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How to write organized and concise police reports

Set the scene, by introducing the people, property and other information before it is discussed.

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Police report writing sets the scene to explain and understand the incident. (Photo/West Midlands Police via Flickr)

The information and methods in this article are more fully discussed in John Bowden’s excellent book “ Report Writing For Law Enforcement & Corrections .” It is available from Amazon and other booksellers.

Article updated October 19, 2018

What is the secret to good police report writing ? The answer is organization and clarity. By following these two principles, you’re already on the path to a great report. A major problem for a lot of report writers is organization, not writing the report in chronological order.

One of the biggest challenges with the concept of chronological order is the order according to whom? Is it the writer, the victim, a witness or perhaps even the suspect? Each of these actors in the event has their own perspective to the order of events. Download a copy of this guide to print and keep at your desk.

Where should I begin the police report?

For the writer, the incident starts when they first arrive on the scene. For the victim, it is when they first realize they are the victim. For the witness, it is when they first see the action that makes them a witness. Of course, for the suspect, it is when they make that conscious decision to commit the crime. True chronological order means the order in which the events actually occurred.

Many reports begin this way:

While on patrol, (date and time) I received a call to (location). Upon my arrival, I spoke to the victim, (name) who said...

This format is told in the order in which the events occurred to the writer. It can work and has worked since report writing began, in simple cases with few principles, facts and evidence. In these cases, it is easy to use and can be understood fairly well.

The problems in clarity occur when there are multiple principals, a significant amount of evidence and events occurred over a longer time period of time.

You know you’re having problems organizing the report when it’s unclear where or how to begin the report.

Tell the incident story backward

This format is not what I would call a report. It is a statement from the writer saying what happened to them. In fact, in most cases, the crime has already occurred and the writer is telling the story backward. When asked why they write this way, many report writers will state that they don’t want to make it look like they are making it up — they want to emphasize where they received the information.

I have a simple startup paragraph that relieves this concern and makes it clear where the information came from:

I, (name), on (date and time) received a call to (location) reference to (the crime). My investigation revealed the following information.

This one short paragraph is interpreted to mean you talked to all the parties involved and examined the evidence. A report is not a statement of what the writer did (although this format can more or less work). A report tells the story of what happened, based on the investigation.

Some writers are concerned about being required to testify about what the report revealed. This is not a concern. You only testify to what you did, heard or saw.

When a witness tells you what they saw, you cannot testify to those facts, only that they said it to you. Their information should be thoroughly documented in their own written statements. Each witness, victim or suspect will testify to their own part in the case. Crime scene technicians and experts will testify to the evidence and how it relates to the case.

Your story, told in true chronological order, will be the guide to the prosecutor of what happened. It is like the outlines in a coloring book. The prosecutor will add the color with his presentation, using all the subjects and experts as his crayons to illustrate the picture – the story.

The investigating officer that writes the report is one of those crayons.

Set the scene

We start the process with the opening statement I outlined above. You can change the verbiage to suit your own style. The important phrase is the last sentence, “My investigation revealed the following information.” This tells the reader that this is the story of what happened. Your actions will be inserted in the story as it unfolds.

When you start, set the scene. Introduce the people, property and other information before it is discussed. For example, with a convenience store robbery, set the time, location and victim before you describe the action.

Mr. Jones was working as a store clerk on Jan 12th, 2013, at the Mid-Town Convenience store, 2501 E. Maple Street, at 2315 hours. Jones was standing behind the counter, facing the store. There were no other people in the store.

These first few sentences set the scene. The next sentence is the next thing that happens.

Approximately 2020 hours the suspect walked in the front door.

Each of the following sentences is merely a statement of what happened next.

  • The suspect walked around the store in a counterclockwise direction.
  • When he emerged from the back of the store he was wearing a stocking mask.
  • He walked up to the counter and pointed a small revolver at the clerk.
  • He said, “Give me all the money in the register...”

If you have multiple subjects involved in the event, introduce and place them all at the same time, before starting the action. A good example of this is a shoplifting case with multiple suspects and multiple loss prevention officers. Before starting the action, place all the people.

This makes it easy to describe the action when it starts.

After you finish telling the story, you can add all the facts that need to be included in the report not brought out in the story. Here are facts that can be included, if available:

  • Evidence collected
  • Pictures taken
  • Statements of witnesses, the victim and even the suspect.
  • Property recovered
  • Any facts needed to be documented in the case

Using this process will ensure your police report is clear and complete.

Want a copy of this guide to keep at your desk? Fill out the form below to download a printable guide.

John Bowden

John Bowden is the founder and director of Applied Police Training and Certification. John retired from the Orlando Police Department as a Master Police Officer In 1994. His career spans a period of 21 years in law enforcement overlapping 25 years of law enforcement instruction. His total of more than 37 years of experience includes all aspects of law enforcement to include: uniform crime scene technician, patrol operations, investigations, undercover operations, planning and research for departmental development, academy coordinator, field training officer and field training supervisor.

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August 05, 2023

How to Write a Police Report: A Step-by-Step Guide

Brian Humenuk | Author | COPJOT

By  Brian Humenuk ,   MA,  COPJOT

Updated on August 1, 2023

6-minute read or less

1. Introduction

Reports are a part of policing that over time get fine-tuned as new case law develops and agency policy and procedure changes. Continue reading where I later dive deeper into this fine-tuning process that sub-consciously evolves.

As a Field Training Officer, much of my time is teaching new officers how to investigate incidents, gather information, and write reports. One of the most important aspects for any police officer is to use everyday language that is easy to understand and to double-check your work before submitting it to your supervisor or an officer of higher rank.

2. Why is writing police reports important?

  • Documentation is key. As a police officer, you need to document your presence at a call for service in which you take some kind of action. The action you take may be to forward an investigation to another division in the police department, make an arrest, file formal charges, advise parties, document the use of force, etc. 
  • Your incident report will be saved in your agency database and may be used for many purposes including a lawful public record request, inquiry into discovery by the defense in a criminal case, subpoena by a law firm for a civil court matter, used to further an investigation, used by Internal Affairs to conduct an inquiry or investigation into a matter.
  • Arrest reports contain probable cause which gives you justification for taking action. These reports will be read by a good number of people in the court system. 
  • Your report narrative can be used to assist you in preparing to testify in court. The more detailed your report is the better it will assist you with preparing for a potential appearance on the stand.
  • The contents of your report can be used to place a suspect in a certain place at a certain time, driving a certain car, and wearing certain clothing. This may assist an investigation that had been active or one that is in the future. 
  • How many times have you received a phone call requesting information about a suspect from another law enforcement agency? Old police reports can be valuable to law enforcement agencies seeking information.

3. How to write a Police Report: Step-by-step guide

Police report writing format has its own rules and guidelines compared to that of an essay or research paper. Thus, being a great writer in college doesn’t mean you can become a police officer and start writing excellent narratives.

Although report writing policies and procedures may differ depending on which agency you work for the basic guidelines universally apply just like the police  10 codes .

While on scene interviewing witnesses and suspects and gathering information to write a police report it is prudent to write down all of the information in a good police notebook .

You can find the best police notebooks, custom police notebooks, and write-in-the-rain notebooks at COPJOT Police Notebooks and Pens by clicking here .

Your facts and identifying information are logged here in your notebook and are called police officer field notes . The better your field notes the better material you will have to write a police report.

If you are here trying to find out how to write a better police report you should start by jotting down detailed notes while interviewing victims and witnesses. 

These notes will be used to fill in the blanks later on while typing your report. 

Report narratives are written in first person, past tense, and organized in chronological order as the events occurred.

