FEW LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS ARE HIRED FOR THEIR KNOWLEDGE OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE, AND ALMOST NONE OF THEM RECEIVE TRAINING IN IT DURING THEIR PERIOD ON THE POLICE FORCE. THE RESULT IS THAT REPORTS OFTEN CONTAIN NUMEROUS ERRORS. PART OF THE LANGUAGE PROBLEM IN REPORT WRITING IS BEING CORRECTED AS THE EDUCATIONAL LEVEL OF POLICE OFFICERS RISES, BUT EVEN A COLLEGE DEGREE OFFERS NO ASSURANCE THAT A PERSON CAN WRITE COHERENTLY. WHAT IS NEEDED IS MORE EMPHASIS IN TRAINING PROGRAMS ON THE IMPORTANCE OF ACCURATE AND UNDERSTANDABLE REPORT WRITING. PAPER WORK IS AN ESSENTIAL PART OF ANY LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER'S DUTIES. EXAMPLES OF ERRORS IN REPORTS ARE CITED. (DEP)