Supervisory Report Review: Ensuring Accuracy, Completeness, and Legal Defensibility
You already know how to write a solid police report—that’s why you’re a supervisor. However, as a supervisor, your responsibility extends far beyond your own reports. You are now accountable for reviewing, approving, and defending the reports written by others, and the quality of those reports directly impacts investigations, prosecutions, and agency liability.
This course is designed to help supervisors answer a critical question:
Do you truly know how to review a police report for accuracy, completeness, and legal sufficiency?
Whether you are a newly promoted supervisor or a seasoned leader with years of experience, this training provides essential tools to help you identify what matters most in a police report and how deficiencies—small or large—can negatively affect a case.
Course Overview
This is not a grammar class and not a report-writing class. Instead, this course focuses on the supervisory review process—teaching participants how to critically evaluate police reports to ensure they are thorough, accurate, unbiased, and legally defensible.
Participants will learn how to identify missing elements, inconsistencies, and red flags that may compromise an investigation or weaken a prosecution. The course emphasizes how effective supervisory review improves investigative outcomes, enhances officer performance, and reduces agency exposure to civil liability.
Legal Considerations Every Supervisor Must Know
Supervisors play a key role in protecting both their officers and their agency. This course addresses critical legal issues that supervisors must understand, including:
- Brady v. Maryland
- Giglio v. United States
- Disclosure obligations and credibility issues
- How inadequate report review can lead to suppressed evidence, dismissed cases, or costly litigation
If these cases are unfamiliar, this training is essential. Understanding these legal principles is not optional for supervisors—it is a professional obligation.
What You Will Learn
Participants will gain the ability to:
- Identify what information must be included in a police report
- Evaluate reports for factual accuracy, completeness, and consistency
- Recognize investigative gaps and documentation deficiencies
- Ensure reports support successful prosecution and courtroom testimony
- Understand how supervisory failures in report review can expose agencies to liability
- Apply consistent and defensible report review standards across personnel
Interactive and Practical Learning
This course is taught in a participative, hands-on format designed to mirror real-world supervisory responsibilities. Participants are asked to submit a copy of a police report* they have recently investigated or reviewed prior to the course. These reports are used as learning tools to reinforce best practices, identify common issues, and demonstrate effective supervisory feedback.
(*Report details should be redacted as appropriate.)
Who Should Attend
This course is ideal for:
- First-line supervisors
- Sergeants and corporals
- Newly promoted supervisors
- Experienced supervisors seeking a refresher
- Command staff responsible for policy compliance and risk management
INSTRUCTOR:
Gerald Ladwig retired as Chief of the Midland Michigan Police Department with over 16 years in supervision including road patrol and investigations.
His 28 year Criminal Justice career now continues as the Magistrate for the 75th District Court. He has many years of experience testifying in court, and he directed several trials and hearings during his time as an assistant prosecutor a position he held after retiring from the police department.
Gerald is a licensed attorney with a JD from Michigan State University College of Law. He has received numerous training certificates throughout his career, including graduating from LEELI, the Eastern Michigan University School of Staff and Command, as well as the FBI Michigan Police Executive Development Program, and the Northwestern University Traffic Enforcement Course. Gerald has served as an instructor for the Northeastern Police Academy at Delta College and as an adjunct faculty member at Delta College specializing in Search and Seizure 4th Amendment and 5th Amendment issues.
Gerald resides in Midland County with his wife, Kathy, and their three children.
TARGET AUDIENCE: All members of the criminal justice and legal community (sworn and non-sworn).
DATES & TIMES:
Friday, February 20th,2026 – Class starts at 1:00 PM Sharp – and ends at 5:00 PM (Eastern Time)
COST: $224.00 per person ( $3 registration fee + credit card fee if applicable)
LOCATION:
THIS IS AN ONLINE CLASS!
– You will be sent a Zoom Link one week prior to the class
– We will send out the class materials electronically (via e-mail)
PAYMENT OPTIONS:
• Check made payable to: TRAINING FORCE USA
7769 McClure Drive
Tallahassee, FL 32312
• Purchase Order
• Credit Card payment made online
Cancellations and Substitutions:
• Upon submission of this registration, participants are responsible for payment of this course.
Please note that if you do not attend, you are still responsible for payment. At the discretion of Training Force USA, credit for the amount paid may be issued toward a future course.
• Substitutions may be made at any time by phone, e-mail or online at the registration site.
QUESTIONS: Phone: 850-556-4544 E-mail: he***@**************sa.com