Night shift report writing

[unit 553]

Looking for a better idea to fill out reports at night than the standard parking in a well lit area. Has anyone used light pens, and if so do they work. Looking to stay alert, and alive while doing paperwork.

[Gene L]

We do ours on computers at the station or sub-station.

But I don't know of a better way of doing it than with a small book-lamp like you can buy at Borders or any other good book store.

I never worried about getting ambushed while writing a report. Lots of big parking lots, or places where bad guys don't usually hang out, like church parking lots.

[e-man]

I work in a very safe area but that doesn't mean a drunk wont try to sneak up on me one night or some dumb rich kids sneak attack some eggs or something.
I just sit in a parking lot or in some business strip mall and always have a window open, no matter how cold. If its a lenghty report than I hit the station and do it on WORD.

[AKA=Cruz]

Do mine in the car on down time. go to the station every once in a while.

[mdrdep]

Our cars have a small map lite with red filter. It is on a long flexible line so you can put it pretty much right over your report and it dosen't lite up the whole inside of the car. Before our current map lights we had the more ridgid type that were just way to brite and burned ridges in the top of the MDT when deputies tried to shield them a little.

[L-1]

If its not too late in the evening, some folks drop by the local fire station and write them there.

[355339]

I park where no one can sneak up behind me, backed up to a building, etc. I keep both windows cracked at least an inch and leave my headlights on so if anyone approaches from the front, I have a better chance of seeing them if my head is down and of course, my headlights are in their eyes.

[Chit2001]

553,

Check out THESE (http://galls.com/style.html?assort=general_catalog&style=VP172&cat=2834). They work wonders.

There are also a few variants of them floating around elsewhere.

[ChiTownDet]

If its not too late in the evening, some folks drop by the local fire station and write them there.

Get that paper and a cup of coffee out of the way at the same time..

[GCPD0171]

If its not too late in the evening, some folks drop by the local fire station and write them there.

That was always my prefered place to go. My patrol area is about 70 square miles and I have access to two police substations and four volunteer fire/rescue stations. No matter what part I'm in I've got somewhere to go.

[JDCOP]

Me personally I go back to station to finish reports. But not everybody has that luxury. I try to type my reports they seem to come out better and thank god for spell check.

[rich75]

Just do mines in my spare time. if you have a laptop USB lights work wonders and they come in a variety of colors.

[bucksone]

My department discourages us from coming into the station to do paperwork. They seem to feel that might delay a response to a call. Like it's going to take me more than 30 seconds to run out the door and jump in my cruiser!

Anyway, I try to do my paperwork in my car parked in front of one of the few businesses open during the night. This way I am accomplishing something by being visible and possibly discouraging any criminal activity. We write our reports on our mobile computers, but still sometimes have to turn on the interior light to see my notes. I do try to be backed up to a building to prevent somebody approaching from the rear. I make sure to lock my doors anytime I have to turn the interior lights on, as it is about impossible to see out into the dark under those conditions. In addition to having the headlights on, I might turn on my radar to warn me of any approaching vehicles.

If I am working dayshift, I try to park in one of our many banks' parking lots to discourage any bank robber who might be casing. I first stop inside the bank, though, to wave the flag and also to make sure there isn't a problem in progress when I pull up.

[Yankee_1]

Reports??????? what are reports, flush flush flush.

[eeyore]

I took the bulb out of my dome light and got come red heat resistant paint. Put a thin coat of paint on the bulb, let it dry and replace it. The red light won't screw up your night vision and allows you to see out of the car at night. You can even see out of the mirrors. Been doing it for years. Still need to park in a well lit area though.

[StalkerCop]

Our accident reports are the only reports we do on paper and we will use the interior white or red dome light. Our criminal reports on done on our field report writing program on our MDCs. If you can type without looking at the keys there is no need for a light.