How to Write a Police Report: A Step-by-Step Guide

The Four C’s of Police Report Writing

Before you start typing keep the Four C’s in mind when you write reports. They are:

Clear :  Be as specific as possible. Use your field notes for specific chronological events and exact quotes.

Write as you would be speaking to members of a jury. Use terms like I exited my marked police car instead of I alighted from my cruiser. A jury doesn’t understand police jargon or police slang and you will leave them confused. In other words, use everyday language.

Concise : In as few words as possible give a lot of information. If it doesn’t matter if you arrived in a marked police car or unmarked police car leave it out.

If the report narrative you are writing will not result in formal charges and or there are no use of force issues then there is no need to put in an abundance of information. Keep it simple.

Complete : Your report is a summary of events but it  should include all relevant information.  It cannot be a specific word-for-word story of the events that took place. Relevant information will differ depending on the severity of the incident.

Continue reading and I will get further into detail about what complete may look like in different situations. 

Correct : Your police report “shall” be truthful, unbiased, and without opinion. If you don't make that a priority you may find yourself in a pickle further down the line.

Every police officer should know what the Brady decision is and I talk about Brady Violations in another blog article that you can read here .

In a police report, you shouldn’t try and create chicken salad out of chicken shit! This will eventually get you in trouble.

It is very important that if you have probable cause coming in at 60% you don’t write your narrative showing that you have a slam dunk case at 100%. If there are some holes in the case, be truthful about them. Judges, prosecutors, and defense attorneys will respect you for being truthful. 

4. Starting your Police Report Narrative

  • Formatting refers to how information is organized and how the report is laid out on the page.  The heading should contain the report date, time, type of event or incident, and officer name. Write it the same way every time so that when you are referencing your old reports you know exactly where to look for the date, time, assignment, location, etc. 
  • The body should be written in paragraph form, left-justified, and single-spaced with a double space between paragraphs. 
  • Number each paragraph starting with 1. The introduction phase should be in paragraph 1. If you are called to testify in court and need to reference your police report to refresh your memory the prosecutor or defense attorney can easily direct you to the numbered paragraph like this. Officer I call your attention to paragraph #5 sentence 2. Your eyes will be directly able to find this paragraph.

The Introduction phase

The introduction establishes why you are on the scene and includes:

  • Day, date, and time - Most agencies use military time
  • Who “you” are. Officer Tony Ruth 
  • Location or address as to where you were sent.
  • Nature of the call or why you were present. 
  • If other officers were present, who were they? Write their full names

On Tuesday, February 4, 2023 , I, Officer Tony Ruth , along with Officers Reed Williams and Karyn Tomlinson responded to 123 Main Street for a report of a break and entering to a motor vehicle. 

5. The Body Phase of a Police Report

Continue numbering your paragraphs. The body explains what happened at the scene by answering the 5W’s and H: Who, What, When, Where, Why, and How. All of these should have already been written down while at the scene in your police notebook.

This is where you show your probable cause for arrest and formal charging situations. Be specific about satisfying specific elements of a crime. Sometimes a crime has 3 or 4 elements.

Be descriptive and specific when getting into reasons for entry, stopping and holding, making arrests, and use of force incidents. Write a clear picture and remember your great note-taking will guide you through this phase. 

6. The Conclusion Phase of a Police Report

The conclusion should include the final actions of the reporting officer. The suspect or involved party was arrested/charged with a summons for complaint/parties were advised etc. 

Never put in a final opinion unless it is that of expertise and is accepted by the court.

A good rule of thumb is to end the report with:

R espectfully Submitted,

Officer Tony Ruth

Anytown Police Department

Common Mistakes and Best Tips for Writing Better Police Reports

Grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors.

Officers tend to make grammatical errors such as putting periods and commas outside of quotation marks when they should be placed inside the quotation marks. Other mistakes include capitalization, spelling, and punctuation errors.

These errors can be easily picked up on by using spell check, proof reading it, and having a co-worker put a second set of eyes on it. 

Leaving out the results of the investigation

Another common mistake police make in their reporting is leaving out critical details of an investigation, including the results.

Making assumptions is never allowed in police report writing, some officers may write thorough and detailed accounts of their investigation but fail to report the final result.

Not making an effort

Laziness will come back to bite you and sometimes that bite will be a big one.

A good police officer will write reports even when policy and procedure say that you don't have to but the police officer has a feeling that the circumstances surrounding the person, place, or thing investigated say to write a police report.

Factual mistakes

Factual inaccuracies on police reports are more common than you may think.

Police officers may record incorrect times, license plate numbers, driver's license numbers, names, addresses, and other critical details needed in a criminal case.

This can be solved by jotting down the pertinent information of your investigation into the police notebook you carry in the field. If you don't have a good police notebook visit www.COPJOT.com and pick yourself up one.

These custom police notebooks will assist you in professional police field note-taking and take the mistakes out of your report writing.

Incomplete or missing elements of a crime

Each crime has specific elements that must be satisfied if you are to develop sufficient probable cause for an arrest and then prove your case in court. Failing to articulate each element of the crime may also call into question the legality of your actions. The simplest way to avoid this is to obtain a copy of the statute for the crime you are investigating.

Leaving out parties involved in the incident

It is important to gather information on witnesses and other participants even if they are not formally charged.

Master carding other people involved can be important for your police department, whether in this case or a future inquiry. It doesn't hurt to ask people for a phone number where they can be reached. When you enter a person in your report be sure to add the phone number.

Never try and predict the future

Your job is to document and write about the past. If you write about a future prediction and it doesn't come true a good defense attorney will ask you what else about your police report is untrue.

We all make mistakes and so will you

Learn from them and make adjustments. If you have a bad day in court against a great defense attorney, learn from that experience and make the proper adjustments to better your reports and better yourself.

Fine-tune your report writing over time

It may take a few years but you will start to understand where and when you will need to throw that report writing into overdrive.

A simple fraud report with no named suspect will differ from a triple stabbing with a clear suspect, witness statements, and scene video. 

Also over time, you will get to understand which cases tend to get plea deals, which go to trial, and which go to trial that will be defended by a top-notch attorney. 

About the Author

Brian Humenuk   isn't just an entrepreneur in eCommerce, he is also an informed leader whose experience provides followers and visitors with a look into current and past police issues making headlines in the United States.

Brian has earned three degrees in Criminal Justice with the last, a Masters of Science in Criminal Justice Administration.

Brian extends his training, education, and experience to the officers just now getting into the field so that they may become more informed police officers and stay clear of police misconduct and corruption. 

You can find Brian on  Linkedin here .

More Information

Are you a Police Officer, Sheriff or State Trooper, Law Enforcement family member or friend check out our   Custom Police Notebooks   and   Metal Police Uniform Pens   here   on our   main website .

Related Articles

Police Court Testimony – What might you face in the eyes of justice

Police Officer Truthfulness and the Brady Decision

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How to Write an Incident Report

Last Updated: February 8, 2024 Fact Checked

This article was co-authored by Clinton M. Sandvick, JD, PhD . Clinton M. Sandvick worked as a civil litigator in California for over 7 years. He received his JD from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1998 and his PhD in American History from the University of Oregon in 2013. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 1,223,671 times.

If you're a security guard or police officer deployed to the scene of an incident, writing up a detailed and accurate report is an important part of doing your job correctly. A good incident report gives a thorough account of what happened without glossing over unsavory information or leaving out important facts. It's crucial to follow the appropriate protocol, describe the incident clearly, and submit a polished report.

Things You Should Know

  • Get the correct forms from your institution. Pay attention to any special instructions since forms may vary slightly.
  • Note the time, date, and location of the incident on the form. Include your full name and ID number, as well.
  • Write a first person narrative explaining what happened at the scene. Be honest, clear, and concise.
  • Proofread your incident report and revise any mistakes before submitting it.

