Which of the following is NOT an essential component of a thorough incident report?

• A. Location, time, and the reason for the incident
• B. Vehicle description and driver description
• C. A personal opinion about the suspect's appearance
• D. Evidence collected

Answer: (C)

Factual, objective documentation is what makes an incident report reliable. A thorough report should capture when and where the incident happened, what occurred and why action was taken, who and what was involved, including vehicle and driver descriptions, and any evidence collected to support the investigation. A personal opinion about the suspect’s appearance is not an essential component because it introduces subjectivity that cannot be verified and can bias the report. Reports should focus on observable facts and verifiable details rather than judgments about appearance. So the description that asks for a personal opinion about the suspect’s appearance is the element that is not essential.