What essential element should be included in a 900 code narrative?

• A. a weather forecast for the precinct
• B. a concise description of the incident, actions taken, and next steps
• C. an unrelated background information
• D. the officer's personal opinions

Answer: (B)

The essential idea is to present a concise, factual summary of the incident that clearly shows what happened, what you did in response, and what will happen next. This kind of narrative is the quick, portable record that supervisors, detectives, prosecutors, and other officers can rely on to understand the case without sifting through extraneous details. By keeping it short and objective, you document the core facts: the incident description, actions taken (responses, detentions, transports, evidence collected), and any follow-up or next steps (investigations to be pursued, reports to be completed, releases). Avoid including weather forecasts, unrelated background information, or personal opinions, since those do not affect the incident's outcome and can clutter the record. In practice, a strong 900 narrative communicates the incident clearly, the response, and the plan moving forward, making the file useful for everyone who may review it later.