Incident Report Template and Example

how to write a police log number

Following Protocol

Step 1 Obtain the proper forms from your institution.

  • Follow any instructions that accompany the forms. Each organization uses a different format, so pay attention to the guidelines.
  • In some cases you're responsible for filling out a form issued by your institution. In other cases you'll be asked to type or write up the report on your own.

Tip: If possible, do your write up using word processing software. It will look neater, and you'll be able to use spell check to polish it when you're finished. If you write your report by hand, print clearly instead of using cursive. Don't leave people guessing whether your 7s are actually 1s.

Step 2 Provide the basic facts.

  • The time, date and location of the incident (be specific; write the exact street address, etc.).
  • Your name and ID number.
  • Names of other members of your organization who were present

Step 3 Include a line about the general nature of the incident.

  • For example, you could write that you were called to a certain address after a person was reported for being drunk and disorderly.
  • Note that you should not write what you think might have happened. Stick to the facts, and be objective.

Step 4 Start the report as soon as possible.

Describing What Happened

Step 1 Write a first person narrative telling what happened.

  • Use the full names of each person included in the report. Identify all persons the first time they are cited in your report by listing: first, middle, and last names; date of birth, race, gender, and reference a government issued identification number. In subsequent sentences, you can then refer to them using just their first and last names: "Doe, John" or "John Doe". Start a new paragraph to describe each person's actions separately. Answer the who, what, when, where, and why of what happened.
  • For example, when the police officer mentioned above arrives at the residence where he got the call, he could say: "Upon arrival the officer observed a male white, now known as Doe, John Edwin; date of birth: 03/15/1998; California Driver's License 00789142536, screaming and yelling at a female white,know known as, Doe, Jane, in the front lawn of the above location (the address given earlier). The officer separated both parties involved and conducted field interviews. The officer was told by Mr. John Doe that he had came home from work and discovered that dinner was not made for him. He then stated that he became upset at his wife Mrs. Jane Doe for not having the dinner ready for him."
  • If possible, make sure to include direct quotes from witnesses and other people involved in the incident. For example, in the above scenario, the officer could write “Jane said to me ‘Johnny was mad because I didn’t have dinner ready right on time.'”
  • Include an accurate description of your own role in the course of what occurred. If you had to use physical force to detain someone, don't gloss over it. Report how you handled the situation and its aftermath.

Step 2 Be thorough.

  • For example, instead of saying “when I arrived, his face was red,” you could say, “when I arrived, he was yelling, out of breath, and his face was red with anger.” The second example is better than the first because there are multiple reasons for someone’s face to be red, not just that they are angry.
  • Or, instead of saying “after I arrived at the scene, he charged towards me,” you should say “when I arrived at the scene I demanded that both parties stop fighting. After taking a breath and looking at me, he began to run quickly towards me and held his hand up like he was about to strike me.”

Step 3 Be accurate.

  • For example, if a witness told you he saw someone leap over a fence and run away, clearly indicate that your report of the incident was based upon a witness account; it is not yet a proven fact.
  • Additionally, if you are reporting what the witness told you, you should write down anything that you remember about the witness's demeanor. If their statement's cause controversy later, your report can prove useful. For example, it would be helpful to know that a witness appeared excited while telling you what happened, or if they seemed very calm and evenhanded.

Step 4 Be clear.

  • Keep your writing clear and concise.
  • Additionally, do not use legal or technical words: For example, say “personal vehicle” instead of “P.O.V.” (personally owned vehicle), and “scene of the crime” instead of the typical numbered code that police typically use to notify others of their arrival.
  • Use short, to-the-point sentences that emphasize facts and that don't leave room for interpretation. Instead of writing "I think the suspect wanted to get back at his wife, because he seemed to have ill intentions when he walked up to her and grabbed her," write "The suspect [insert name] walked over to his wife [name] and forcefully grabbed her by the wrist."

Step 5 Be honest.

Polishing the Report

Step 1 Double check the basic facts.

  • Do not try to make sure that statements in your report match those of your colleagues. Individually filed reports guarantee that more than one account of an incident survives. Incident reports can appear later in a court of law. If you alter the facts of your report to match those of another, you can be penalized.

Step 2 Edit and proofread your report.

  • Check it one more time for spelling and grammar errors.
  • Remove any words that could be seen as subjective or judgmental, like words describing feelings and emotions.

Step 3 Submit your incident report.

Expert Q&A

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  • ↑ https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/work-incident-report
  • ↑ https://www.csus.edu/campus-safety/police-department/_internal/_documents/rwm.pdf
  • ↑ https://www.nfic.org/docs/WrittingEffectiveIncidentReports.pdf
  • ↑ https://openoregon.pressbooks.pub/ctetechwriting/chapter/accident-and-incident-reports/
  • ↑ https://oer.pressbooks.pub/opentrailstechnicalwriting/chapter/writing-incident-reports/

About This Article

Clinton M. Sandvick, JD, PhD

If you need to write an incident report, start writing down the basic facts you need to remember as soon as possible, so you don’t start to forget details. Include the time, date, and location of the incident, as well as your name and work ID number and the names of anyone else who was present. Start by describing the general nature of the incident, then write out a detailed, first-person account of what happened. Include as many details as you can. Keep reading for tips on editing and polishing your report. Did this summary help you? Yes No

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Police Records

police records

Police and other law enforcement agencies investigating crimes compile a number of different records in criminal cases. These include:

  • arrest and incident reports (which are usually difficult to obtain)
  • logs of arrests and responses to incidents by police (which usually are open to the public)
  • search warrants and coroner’s office reports (which also usually are open to public inspection)

Very few criminal records are available on the Internet.

This guide describes for reporters what records are publicly available in criminal cases investigated by police, focusing on California.

Police Reports

Police investigate crimes and arrest people, but they do not charge people with crimes. Charges are filed by prosecutors – such as a district attorney’s office – and a court case is only opened when a person has been formally charged.

Police records thus are not part of the court system, and documents like arrest reports or crime/incident reports kept at police departments are not presumed to be open to the public as court records are.

Thus almost no police investigative records are posted online.

There are two main types of reports written by police officers – arrest reports and crime or incident reports.

Arrest Report

This report provides details on an arrest made by police.

Sample Arrest Reports:

  • O. J. Simpson armed robbery case in Las Vegas – Smoking Gun website
  • Survivor contestant Richard Hatch – Smoking Gun website
  • George W. Bush DUI – Smoking Gun website

Crime or Incident Report

This report provides details on police responses to citizen calls for assistance, reports of accidents or reports of crimes being committed.

Sample Incident Reports

  • Tiger Woods Accident Report – Smoking Gun website
  • O.J. Simpson road rage incident in Miami – Smoking Gun website

What’s Publicly Available

While police records are subject to state public records laws like the California Public Records Act, many types of police records are specifically exempt from disclosure. There also are general exemptions that police can cite, such as that the release of information  would endanger someone’s life or undermine an investigation, to decline to provide copies of arrest or crime/incident reports.

As a result, police departments vary widely in how they respond to reporters’ requests for arrest or crime reports. Some will routinely provide the reports but with sensitive information edited out. Some will provide most reports but withhold those that concern sensitive pending cases. Some will decline to release any police reports.

Here are links to some Bay Area police department web sites that have information on obtaining police records:

  • Oakland Police Department
  • Richmond Police Department
  • San Francisco Police Department

See, for example, this San Francisco Chronicle story about how police in San Francisco cut back public access to police records, even basic information from arrest and incident report logs.

Reporters can ask for a copy of a police report, but if the police decline to provide it they probably are within their rights to do so.

This is why it’s important for a reporter to check the court record to see if criminal charges have been filed in a case. In the court file you’ll sometimes find police reports attached to the original criminal complaint that a prosecutor files against a defendant listing the charges against him/her.

