Written Police Report Rules for the Minnesota State Patrol
- In Minnesota, State Patrol officers must make certain reports available online.Minnestoa state contour against blurred USA flag image by Stasys Eidiejus from Fotolia.com
The Minnesota State Patrol writes police reports as part of its duties. Police reports must be clear, detailed and concise. In addition, State Patrol officers must take reports at all required times and make them available online in accordance with state laws. - Police reports in Minnesota must describe step-by-step what occurred, starting with the dispatch call and ending with any arrests or decisions made by police officers. It is important not to leave out details such as what the dispatcher said, what the officer saw upon arriving at the scene or what suspects said or did upon seeing police. These details help solidify a court case and can also refresh the officer's memory if he is called to testify years later.
- Minnesota law requires police officers to write a police report any time they are called to a scene of potential domestic violence, regardless of whether domestic violence actually occurred or arrests were made. If an alleged victim, his attorney, or a domestic violence prevention group asks for a copy of the report, the officers must furnish it.
- State Patrol officers make reports available online to the public in cases of serious or fatal traffic accidents. Reports are available for 14 days, after which they are archived. Minnesota citizens may search for archived reports on the State Patrol's website.
