “REFERRED” or “TRANSMITTED”. If sent
to an office at equal rank, it is “RESPECTFULLY TRANSMITTED”.
CASE OPERATION PLAN (COPLAN)

Case Operation Plan (COPLAN) refers to a preparatory plan on how to carryout a case
operation. It refers to a definite target specific activity conducted in relation to an intelligence project
under which it is effected. Several case operations may fall under one (1) intelligence project. Case
operation is the last resort measure to pursue intelligence objectives when normal police operations
fail.
SUMMARY OF INFORMATION
Summary of Information (SOI) is an intelligence report rendered regarding any illegal activity
or violation of laws being observed by intelligence operatives within a given area of responsibility.
This is the usual basis of case operations hence information received should be cared, validated,
counter-checked, analyzed and evaluated.
BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION REPORT

This intelligence report is very important in rendering the result of a background investigation
on any newly designated or appointed or assigned personnel of a uniformed unit. Background
investigation essentially involves records check and neighborhood check regarding the personal
background, present activities, previous criminal records or administrative records and behavior of
the subject in the community especially in the place where he/she resides.
ROUTING SLIP
The Routing Slip is primarily aimed in transmitting papers from office to office within the
Headquarters, or from branch to branch, within an office. It is never used to forward papers to an
agency outside of a Headquarters. It is used to speed up transmittal of correspondence direct to
action section without using a Brief, a DF or an Indorsement.
Some Instructions in Making Routing Slip
1. A routing slip shall be attached to every document which needs to be acted upon
2. The routing slip shall indicate the following information:
a. Control Number
b. Originating Unit/Office
c. Type of Document
d. Date of Document
e. Subject Matter (or particulars)
3. For purposes of tracking, each office/unit shall have its own documents control number
4. Additional information shall indicate the DATE and TIME the document is acted upon;
a. the name of the processor under the column FROM:
b. the name of the person to whom the document is referred to for further processing
under the column TO:
c. a check mark on the action taken from among those listed in the routing slip
5. The person to whom the document is release shall fill up the DATE RELEASED and the
RECEIVED BY entries.
References
2016. Fetalvo-Belares, Marilyn, Ananayo-Sanao, Mary Jane, Garcia, Nicasio Lanite
Police Report Writing
Wisemen’s Books Trading, Inc.

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Student Handout in Police Report Writing – Midterms

CDI 5 – TECHNICAL ENGLISH 1

C. Procedure in Making Entries

CERTIFICATION OF POLICE BLOTTER EXCERPT

f. Attention Address – To speed routing, correspondence may be addressed to the

RADIO MESSAGE FORM

INITIAL INVESTIGATION REPORT

FINAL INVESTIGATION REPORT

1. Assure good reports

AFTER OPERATIONS REPORT

AFTER ENCOUNTER REPORT

POLICE OPERATIONAL PLAN

SWORN STATEMENT AND AFFIDAVIT

B. Basic Parts of the Sworn Statement

COMPLETE STAFF WORK (CSW)

CASE OPERATION PLAN (COPLAN)

BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION REPORT

Police Report Writing

Wisemen’s Books Trading, Inc.

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