So the same documents that police decline to give to a reporter might be publicly accessible in the court file.

See our other tutorial on Criminal Court Records for help on accessing criminal case records filed in courts.

Jail & Bail

When police arrest a person, the person usually is held at a county or city jail facility until the prosecutor’s office decides whether to file charges. Jails keep records of people they have in custody or who have been released on bail.

For help on what information is available on jail inmates and how a reporter can interview them, see our other tutorial on Jail and Prison Records .

Arrest Warrants

Police often will obtain an arrest warrant signed by a judge to apprehend a person.

Arrest warrants are used in various circumstances, such as when officers have investigated a crime, identified a suspect and then want to go to a particular place and arrest the person, such as at the person’s home.

To obtain an arrest warrant, a police officer usually goes to a prosecutor who then must convince a judge that a crime has occurred and there is probable cause that the accused was responsible for the crime. The judge then can sign an arrest warrant.

An arrest warrant will list the defendant’s name, a narrative description of the crime, the amount of bail and the court in which the warrant was issued.

Arrest warrants generally aren’t made publicly available by police agencies.

But see the San Diego County Sheriff’s Office warrants database , which has summary information on warrants issued against people in that county.

Arrest Logs

A police department keeps an arrest log that has the names and addresses of people arrested by police officers, where they were arrested and other details about the circumstances of the arrests and the people arrested. These logs generally are presumed to be public.

In California, these are the details about a person arrested by police that should be made public under the California Public Records Act:

  • Full name of the person arrested
  • Date of birth
  • Physical description including color of eyes and hair, height and weight
  • Time and date of arrest
  • Time and date of booking
  • Location of the arrest
  • The factual circumstances surrounding the arrest
  • Amount of bail set
  • Time and manner of release or the location where the individual is currently being held
  • All charges the individual is being held upon, including any outstanding warrants from other jurisdictions and parole or probation holds

However, even these details can be withheld if “disclosure of a particular item of information would endanger the safety of a person involved in an investigation or would endanger the successful completion of the investigation or a related investigation.”

What’s Available Online

A few police departments put their arrest logs online. You’ll need to check the website for a police department to see if the arrest log is available online.

See for example:

Sonoma County Sheriff’s Daily Arrest Log (in pdf format)

Davis Police Department Arrest Log & Daily Activity Log – combines log of arrests with incident log

The San Francisco Chronicle also publishes a feed of arrest records for people arrested in Bay Area cities.

Some of the arrest records put online by the Chronicle and other local news outlets come from a website called Local Crime News .

Incident Logs

A police department keeps an incident log of citizen calls for assistance, accident investigations and reports of crimes. The logs will include some details on the circumstances of the calls. These logs generally are presumed to be public.

These are the details about incidents reported to police (which are often referred to as public requests for assistance or complaints, and which also include accident reports) that should be made public under the California Public Records Act:

  • Time and date of the incident or complaint
  • Location of the complaint
  • The substance of the complaint
  • Time, date and nature of the police response
  • Time and date of any police report on the incident
  • Name and age of the victim (although this information is withheld in the case of many specific crimes, such as sexual assault, and it can be withheld at the request of the victim)
  • The factual circumstances surrounding the incident
  • A general description of any injuries, property, or weapons involved in the incident

What’s Available Online – Sample Incident Logs

Some police departments put their incident or report logs online.

Here are some examples:

California Highway Patrol

California Highway Patrol Traffic Incident Log

To see San Francisco Bay Area traffic incidents, click on the Communication Centers drop-down menu at the top left and select Golden Gate . To decipher abbreviations used in the incident logs, in the drop-down menu under Resources in the upper right select Glossary .

Berkeley Police Department

Berkeley Police Department Daily Crime Log

Posted daily in pdf format.

Martinez Police Department

Martinez Police Department Daily Log

Palo Alto Police Department

Palo Alto Police Department Report Log

Davis Police Department

Davis Police Department Arrest Log & Daily Activity Log

Combines log of arrests and incident log.

Penal Code Sections

Finding the descriptions of crimes for different penal code sections.

Police records usually refer to penal code sections in describing crimes police are investigating.

For example, section 187 of the penal code is for homicides.

How can you find out which crimes the various sections of the state penal code stand for?

The Berkeley Police Department has a list of commonly used penal code sections and which crimes they refer to. That’s at:

Berkeley Police Department Crime Classifications and Codes

For complete penal code listings, you can search by a penal code section number at the state government’s California Law site to find out what crime it relates to:

California Law website

At the site check the box next to Penal Code . In the search box type in the number for the penal code section you’re interested in (such as 187).

At the search results page, click on the first listing . That should give you the penal code section you’re seeking (the other listings are for other sections of the penal code that make reference to the penal code section you searched for).

Search Warrants

Police must get a judge’s written approval to conduct searches of private property in criminal investigations (unless the person in possession of the property consents to a search).

These documents approved by judges are called search warrants.

Search warrant filings thus are court-related public records. And they can have very detailed information on a criminal case being investigated.

Most courts assign a clerk to manage the files for the search warrants granted by judges to law enforcement officers.

These search warrant files are separate from the actual criminal court cases in which people are charged with crimes (search warrants often are obtained by police before any arrests or formal charges are filed in a case).

Local police agencies in California will file search warrants in county superior courts, while federal law enforcement officers (FBI, DEA, U.S. Customs, etc.) will file search warrants in U.S. district courts.

The search warrants are organized differently in different courts. An index usually is kept by date, and then within each date is a list of the addresses of the places approved to be searched that day. In other cases the index may just be numerically arranged by a number the court assigns for each warrant.

Search warrants are not indexed according to the names of the people whose property is being searched or seized, which can make it difficult for a reporter to track down the files.

Thus you’ll often need to ask a law enforcement officer or a prosecutor for the search warrant file number, or for the date a search was approved by a judge and a description of what was searched, in order to dig the search warrant records out of the court clerk’s files.

Search warrants have to be obtained to search everything from a residence or business to a vehicle or other personal property, such as a storage facility or a bank safety deposit box.

Search Warrant Filings

Here’s what’s in a search warrant file:

  • The application for the search warrant filed with a judge by a law enforcement officer describing what property the officer wants to search.
  • An affidavit prepared by the law enforcement officer detailing the criminal case being investigated and the evidence that exists against the person whose property is to be searched. The affidavit is required to demonstrate there is probable cause that a crime has occurred that justifies conducting the search.
  • A list of items being sought in the search. Police can’t just search for anything, they must specify what they’re looking for and the items must be related to the criminal case being investigated.
  • The judge’s order approving the search warrant.
  • An inventory of what was taken by authorities during the search. This inventory is usually referred to as a return on the search warrant.

The search warrant and related documents should be filed with the clerk’s office within 10 days of conducting the search, and often are filed sooner.

Law enforcement officials also can get a judge’s order sealing a search warrant. Usually this is done if the search warrant affidavit contains sensitive information that would jeopardize an investigation if made public.

Sample Search Warrants

  • David Letterman extortion case – Smoking Gun website

About this Tutorial

This tutorial was originally written by Paul Grabowicz for students in his Computer Assisted Reporting class, and later modified for public use.

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How Do I Get A Copy Of A Police Report?

  • By TLD Staff
  • Updated on February 5, 2014

Police investigations may seem secretive, but did you know you can get your hands on a copy of an official police report? Whether you’ve been in a car accident, you’ve witnessed a crime , or you simply want to know about an incident that happened in your jurisdiction, there are steps you can take to request access to police reports.

