CJ 205 Module Three Practice Activity Template
Crafting Communications
To complete this template, replace the bracketed text with the relevant information.
Review each policing communication in the “Original Communication” column. For each communication, identify a communication mistake by copying text from
the original communication and pasting it into the “Communication Mistake” column. Then, in the “New Communication” column, address the identified
mistake by creating a new communication to address the identified mistake.
Number Original Communication Communication Mistake New Communication
Exampl
e
An officer is negotiating with a suicidal subject.
The officer tells the subject “Go ahead. You’re
not going to do it anyway.”
“Go ahead. You’re not going to do it anyway.” “I am Officer [name]. Can we talk about this?”
1 A patrol unit is dispatched after a 911 call in
which a concerned citizen related she observed
two Middle Eastern–looking males pull into a
gas station and park in the rear of the building.
They exited their vehicle and took out what
appeared to be “rugs.” After the rugs were laid
out, the men knelt on them and began kissing
the ground. Officers observed the behavior
upon arrival and approached the men to ask
what they were doing. The men, who quickly
became agitated, stated, “Couldn’t you hear
us? We were only praying!” One officer then
stated, “You’re speaking another language. For
all I know you just said, ‘SEE THOSE OFFICERS
OVER THERE? LET’S KILL THEM!’” The men now
demand that a supervisor respond to the
scene.
The men, who quickly became agitated, stated,
“Couldn’t you hear us? We were only praying!”
One officer then stated, “You’re speaking
another language. For all I know you just said,
‘SEE THOSE OFFICERS OVER THERE? LET’S KILL
THEM!’”
The men, who quickly became agitated, stated,
“Couldn’t you hear us? We were only praying!”
One officer then stated, “My apologies,
gentleman. You are speaking a language I am
not familiar with. We are only responding to
the area out of precaution because a
concerned citizen made a call. It is clear there
is no need for concern, so please go about your
day.”
Number Original Communication Communication Mistake New Communication
2 Tweet from the director of the Chicago Police
Office of Communication and News Affairs:
“CPD investigating several incidents following
fireworks at Navy Pier. Reports of a shooting
are not accurate. A man punctured his leg after
running into a table, 3 were stabbed following
an altercation on the pier & 16 people are
hospitalized after being trampled during the
exit.”
“CPD investigating several incidents following
fireworks at Navy Pier. Reports of a shooting
are not accurate. A man punctured his leg after
running into a table, 3 were stabbed following
an altercation on the pier & 16 people are
hospitalized after being trampled during the
exit.”
“Following the fireworks at Navy Pier, CPD is
investigating several incidents that occurred.
Over a dozen individuals have been
hospitalized due to an altercation and a
possible shooting that is currently being
investigated.”
3 Officers respond to a call of a stolen vehicle
(license plate #CJ20500, black 2011 4-door
Honda Civic). When they arrive, the female
victim (Jane Doe) tells the officers that she got
home from work at 5:15 p.m. and legally
parked her vehicle directly in front of her
apartment building located at 555 W.
University St. When she went to leave for work
the following morning around 7:00 a.m., the
vehicle was gone. There are no witnesses.
Their report simply states, “Mrs. Doe got home
from work at 1715 hours and parked her car in
the apartment. When she went to leave for
work the next morning it was gone.”
“Mrs. Doe got home from work at 1715 hours
and parked her car in the apartment. When she
went to leave for work the next morning it was
gone.”
“At 1715 hours Mrs. Doe arrived home from
work and parked her car, a black 2011 4-door
Honda Civic, license plate #CJ20500 at 555 W.
University St, which is her apartment building.
Around 0700 hours Mrs. Doe reports the car is
gone, and that she did park legally, indicating
the car was stolen. There are no witnesses.”
4 A man in the process of transitioning from
female to male was stabbed to death. His work
ID card identifies him as a male with the name
Evan Smith. However, the case report and
subsequent press release, currently under
review, use the man’s birth name (Angelina)
and he is identified as a female victim.
However, the case report and subsequent
press release, currently under review, use the
man’s birth name (Angelina) and he is
identified as a female victim.
The case report and subsequent press release
should state the victims legal name as Evan
Smith as well as his sex being male.
Number Original Communication Communication Mistake New Communication
5 Jill Smith is female deputy who works for the
Cook County Sheriff’s Office. She informs her
supervisor that a male inmate (John Q. Public),
while awaiting the court transport bus, made a
sexual advance directed at her. When she
refused the advance, the male inmate then
exposed himself. She asked to file a complaint
against the inmate for harassment. The male
supervisor refused to allow the complaint and
stated, “You should take it as a compliment!”
She asked to file a complaint against the
inmate for harassment. The male supervisor
refused to allow the complaint and stated,
“You should take it as a compliment!”
She asked to file a complaint against the
inmate for harassment. The male supervisor
obliged and began the process to document
this complaint against the prisoner. All proper
protocols were then followed to ensure this
complaint was filed properly and efficiently.
