THE FIVE Ws - How to Report an Incident to Police

I. Where - Location of incident

• Specify a landmark, building, address by individual number 
  

II. What – Describe actual incident and direction of travel

• Minimize comments like “it looks really bad”

• Not “down Revere” – use “going toward” or compass points

• Be specific: “a two vehicle car crash, a sedan broadsided a pickup”

• Or, “he had a blue steel revolver” 

III. When - Clock time

• Specify actual clock time, not "Just happened" 

IV. Who - Suspect or Vehicle description

• Use specific identifiers, not “brown pickup”

• Use “brown pickup with ladder racks and no tailgate”

V. Why – Circumstances

• Describe the situation; ex. on-going domestic problems, harassment 

Keys to Effective Reporting

• Write it down

• Be prepared to follow the call taker’s questions

• Focus on the call taker’s questions and instructions

• Avoid too many chefs in the kitchen giving input
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Note: Large incidents such as car wrecks will generate many calls. Less than 10% of the calls have useful information. 

EMERGENCY = 9-1-1

NON EMERGENCY = 693-6911