The exact process may vary by jurisdiction, but it is generally the same across the country. Agencies have different policies for releasing sensitive information that is in police reports, so be sure to check with your local police department to confirm how they handle requests. As you are researching, you may find the request titled a “Freedom of Information Request” or a “Public Access Request.” Different areas use varying language, but they both mean the same thing and are referring to the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) , which makes it entirely legal for citizens to request certain government information.

Reports will include details of the incident, where it took place, who was involved, witnesses, and much more; essentially, it is anything that is even remotely relevant to the case. But keep in mind, you will not be able to receive a copy of a police report until after the police investigation has been closed .

So, how do you get a copy of this information? Check out the steps below.

How Do I Get A Copy of a Police Report?

Requesting a police report is simple. You can do this one of two ways: either in person or by mail. Many jurisdictions have certain policies outlining how Public Access Requests must be made, so don’t jump the gun before you know if they require you to send in a request or visit the agency in person. To find out how they handle requests, simply search the name of your local police department, followed by “Public Access Request.” The link for the Records division should be in one of your top search results, which is where you will find out if your jurisdiction takes requests by mail, in person, or both. Record the address of the agency so you know where to go, or where to send it in the mail.

Requesting a Police Report In Person

1. gather the required materials..

Bring with you a form of identification like a driver’s license or passport. If you are making the request on behalf of someone else, you will need to have a notarized letter with you. Most agencies require a small request fee. If you were directly involved in the incident – whether as a victim, witness, or defendant – you may receive a verification slip from the authorities to let you know that a police report has been filed . Bring this slip with you to exchange for the police report.

2. Visit the Records and Identification Division of the police department.

The Records and Identification Division may have exclusive hours throughout the day that are not your typical business hours, so be sure to verify online. They will ask you for your information, as well as basic information about the case. Then, they will take your payment to cover the request fee.

3. Retrieve the copy of your police report.

In some areas, you may have to pick up a copy of the police report in person, but some agencies may mail it directly to you. Either way, expect to pay a per-page fee for the copy of the report. Reports typically cost a total of $50 to $150.

Requesting a Police Report by Mail

The process of requesting a copy of a police report by mail is a bit more involved. In many jurisdictions, you are required to make your Public Access Request via mail. Typically, the agency will provide a form online for you to fill out, but some places are fine with you writing a letter to ask for the police report.

1. Figure out where to send the Public Access Request form or letter.

Your local police department may have a specific address and addressee for police report requests listed on their website. If they don’t, simply address it to the Records and Identification Division, and use the general address listed online for the department.

2. Fill out the form or write the letter.

After you have found the location to send your request, you should be able to easily find out if they want you to send a request form or a letter. If the information is not readily available on the site, just call and ask which method they prefer. If it is available, filling out a request form is typically the easiest method because you won’t have to worry about leaving out information.

If you write a letter instead of filling out the form, be sure to include the following information:

  • Case number (if you have it)
  • Your Name, Birthdate, and Address
  • The date and location of the incident
  • Your role in the case (victim, witness, defendant, etc.)
  • The officer’s name who filed the report
  • What exactly you are requesting

If you are hoping to receive access to other official police documents, you may ask for them at this time. (Sometimes lawyers or insurance providers need additional information for a case, like photos, hospital records, interviews, officer notes, etc.) Keep in mind, if the information you are asking for is personal or sensitive information about another person involved in the case, the authorities may have to obtain their permission to give you those documents. In some cases, their policies won’t allow it.

3. Gather additional materials and send the form/letter.

Just like an in-person request, you will need to include a photo-copy of your identification and a check or money order to cover the request fee. Depending on the agency’s instructions and policies, you can either mail or fax the request.

4. Pay for the police report.

Once your request has been accepted, you should hear from the police department about how much you owe for the copy. Ask the department who to make a check out to and where to send it. Since you will pay per page, it is worth asking for an electronic copy of the report.

Who is able to Obtain a Police Report?

Victims obtaining reports.

Victims of crimes have the right to police reports concerning their incidents, and they can usually obtain them directly from the department with which the police reports were filed. Usually, the victims are presented with copies of police reports immediately after they file them. However, if they need additional copies or end up losing their original copies, they can usually obtain additional ones by simply contacting the agencies that first issued the reports to them.

Defendants Obtaining Reports

Defendants also have rights to police reports that were filed against them since they have a right to know what they are accused of. Usually, defendants can obtain copies of police reports pertaining to them from the District Attorney’s offices that are prosecuting their cases. If the defendants have lawyers representing them, usually their lawyers will obtain copies of their clients’ police reports for them. When defendants make requests for copies of police reports, the D.A. usually has a fixed amount of time that it has before it has to turn over copies of the reports to the defendants. This is because defendants usually need their police reports in preparation for their defense.

Third Parties Obtaining Reports

Sometimes third parties who were not involved in the actions mentioned in police reports might want copies of them. In these instances, most states will only allow third parties to obtain copies of police reports if the matters enclosed within the reports have already been closed. However, some states may allow third parties to obtain copies of police reports even when the cases are pending. Generally, third parties must know the case number of the reports that they want and must go to the county clerk’s office where the police report was filed to obtain a copy of the reports. There is usually a fee for the reports to be printed as well.

The process of obtaining copies of police reports is slightly different for different groups of people. However, they typically are not difficult to obtain, no matter who wants them.

How Long Does it Take to Obtain a Police Report?

It typically only takes a few days to a week to get a copy of a police report if you were directly involved in the case. However, if you were not directly involved, or if you are an insurance agent, it will take longer because you have to send in a request and have it processed. This process can take up to a month or longer.

Why am I not able to Obtain a Police Report?

The most common reason why people cannot get a copy of a police report is because of an ongoing investigation. Once the case is closed, you should be able to obtain a copy.

If you believe you have been unfairly denied access to a police report, you may wish to have a lawyer speak to the authorities on your behalf. Juvenile records may sometimes be sealed or withheld to protect the privacy of the victim. Generally, though, the process to obtain a police report is relatively simple, depending upon who is trying to obtain the report.

How To Get A Police Report For A Car Accident

After you have been in a car accident, one of the first questions your insurance provider will ask you is “do you have a copy of the police report?” Obtaining accident reports is a similar process to the one above, but it is generally a bit easier because in most cases, there is no criminal investigation. If you are in a car accident, you will receive a slip with an incident number on it. To obtain your police report, simply visit the police department that the report was filed from and trade the sheet for the actual report. If you do not obtain your police report, your insurance company will have to request a copy via mail, and it will take a bit longer.

There are also resources online that house accident reports, like  LexisNexis  and Buycrash . However, the safest and quickest option to is visit your local Police Desk as soon as possible after the accident. Accident reports can be ready to pick-up as early as 24 hours after the accident, and up to a week. Another way to get a copy of a police report is through your local Department of Motor Vehicles.

Now that you know about how to get a copy of a police report , check out How To File a Police Report .

This article contains general legal information but does not constitute professional legal advice for your particular situation. The Law Dictionary is not a law firm, and this page does not create an attorney-client or legal adviser relationship. If you have specific questions, please consult a qualified attorney licensed in your jurisdiction.

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Daily Occurrence Book Report: A Guide on what to Record

You have a  daily occurrence book (DOB) and a security guard. Now, only one question remains: what does the security guard record in the daily occurrence book report?

Sometimes a daily occurrence book is jam full of information, at other times it is empty. Is this because of different levels of activity on site or is it because the security guard does not know what to record?

From £5 per month

Online Occurrence Book

Guide what to record in daily occurrence book

Why bother to record anything in a daily occurrence book report?

There are two reasons to record events in daily occurrence book:

At first sight a daily occurrence book appears to be a reflection of site activity. However, it is also a measure of a security guard’s value. An empty daily occurrence book suggests little happens on site. As a result, the person paying for that security guard may remove them. It is therefore important to remember a daily occurrence book plays an important part in evidencing the value of a security guard.

