How should an officer respond to a colleague who disparages a suspect’s race or ethnicity in an official report?

• A. Ignore it to avoid confrontation.
• B. Intervene to correct the statement, document concerns, and report the incident if it reflects a pattern or policy violation.
• C. Delete the biased section.
• D. Include similar disparaging language to expedite the report.

Answer: (B)

Upholding integrity and objectivity in official reporting means addressing bias when you see it. When a colleague disparages a suspect’s race or ethnicity, intervening to correct the statement keeps the record accurate and professional and makes clear that biased language has no place in official documentation. Documenting the concerns and reporting the incident through the proper channels creates a formal trail that can be reviewed if there’s a pattern or policy violation, helping prevent future occurrences and protecting the rights of the public. Ignoring the bias would allow a flawed, less credible report to stand; deleting the biased section would amount to altering or falsifying information; and mirroring the disparaging language would only worsen the problem and undermine accountability and trust. Taking the corrective, documenting, and reporting steps maintains professional standards and accountability.