Should an officer's notes be submitted with a report?

The correct choice states that an officer's notes should not be submitted with a report. This practice is rooted in the principles of effective report writing and evidence management within law enforcement procedures.

Typically, reports are meant to be clear, concise, and accessible, summarizing the essential facts and findings relevant to a case. When officers create reports, they should distill the contents of their notes into these clear narratives. This process ensures that the final report stands as a coherent document, eliminating extraneous information that may overwhelm or confuse the reader.

Additionally, the inclusion of notes could lead to potential issues relating to the confidentiality of sensitive information or the unnecessary mixing of raw preliminary data with polished final reports.

In instances where the notes themselves are crucial to understanding a case or providing detailed context, they may be referenced instead, but not submitted as part of the formal report. Keeping the notes separate helps maintain the integrity and focus of the report itself.