Request for consultation

Thanks for your request. You’ll soon be chatting with a consultant to get the answers you need.
Your form is submitting...
{{formPostErrorMessage.message}} [{{formPostErrorMessage.code}}]
First Name is required. 'First Name' must contain at least 0 characters 'First Name' cannot exceed 0 characters Please enter a valid First Name
Last Name is required. 'Last Name' must contain at least 0 characters 'Last Name' cannot exceed 0 characters Please enter a valid Last Name
Email Address is required. 'Email Address' must contain at least 0 characters 'Email Address' cannot exceed 0 characters Please enter a valid Email Address
Institution is required.
Discipline is required.
Country is required.
State is required.
Cengage, at your service! How can we best meet your needs? is required.
Why are you contacting us today? is required. 'Why are you contacting us today?' must contain at least 0 characters 'Why are you contacting us today?' cannot exceed 0 characters Please enter a valid Why are you contacting us today?

A Street Officer's Guide to Report Writing, 1st Edition

Frank Scalise, Douglas Strosahl

  • Copyright 2013
  • {{checkPublicationMessage('Published', '2012-01-01T00:00:00+0000')}}
Starting At $57.95 See pricing and ISBN options
Instructor Next Steps
Students: Buy now
A Street Officer's Guide to Report Writing 1st Edition by Frank Scalise/Douglas Strosahl
Quick Navigation

Overview

Written by experienced police officers in an engaging, conversational tone, A STREET OFFICER'S GUIDE TO REPORT WRITING teaches effective writing by examining and demonstrating the 'Four Pillars' of a well-written report (Clear, Concise, Complete, and Accurate).Packed with examples as well as stories from the authors' own experience, the book demonstrates the critical importance of writing skills in the field of criminal justice, as well as the positive effects of these skills on professional success. The book also illustrates the Five W's and One H of Journalism, email correspondence, letter writing, performance reviews, proofreading, and much more. A STREET OFFICER'S GUIDE TO REPORT WRITING is an essential resource for new officers, criminal justice students, and seasoned professionals who want to improve their report-writing skills.

{{readMore['overview'] ? 'Read More' : 'Read Less'}}

Meet the Authors

{{collapseContainerClosed['meet-the-author'] ? 'Show More' : 'Show Less'}}

Frank Scalise

Frank Scalise has been a police officer with the Spokane Police Department since 1993 and has served in multiple capacities. Currently a captain, Scalise has taught Report Writing, as well as Sexual Assault Investigation, at the Basic Law Enforcement Academy in Washington State. Hehas written courses for online and onsite instruction in several areas of criminal justice, including Community Oriented Policing, Corrections, Victimology, and Report Writing. Captain Scalise earned a B.A. in History from Eastern Washington University, and is a published novelist under his own name and the pen name Frank Zafiro.

Douglas Strosahl

Doug Strosahl has been a patrol officer with the Spokane Police Department since 1998. He also serves as a field training officer. Officer Strosahl has taught Report Writing at the Reserve Academy, Co-op Academy, Explorer Program training, the Basic Law Enforcement Academy, and Spokane Community College.

Features

{{collapseContainerClosed['features'] ? 'Show More' : 'Show Less'}}
  • Accessible Format: A STREET OFFICER'S GUIDE TO REPORT WRITING makes readers feel like they are part of a conversation with the authors, turning a typically dry topic into one that is more appealing and easy to understand.
  • 'Four Pillars' Approach: Using the recognizable 'Four Pillars' model (Clear, Concise, Complete, Accurate), readers achieve strong results quickly, and build a solid foundation they will use for life.
  • True-to-life examples: Woven throughout the material, multiple examples based on the authors' experiences give meaningful context to the lessons, bringing readers out of the book and into the precinct.
  • Practical exercises: Readers get hands-on experience by writing practice reports and honing them according to the "Four Pillars."
  • Unforgettable Stories: More than a textbook, A STREET OFFICER'S GUIDE TO REPORT WRITING is an entertaining read laced with pop culture, humor, and real-life law enforcement stories that make retaining the material effortless.

