Which statement best describes the role of a report header?

• A. It provides a brief opinion about the case.
• B. It identifies case, agency, date/time, location, and officers to ensure filing and retrieval.
• C. It lists the witnesses' personal information in detail.
• D. It summarizes the incident in a single sentence.

Answer: (B)

The header of a police report serves as identifying metadata that makes the file easy to locate and file correctly. It should capture essential details such as the case or incident number, the agency name, the date and time of the incident, the location, and the officers involved. This information keeps the record organized, supports quick searching and cross-referencing with related records, and helps maintain accountability and proper routing within the department. Opinions belong elsewhere in the report, not in the header, and listing witnesses or providing a one-sentence incident summary belongs in other sections designed for those purposes.