A daily occurrence book may be referred to in a court of law. As a result they are often considered as important as a police officer’s note book . For this reason, no matter how innocuous the activity may appear at the time of recording, it is better to add rather than miss entries.

Every daily occurrence book report should include two types of information:

  • The expected
  • The unexpected

1. The Expected

Below is a list of entries expected in a daily occurrence book:

  • Repeating duties :   Security patrols , lock-up and unlock, fire drills etc.
  • Visitors and deliveries made to site
  • Audits and inspections : CCTV camera and fire extinguisher checks etc.
  • Assignment Instructions: Review and testing of assignment instructions
  • Shift change over remarks: For instance, equipment checks and any ongoing issues that need to be resolved by the next shift
  • Shift time: Start and end time of shifts

These events may appear mundane but if they are not recorded the reader will assume they have not occurred.

2. The Unexpected

The daily occurrence book should include unexpected security and safety events. Examples of these events are:

  • Incidents: Building faults, near misses, trespass, theft etc.
  • Security precautions: Additional security precautions taken for example, liaising with the nearby café about recent hostile reconnaissance  activity or protests in your area .
  • Support: Support provided on site for example, helping a distressed driver with their vehicle parked on site.

If you are using a digital daily occurrence book it will allow you to add media to your entries: Pictures, videos and sketches are all helpful descriptive devices.

SIRV’s digital daily occurrence book integrates patrols, incidents and inspections in one place.

Here’s what the SIRV digital daily occurrence book   looks like:

If you are using a paper daily occurrence book this acronym will help with how to enter information correctly.

  • L eaves torn out
  • B lank spaces
  • O verwriting
  • W riting between lines

Giving a security guard a daily occurrence book but not providing training is like handing someone a tool without showing them how to use it.  This guide helps the security guard know how to use their tool, the daily occurrence book and evidence why they are needed on site.

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How to write a daily occurrence book

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How to Master Report Writing

Whenever anyone talks about report writing, images of my academy class and the boring report writing segment always comes to mind. What I didn't know then, but know now, is just how important report writing really is.

Amaury Murgado Headshot

As first responders, we consistently spend more time writing reports than on any other single task in law enforcement. The only thing that beats it is probably driving around patrolling our zones. And yet, beyond the academy, we get very little training in writing, period. We are just supposed to fumble through and learn other aspects of technical writing on our own. Because of this, we need to find a way of writing reports that will serve us well throughout our entire career.

As a report writing instructor, I am motivated by a school seal that belongs to the Philips Academy, better known as Andover. Andover is a prep school that was established during the American Revolution and is one of the oldest boarding schools in the country. The school seal was crafted by Paul Revere and includes the Latin phrase, "Finis Origine Pendet," which translates to the end depends on the beginning. The beginning is the focus of this commentary and it will cover the process of report writing.

Question of Style

We tend to write police reports for economy. "Detailed yet concise" becomes the battle cry for supervisors and at the same time creates a nexus for officers. In reality we write quickly so we can get to the next call only to write again. It's a convoluted method that demands a great deal but also tends to ignore some of the more technical aspects of writing. There is a middle ground, however, where technical writing and economy can meet to serve the greater good.

Experienced instructors know they can't teach report writing. By the time people come into law enforcement they either know how to write or they don't. You can't cram 12 years of school into a 40-hour block of instruction no matter how good you are. But what instructors can teach is a particular style of writing.

Style becomes the structure that helps form a quality report. If you focus elsewhere, and replace it with something more restrictive like an outline, then you miss the point altogether. For example, an outline is too rigid. It restricts your ability to maneuver. Combining elements or sections becomes more difficult. If you have ever worked a busy shift where your reports start to stack up, you understand the need to write in as tight a package as possible.

The problem is it's very hard to write concisely. Thomas Jefferson allegedly wrote a friend once and advised he was sorry for the length of his letter, as he did not have time to write a short one. You no doubt know this to be true from experience. We therefore have to strike a balance between writing a novel like "War and Peace" and Dave Smith persona Buck Savage's infamous short report "Saw drunk arrested same."

Journalistic Approach

We write to inform, not to impress. The first step involves using the journalistic approach. You need to answer who, what, when, where, why, and how. It sounds counterintuitive, but it's where police officers fail the most. And it's not because we don't have the information but because we haven't organized the information we do have to our advantage.

A highly effective report writing structure goes like this: how the officer got the call, what the complainant/witness/victim said, what the officer observed, and what the officer did. Adhering to this structure allows any first responder to tackle any initial investigation with ease.[PAGEBREAK]

How You Got the Call

We take for granted the numbers of ways we can get a call for service. We can be dispatched or flagged down. It can be a walk-up, or a follow-up. It's important to state how you got the call even if the investigation proves it to be something else. If it's in progress, you would put that information here as well, up until the situation was under control. Once calmed down, you go on to the next section. For example, if you drive up to find two males fighting, you can't begin your interviews until they get separated, calmed down, and checked for injuries.

What They Said

The next portion involves interviewing any witnesses, victims, complainants, and possible suspects. You summarize and paraphrase each of their testimonies. You should use quotes when they directly apply to the crime or violation. Don't be shy about vulgar language either. If they said it, you can quote it. You are just documenting their version and not necessarily what actually happened.

What You Observed

After your interviews, then write down what you observed. If the house has been ransacked, describe the scene in detail. If your victim has been hit, describe the injuries. If the victim swears someone kicked in the front door but you find no evidence to support the claim, you need to write that down too: "I found no evidence to corroborate that the door was kicked in."

What You Did

The last portion covers what you did while investigating the incident. This includes processing the scene, conducting a neighborhood canvass, or any other action material to the investigation. Minor things like handing out an incident number needn't be documented unless your agency's policies require it. Since this constitutes the last portion, also include a closing statement to let the reader know you are done. It can be as simple as, "The report was forwarded for further review."

General Tips

Don't answer a question and by doing so create a new one. A very common mistake occurs when someone writes, "I processed the scene with negative results." It begs the question, "Where and what did you process?"

If you have multiple witnesses, combine the like testimony and discuss the differences. For example, "Mr. Jones, Mr. Hernandez, and Mr. Smith all agreed that the vehicle was a brown compact. However, Mr. Johnson stated it was a green mid-sized car." This saves you from writing the same thing over and over again.

Work on sentence structure and cut out excessive words whenever possible. Never use seven when five will do. For example, "The victim had no suspect information and desired prosecution," is short and sweet.

You should also convert elements of the crime into sentences. Your report has to prove what you labeled it. "The victim stated that someone without consent entered her home and stole $500 worth of her property." In Florida that describes burglary, without having added any extra fluff.

Putting it All Together

Since style creates structure without locking you into an outline, you can easily combine any section. Here is a simple illustration: "I was dispatched to a burglary over with. Upon my arrival, I met with the victim, Mrs. Jones. She stated someone without consent broke into her home and stole $6,000 worth of jewelry." You have easily combined how you got the call and the elements of the crime, and set yourself up for the next part of the report, which is what the victim said. You even informed the reader that it was forced entry without writing a separate sentence.

Sometimes you'll write a long narrative and a reader can get lost in the details. Using a short summary paragraph at the end helps tie things up nicely. It highlights the totality of the situation and the outcome.

This type of structure helps new officers remove some of their anxiety. For first responders, the length of our reports works in reverse; the more complicated the call the easier the report. For example, most recruits are afraid of handling a homicide. In reality it's one of the easiest reports to write. You arrive, you secure, you contain, and then you call out detectives. Upon their arrival you turn everything over to them (assuming your agency works that way). Your biggest role becomes securing the scene. Your report is very short while a detective's may near book length.

