Taking Notes

 

Taking Notes

The officer must develop a system of taking notes that provides the opportunity to recall information for documentation at a later time.

Two methods, have proven to be effective:

    • Method 1 – Officer’s Field Notebook – Writing in the officer’s field notebook information needed for the report: Who, What, When, Where, How, Why. The officer provides space between each one and fills in the information obtained under each heading.
    • Method 2 – Standard College Note Taking System – Consists of using a structure or format

    1.  Main topic
    b. Sub-topic
    (1) Sub-topic of a.

Using this format, subdivide the information into simple areas.

The officer who has two involved parties in an incident/event would have each one separated into a section. This permits information to be gathered and placed under each heading.

English as a Second Language

The cultural diversity of the population almost guarantees the officer will encounter individuals from another culture that do not understand the English language.

This situation can cause difficulty when the officer is attempting to provide instructions or directions for this individual.

  • During encounters with non-English speaking persons, the officer should remember to speak slowly and inquire as to their level of understanding.
  • Once the level of comprehension is known, the officer can decide whether communication assistance with this person will be required.

Other assistance may include:

  1. (1)  Other security personnel on duty.
  2. (2)  Other employees who are available at the worksite.
  3. (3)  Family members or friends of that person who are present.
  4. (4)  Supervisor’s who may be on or near the worksite.
  5. (5)  Assistance from the corporate office. (If appropriate)
  6. (6)  Community resources if available.