The New Police Report Manual [Paperback]

Devallis Rutledge (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1928916139 | ISBN-13: 978-1928916130 | Publication Date: January 1, 2000 | Edition: 1

This manual is the undisputed authority on plain-talk report writing techniques. Interesting and easy-to-read, it provides hundreds of examples that show easier and better ways to write without any spelling or grammar lessons. It is valuable as a supplemental reader for investigations or police communications courses. Students will devour this book and gain an incredible understanding of the impact report writing has on the complex issues surrounding a case.

Product Details

• Paperback: 176 pages
• Publisher: Wadsworth Publishing; 1 edition (January 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1928916139
• ISBN-13: 978-1928916130
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.6 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #117,405 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Eric V. Winchell, Lt. (So. CA Police Dept.), January 2, 2006

By 

Eric V. Winchell (So. CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The New Police Report Manual (Paperback)

This book is a must read for all new police officers, FTO's, and police supervisors. Rutledge's no-nonsense, get to the point approach is both effective and refreshing. I'm sure I am not the only police supervisor finding that many new officers have major difficulties in report writing. I have used this book when teaching and tutoring, and I have found it to be a great help. After applying the concepts identified and discussed in the book, the majority of officers are able to quickly overcome many of their writing issues, and develop a simple, yet highly effective style of police report writing.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best to the point manual..., March 20, 2008

By 

Snowman (CALIFORNIA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The New Police Report Manual (Paperback)

I had Rutledge's "It Easy to Write Better Reports" handout from over 20 years ago. This manual expands on the handout. With over a decade teaching report writing in an academy & at a university level, I highly recommend this book. Cadets have gone on to receive high marks for their report writing skills on evaluations thanks to Rutledge's thoughts. His cry to simplify wins cases. The very fact that he is a prosecutor adds a great deal of credence to what he teaches.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Plain English v. Legalistic Gibberish, December 5, 2007

By 

Neil Marsh (Chehalis WA US) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The New Police Report Manual (Paperback)

The book was new, even radical, when I read the first edition in the early 1980s. Rutledge advocated a plain English approach to report writing instead of the affected legalese that was the style of the day (and still infests some agencies' writing).

A well written narrative report has nothing to do with the technology used to produce it. Whether the writer uses a pencil and legal pad, typewriter, word processor, or clay tablet, good English is good English. Whatever else anyone wants to say about him, Rutledge broke me of some bad writing habits ("Photographs were taken by this officer of Suspect A..."). For that he has my eternal gratitude.