Conclusion
Keeping an accurate notebook and writing comprehensive written reports are key responsibilities for any security professional. Your notes should be free from personal opinion and be a true representation of the facts as you come to understand them.
Record relevant details about who, what, why, where, when, and how with respect to incidents which occur. When a person with information about an incident provides information to you about the event, it is known as a statement. You should record only the facts you are given and not assumptions or conclusions which you or the person providing the information may offer. Evidence is the important information left behind after a crime has been committed. The police will collect evidence and utilize it in their investigation; as a security professional, your role is to help preserve the evidence until law enforcement arrives. On occasion, your testimony in court may serve as evidence; your professional communication skills will prepare you for such an occasion. In the next module, you will be introduced to practices and procedures for responding to emergency situations and you will learn more about the critical role you play in supporting the various emergency services.