Direct quotations should be used in police reports to capture exact words.

• A. True
• B. False
• C. Only for numbers
• D. Preferred for all content

Answer: (A)

Direct quotations are valuable in police reports because they preserve the exact words spoken by a witness or suspect, along with the emphasis and meaning they conveyed at the moment of the statement. This verbatim capture protects against misinterpretation that can creep in with paraphrase and provides a precise record that can be checked against tapes, transcripts, or other corroborating evidence. Quoting important statements or distinctive phrasing helps establish credibility, reveal intent, and can be essential if the statement is later challenged in court. The quotes should be accurate and attributed and used when the exact wording matters, while other parts of the narrative can be summarized to maintain readability and focus. In practice, only the spoken content that carries meaning or significance should be quoted; generic remarks and trivial lines are better paraphrased.