Table of Contents

{{collapseContainerClosed['table-of-contents'] ? 'Show More' : 'Show Less'}}
An Introduction by Chief Anne Kirkpatrick.
Foreword by Thomas "Tad" Hughes, Director, Southern Police Institute.
Preface: A Greeting.
What are you Getting Yourself Into?
Who's Who in This Zoo?
A Pecking Order.
1. And Away We Go
What is a Police Report? It is what it is. "Report Writing is boring." Who Reads his Stuff? Case in point. A Trip to the Fair. A Quality Report. Four Pillars.
2. CLEAR.
The First Pillar. You Can't Read What You Can't See. In Order To Write, Write in Order. That's What They Say. "De Plane" Language. Oops! Spell It, Spell It, Spell It Out Loud… Grammar Sucks. Case in point. Did I Mention that Grammar Sucks? Man, Am I Ever Tense. Active versus Passive Voice. Change it Up. The End is Just the Beginning. EXERCISES.
3. CONCISE.
Steve Is Cool (Part I). It All Ties Together...and a River Runs Through It. Steve Is Cool (Part II). The How of it. Charlotte was Concise. Never the Twain Shall Meet. More How. A Trip to the Hospital. Exercises.
4. COMPLETE.
The Ballad of Woody. You Complete Me. The Reason for the Box. Whaddaya See, Whaddaya Hear? You Do, Bad Guy Do. Think Journalism. Another Trip to the Hospital. The Weight. Exercises.
5. ACCURATE.
How important is it to be accurate? Yin of Accuracy. The Yang of Accuracy. The One-Eyed Man is King Today's is Yesterday's Tomorrow. How About Them Boxes? Roles People Play. How Much for That DVD Player in My Living Room? That's What Pete Said. OPINIONS. Tee it High and Let it Fly. Time to Summarize (not Winter-ize) Proof of the Crime. How do you proofread? Final Accuracy. Exercises.
6. CONCLUSION.
BONUS FEATURES.
Appendix A: What Am I Looking For?
Appendix B: Looking ahead
Keep on Writin' in the Free World.
Professional Letters.
Memorandum and Proposals.
Commendations.
Performance Reviews.
Formal Reviews.
White Papers.
Email.
Et cetera.
Final Thoughts.
Appendix C: A Final Review.
Appendix D: Final Review Key.
Appendix E: A (good) Example Burglary Report.

Compare Buying Options

{{collapseContainerClosed['compare-buying-options'] ? 'Show More' : 'Show Less'}}

Textbook Only Options

Traditional eBook and Print Options

{{collapseContainerClosed['detail_0'] ? 'Show More' : 'Show Less'}}

  • ISBN-10: 1133824129
  • ISBN-13: 9781133824121
  • RETAIL $57.95

  • ISBN-10: 1111542503
  • ISBN-13: 9781111542504
  • RETAIL $109.95

  • ISBN-10: 0495600326
  • ISBN-13: 9780495600329
  • RETAIL $159.95
Instructor Next Steps
Students: Buy now

Supplements

{{collapseContainerClosed['supplements'] ? 'Show More' : 'Show Less'}}

Cengage provides a range of supplements that are updated in coordination with the main title selection. For more information about these supplements, contact your Learning Consultant.

FOR INSTRUCTORS

Careers in Criminal Justice and Related Fields: From Internship to Promotion

ISBN: 9780495600329
This comprehensive text provides your students with the invaluable information they need to help them enter and succeed in the field of criminal justice—from finding an internship to identifying the right criminal justice profession for them. Written by seasoned professionals, CAREERS IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND RELATED FIELDS: FROM INTERNSHIP TO PROMOTION, 6E, guides students in developing job-search strategies: offering key information on internship requirements, professional conduct, résumés, interviews, and locating jobs. The text is also a highly effective resource to those already in the field who are interested in professional development, job change and promotional advancement. The new edition features expanded coverage of key topics such as disqualifiers for positions, new emergency-management jobs, internship opportunities, cover letter preparation, career decision-making tools, and interviewing.

FOR STUDENTS

Careers in Criminal Justice and Related Fields: From Internship to Promotion

ISBN: 9780495600329
This comprehensive text provides your students with the invaluable information they need to help them enter and succeed in the field of criminal justice—from finding an internship to identifying the right criminal justice profession for them. Written by seasoned professionals, CAREERS IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND RELATED FIELDS: FROM INTERNSHIP TO PROMOTION, 6E, guides students in developing job-search strategies: offering key information on internship requirements, professional conduct, résumés, interviews, and locating jobs. The text is also a highly effective resource to those already in the field who are interested in professional development, job change and promotional advancement. The new edition features expanded coverage of key topics such as disqualifiers for positions, new emergency-management jobs, internship opportunities, cover letter preparation, career decision-making tools, and interviewing.