Observation & ReportsQuestion 125 of 200
Most PPOs and BSIS training materials recommend writing incident reports in:
a.Second person ('You arrived...')
b.Whatever style the guard finds most artistic
c.Third person, passive voice ('It was observed that the subject was entered upon')
d.First person, active voice, past tense ('I observed the subject enter at 14:32') — this is clearest, most direct, and easiest to defend in court
Explanation
First-person, active-voice, past-tense reporting is the modern standard for police and security reports. It is direct ('I observed' rather than 'It was observed'), clearly identifies the actor (the writing guard), avoids hedging, and reads naturally on the witness stand. Passive voice (c) obscures the actor and invites cross-examination. Second person (a) is conversational and inappropriate. The artistic approach (b) is not a real standard. Some legacy PPOs still use third-person style (e.g., 'Officer Lee observed...'), but the trend strongly favors first-person, active voice for clarity and credibility.
Law Reference: BSIS report-writing curriculum; PPO standard operating proceduresPractice all 200 questions free — no signup required.
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