Writing and Observational Skills Assessment

(WOSA)

THE WOSA CONCEPT

A means of objectively measuring Writing and Observation Skills

Effective police report writing is more than merely putting words on paper.  It is a combination of:

·         knowledge of the basic concepts of English grammar

·         a determination to convey fact over opinion

·         the ability to articulate one’s own thought process

·         skill in rendering thought into the written word

·         pride in performance

The Writing and Observation Skills Assessment (WOSA) is designed to measure candidates’ performance in each category and report this assessment in objective terms.  It allows for comparison of performance externally among departments, and internally among employees.  Additionally, the WOSA will suggest to both the department and the candidate areas requiring remedial training; this encourages individual responsibility for one’s level of performance and improvement.

The minimum level of education for law enforcement personnel is a high school diploma.  Police reports should be written at about a seventh grade reading level.  In order to perform at this level, candidates must have a basic understanding of English grammar principles, including spelling, punctuation and grammatically correct sentence structure.  Failure to demonstrate this basic understanding is considered willingness by the candidate to be misunderstood and misinterpreted, and therefore, an encumbrance to professional development.

Assumptions are a natural aspect of every human’s ability to cope; law enforcement personnel must develop a skill at recognizing their assumptions and rendering them, whenever possible, into fact.  This skill begins with an ability to reflect on one’s language used to describe things.  Time, perhaps the most valuable of policing resources, often forces the use of collective terms in expression.  Candidates must demonstrate a desire to use clear, unequivocal terms of expression.  Failure to rely on concrete language is considered a measure of inability to focus on detail, a critical skill for law enforcement personnel.

Just as every court case begins with the police report, every police report begins with the thought process.  Ultimately, at time of examination, the officer must be able to articulate their involvement in the case, in minute detail, if required.  Fear of cross-examination often leads to the use of vague language when writing.  Candidates must demonstrate an inclination toward progressive written-explanation of behaviors.  Failure to address one’s behaviors chronologically and all-inclusively is considered a measure of self-confidence and/or deception.

The ability to combine unscripted occurrences with scripted reporting is oft-times a difficult concept to grasp.  Candidates must demonstrate the ability to separate usual perceptions and phraseologies from the qualifying behaviors and measured language of law enforcement.  Failure to recognize and compensate is considered a measure of ability to compartmentalize, another critical skill for law enforcement personnel.

Just as an Officer Candidate is advised of requirements for minimum power-test performance, minimum writing skill requirements are provided to the candidate.  It is anticipated that the candidate will review the requirements and prepare him/herself prior to taking the test.  Failure to adequately self-assess and remedy inadequacies is considered a measure of commitment to excellence.

The WOSA Report