On the flip side, a simple incident like someone hitting someone else might seem like it takes forever to write. This is especially true if you have multiple witnesses and victims on both sides. I have seen prosecution packets of this nature almost an inch thick.

Closing Thoughts

Report writing is relatively simple when you follow the structure of how you got the call, what people said, what you observed, and what you did. This particular style of report writing allows you to tackle any incident as a first responder. If you're a supervisor, don't tell your officers what to write or even how to write. Instead, show them what your agency needs and create a writing style. Give them some structure and let them fill in the blanks. They may just surprise you.

Amaury Murgado is a special operations lieutenant with the Osceola County (Fla.) Sheriff's Office. He is a retired Master Sergeant from the Army Reserve, has 23 years of law enforcement experience, and has been involved with martial arts for 37 years.

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CIVIL AND MISDEMEANORS

How to read a police report.

By Jon Seidel

how to write a police log number

  • How to File a Police Report for Vandalism

A police report is a tool used by law enforcement professionals to document a crime, or the events at a crime scene or traffic accident. It is also a public record available by law to anyone who seeks it. Police reports aren't always easy to follow if you aren't used to reading them, but they're key for community members to understand what is happening in their neighborhoods.

Understand the jargon. Like any professional community, police and law enforcement personnel have a vocabulary that most people wouldn't use in regular conversation. Most of it is self-explanatory. For instance, it's not unusual to read in a police report that a suspect "fled at a high rate of speed," meaning the person under suspicion of criminal activity ran away quickly; or that officers were called to the scene of a "disturbance," meaning a fight, or "shots were fired," meaning gunshots. Don't be afraid to ask someone to explain a portion of the police report you don't understand.

Check the suspect or victim information. At the top of a police report you will usually find a description of the people involved in the event being documented. Depending on the situation, this could include descriptions of the person who reported the crime, the suspect or person under arrest, and the victim. There will likely be a box for each person, including sections for names, addresses, ages and other descriptive features such as height, weight and hair color. Read More: Information on Police Reports

Look for the location of the crime or accident. It's important to know where all the events took place. Police will usually include the exact address of a crime near the top of the report near the descriptions of the people involved. You might also find the address of the person reporting the crime, as well as the victim.

Review the vehicle information. If police are taking a report on a traffic accident, there will be vehicle information included in the report. Again, this is usually found above the narrative and can contain the year, make and model of a car, as well as insurance information. Police might assign each vehicle involved a number, such as "Vehicle 1" or "Vehicle 2." It will be important when reading the narrative to understand the number assigned to each vehicle.

Read the narrative. Nearly all police reports contain a narrative detailing, in chronological order, the events being documented in the report. The size of narratives vary, depending on how complicated the incident is. Sometimes the narrative can be difficult to read, but understanding the suspect or victim information, the location of a crime or accident, and the vehicle information will make it much easier to comprehend.

  • Police Report Writing
  • Police Scanner Codes

Jon Seidel is a news reporter at the Post-Tribune in Gary, Ind. He has worked for the paper, a member of the Sun-Times News Group in Chicago, since 2004. Earlier, he interned at the Florida Times-Union in Jacksonville, the News & Observer in Raleigh, N.C., and the Kenosha News in Wisconsin.

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Android Police

How to use wireless adb on your android phone.

Wirelessly debug your Android phone!

The Android Debug Bridge (ADB) lets you debug your Android device, sideload apps, install custom ROMs, and remove bloatware. It's also used for entering Android's recovery mode if you can't access the recovery menu through your Android device. While you need to run it from an external device, compatible devices only need to run Windows, macOS, or Linux. Linux support means you can run ADB commands from our favorite budget Chromebooks .

Wireless ADB commands mean you don't need a cable to debug your device. It's convenient and straightforward to set up, and we're here to walk you through each step.

GrapheneOS hero image showcasing the logo on a dark background

How to install GrapheneOS

Should you use adb wirelessly instead of wired.

Using the ADB wirelessly does not restrict you from using any ADB features. You can still sideload any app you want, install your monthly OTA update manually , or tweak interface settings on your device. However, the wireless debugging experience may be slightly laggier than in some cases, depending on your home Wi-Fi setup.

If you're concerned about the quality of your Wi-Fi connection, use ADB over a wired connection for a reliable signal.

How to use ADB wirelessly on your Android phone

Before you get started with wireless ADB commands, check that you're ready by following these steps:

  • Connect your computer and Android phone to the same Wi-Fi network.
  • Make sure your Android device is updated to the latest version of Android .
  • Download the latest version of Android SDK Platform Tools on your computer.

If you use a ChromeOS device, download SDK Platform Tools for Linux and open a Linux terminal on your Chromebook.

You don't need to install Android Studio to use the wireless ADB feature. That program is only necessary if you're an app developer. After fulfilling these requirements, follow the steps below to get started.

If you have an Android device running Android 10 or earlier, use the adb tcpip command method. Check the steps for this method on the official Android Developers page .

How to enable Developer options on your Android device

You must activate the hidden Developer options before using wireless ADB on your Android smartphone. Depending on your device manufacturer, the steps might be slightly different.

Enable Developer options on a Google Pixel device

  • Open the Settings app.
  • Tap About phone .
  • Tap Build number .

Selecting the About phone section on a Pixel phone

Enable Developer options on a OnePlus device

Selecting the About Device section on a OnePlus device

Enable Developer options on a Samsung device

Selecting the About phone section on a Samsung phone

How to enable wireless debugging on your Android device

Now that you have activated Developer options, you can turn on wireless debugging.

Enable wireless debugging on a Google Pixel device

Selecting the System section on a Pixel phone

Enable wireless debugging on a Samsung device

Tapping the Developer options section on a Samsung phone

Enable wireless debugging on a OnePlus device

Selection the Additional Settings section on a OnePlus phone

How to use Wireless ADB on your Android device

After activating Developer options and Wireless debugging, you can use ADB wirelessly on your Android device. You don't need to install ADB on your computer . You can use the Android SDK folder to execute commands. We use a Mac to show this, but the steps are the same on Windows and Linux devices.

The difference is that you don't add "./" before running ADB commands on Windows Command Prompt. For example, run the ./adb devices command on Mac to find the list of devices; on Windows, run the adb devices command.

To use wireless ADB on your Android device, follow these steps:

Turning on the wireless debugging feature in the Developer options

You have now set up wireless ADB on your Android device and can run any ADB command. To ensure everything works properly, run the ./adb devices for Mac or adb devices command on Windows to check your connected device. If the device is busy or not responding, try the adb kill-server command to stop the service. Then, enter adb devices again to start fresh.

When you aren't using wireless ADB, turn it off for security reasons. Doing this with any wireless feature you aren't using is an excellent practice to keep your device secure.

Wireless ADB gives you more Android freedom

Using ADB wirelessly is a convenient way to run ADB commands on your Android device. Whether installing an APK file, sideloading a system update, or removing unwanted apps, wireless ADB makes debugging your device a breeze.

ADB commands open the door to a variety of powerful tools. One of these is Shizuku, which offers an easy way to mod your device without rooting your phone.

Man suing Powerball, claims he's owed $340M after incorrect winning lottery numbers posted

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WASHINGTON -- A man from Washington, D.C. is suing Powerball , saying it owes him $340 million.

John Cheeks says the incorrect winning Powerball numbers were posted on the game's website.

The 60-year-old bought a ticket in 2023 for the January 7 drawing and said the numbers on the website had changed by January 10.

Last year, Powerball's website agency claimed it accidentally posted Cheek's winning numbers to the D.C. lottery website and didn't remove the mistake until the 9.

However, the agency says Cheeks is trying to capitalize on an obvious error from the lotto website.

