The statement 'Only the officer who personally observed an offense may be an affiant on a complaint' is true.

• A. True
• B. False
• C. Not Addressed
• D. Not Applicable

Answer: (B)

Who can be an affiant on a complaint is about having firsthand knowledge of the facts you’re swearing to. You don’t have to be the officer who personally observed the offense. An affiant can be a civilian witness, a victim, or a police officer who has personally gathered information and can attest to what they know or reliably believe. The important point is that the facts stated must be within the affiant’s knowledge or based on trustworthy information they can accurately relay, not merely hearsay. So the idea that only the officer who saw the offense may be an affiant is too narrow; others who have direct knowledge or reliable information can also sign a complaint.