“If it’s not in the report, it didn’t happen.” This law enforcement adage has stood the test of time for a reason.

With calls for greater transparency in the criminal justice system and technology revolutionizing how information is shared, police reports have taken on new life in today’s law enforcement world. For most new officers, learning how to write a report starts with learning what to write. Make no mistake, a quality investigation is the foundation of a successful police report.

By exploring the critical interplay between investigating and writing, It Did Happen: A Police Officer’s Guide to Successful Report Writing examines case development and narrative construction from the ground up. As it does, it analyzes different categories of police reports and reviews the legal standards and procedural rules that officers regularly encounter. Along the way, it contrasts mandatory and discretionary reporting and discusses how computer-aided dispatch systems can serve as valuable investigative resources. Finally, this book recognizes that police reports are the foremost tool for communicating the facts and circumstances that guide an officer’s decisions.

Whether you attend the police academy, take a criminal justice course, or work in the security field, this book offers several strategies to enhance your report writing skills.