What should you do regarding agency policies on note retention?

• A. Disregard agency note retention policies in casual investigations.
• B. Retain all notes indefinitely regardless of policy.
• C. Follow the agency's policies for retaining notes before disposing of them.
• D. Retain notes only if they are favorable to you.

Answer: (C)

The main idea tested is the importance of following official note-retention guidelines. Agency policies outline how long notes must be kept, how they should be stored, who may access them, and when they can be disposed of. You should always retain notes according to those policies before disposing of them because doing so creates a complete, auditable record for investigations, reviews, or court proceedings and helps protect the agency and personnel from legal or ethical issues. Skipping the policy, discarding notes too early, or keeping them only if they’re favorable introduces bias, data privacy risks, or potential spoliation problems that can undermine accountability and credibility.