His attorneys argue he should be paid based on past situations where the Powerball paid declared winners in a similar situation in 2013.

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IMAGES

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  2. Police log, 4-26

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  3. Police Report

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  4. How To Look Up A Police File Number

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  5. Police Log August 28, 2016

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  6. File:Jeremy Bamber police log.JPG

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COMMENTS

  1. How to Write a Police Report: 14 Steps (with Pictures)

    1 Get the correct forms from your department. Each police department has a different protocol in place for dealing with an incident and filing a report. You may be responsible for filling out a form issued by your department, or you may be asked to type or write up the report by hand. Try to do your write-up using word processing software.

  2. What Is a Police Incident Report?

    Report number used by police to easily look up and keep track of the report. Name of the officer who approved the report, if any, and the badge number. Exact classification and incident code for the type of crime. Name and badge number of the law enforcement official who reviewed the report. Case numbers for any associated cases.

  3. How to write a police report

    Introduce the people, property and other information before it is discussed. For example, with a convenience store robbery, set the time, location and victim before you describe the action. Mr. Jones was working as a store clerk on Jan 12th, 2013, at the Mid-Town Convenience store, 2501 E. Maple Street, at 2315 hours.

  4. How to Write a Police Report: A Step-by-Step Guide

    5. The Body Phase of a Police Report. Continue numbering your paragraphs. The body explains what happened at the scene by answering the 5W's and H: Who, What, When, Where, Why, and How. All of these should have already been written down while at the scene in your police notebook.

  5. How to Write a Police Report (Pro Examples & Templates)

    How to Write a Perfect Police Report? The content of a police report should be organized in an outline format. The more thorough you are, the better. Below is a detailed breakdown of how to correctly write a police report: Header

  6. How to File a Police Report: Online & Offline Resources

    1. Find your local police department's website. Do a quick internet search with the word "police" and the name of your city or the city where the incident happened. Once you're on the website, look for a link or tab labeled something like "Online Crime Reporting" and click it to get started.

  7. Car Accident Police Report: When & How To Get A Report

    How To Obtain a Car Accident Police Report? To get a police report after a car accident, you'll need to bring a law enforcement officer to the scene if one is not already present. Once you and...

  8. How to Write an Incident Report: 12 Steps (with Pictures)

    1 Obtain the proper forms from your institution. Each institution has a different protocol in place for dealing with an incident and filing a report. [1] Follow any instructions that accompany the forms. Each organization uses a different format, so pay attention to the guidelines.

  9. PDF Writing a Police Report

    This specific style of writing requires its own rules and conventions. While some expectations for police report writing may differ depending on the police department, certain basic guidelines universally apply. Police reports are written in first person, past tense and organized in chronological order. Date Time Why you were at the scene

  10. Police Records

    Police Records. Police and other law enforcement agencies investigating crimes compile a number of different records in criminal cases. These include: arrest and incident reports (which are usually difficult to obtain) logs of arrests and responses to incidents by police (which usually are open to the public) search warrants and coroner's ...

  11. How Do I Get A Copy Of A Police Report?

    You can do this one of two ways: either in person or by mail. Many jurisdictions have certain policies outlining how Public Access Requests must be made, so don't jump the gun before you know if they require you to send in a request or visit the agency in person.

  12. Daily Occurrence Book Report: A Guide on what to Record

    Legal A daily occurrence book may be referred to in a court of law. As a result they are often considered as important as a police officer's note book. For this reason, no matter how innocuous the activity may appear at the time of recording, it is better to add rather than miss entries. Two Rules

  13. How To Write Effective Law Enforcement Reports

    Abstract. The discussion emphasizes that police personnel should view themselves as information managers and realize that law enforcement reports are the single permanent and often public record of their competence and expertise. It also emphasizes that the writing of a report should begin mentally the moment the officer is dispatched to the ...

  14. 20+ Police Report Template & Examples [Fake / Real]

    20+ Police Report Template & Examples [Fake / Real] In the event of an accident, crime or an incident which occurs and the police are involved, it is essential to make a police report. Basically, a police report or a police report template is a document which is made when an incident or a crime is reported to the police.

  15. How to Master Report Writing

    The first step involves using the journalistic approach. You need to answer who, what, when, where, why, and how. It sounds counterintuitive, but it's where police officers fail the most. And it's not because we don't have the information but because we haven't organized the information we do have to our advantage.

  16. 18+ Fillable Police Report Templates & Examples

    The Details Regarding The Incident. All the appropriate information should be included in a well-written police report. These details include; Where the crime happened. The kind of crime which transpired. The manner the crime was reported and received. The time and date the report was written. If there were any personal injuries suffered.

  17. Criminal Justice Report Writing

    Abstract. The first section of the handbook discusses report writing as a process, with emphasis on blending information, form, and written expression to give a complete and accurate account of a case. Taking notes during an investigation in a field notebook is the first step in preparing a report. Suggestions for organizing the notebook ...

  18. PDF Report Writing Guidelines For Incident Report Writing

    i.e., motel name, phone number, room number. State when the subject is leaving area and when the subject will be at a permanent address. 9. Officers should obtain secondary addresses and telephone numbers (even out-of-state) and social security numbers from victims and witnesses who may move before the trial.

  19. PDF Los Angeles Police Department Murder Book Profile

    personnel, their names and identification numbers, time of arrival and departure, and their duties performed at the scene. The crime scene log should identify the name of the officer who maintained and completed the crime scene log (see appendix 3). Section 3 Crime Report The crime report should be completed by the primary investigator.

  20. PDF CRIME SCENE Photo Log Case Number: Page: Primary Investigator

    C:\Documents and Settings\lcoffey\Desktop\FORMS\Crime Scene Photo Log.doc

  21. How to Read a Police Report

    Police will usually include the exact address of a crime near the top of the report near the descriptions of the people involved. You might also find the address of the person reporting the crime, as well as the victim. Review the vehicle information. If police are taking a report on a traffic accident, there will be vehicle information ...

  22. File Police Report

    File Police Report - City of Vallejo Police Department. Boards & Programs.

  23. What and how to report

    Find out what you can report to the police and how best to do it. Find out what you can report to the police and how best to do it. Current timestamp: 20/02/2024 04:04:17 Quickly exit this site by pressing the Escape key. Leave this site. Skip to main content. Skip to main navigation. Search this website. Search. Main navigation menu ...

  24. How to use wireless ADB on your Android phone or tablet

    You will see an IP address, port number, and a Wi-Fi pairing code. Close When using ADB on Mac, open the Terminal app, type cd followed by a space, and drag the Android SDK platform-tools folder ...

  25. Man suing Powerball, claims he's owed $340M after incorrect winning

    Last year, Powerball's website agency claimed it accidentally posted Cheek's winning numbers to the D.C. lottery website and didn't remove the mistake until the 9.

  26. What records are exempted from FERPA?

    Records which are kept in the sole possession of the maker of the records, are used only as a personal memory aid, and are not accessible or revealed to any other person except a temporary substitute for the maker of the records.

  27. What we know about the woman who fired inside a Houston megachurch

    A woman who fired a rifle inside a Houston megachurch Sunday and was killed by law enforcement had a history of mental illness, a string of arrests spanning nearly two decades and family who had ...

  28. Burnsville, Minnesota: These are the police officers and firefighter

    A community is in mourning Monday, a day after two police officers and a firefighter were fatally shot while responding to a domestic incident in Burnsville, Minnesota. CNN values your feedback 1.

  29. Kelvin Kiptum: Marathon world record holder and coach killed in road

    Current marathon world record holder Kelvin Kiptum and his coach Gervais Hakizimana died in a road accident Sunday night outside the Rift Valley town of Eldoret, Kenyan police confirmed.. The 24 ...