. You are required to provide a thread in response to the provided topic for each forum. Each thread must be at least 400 words but not more than 800 words and demonstrate course-related knowledge. The thread must include at least 2 citations and must have both academic support and a biblical perspective supported by scripture.

In addition to the thread, you are required to reply to 2 other classmates’ threads. Each reply must be at least 200 words but not more than 400 words. Responding to a classmate’s post requires both the addition of new ideas and analysis. A particular point made by the classmate must be addressed and built upon by your analysis in order to move the conversation forward. Thus, the response post is a rigorous assignment that requires you to build upon initial posts to develop deeper and more thorough discussion of the ideas introduced in the initial posts. As such, reply posts that merely affirm, restate or unprofessionally quarrel with the previous post(s) and fail to make a valuable, substantive contribution to the discussion will receive appropriate point deductions.  Each response must include academic and biblical support.

Forum 4 (Module 4) 

Topic: Ethical Issues

Please post your answers to the following four questions:

1. What are your views on the idea of an unwritten code of conduct governing the behavior of police and corrections officers?

2. You are a police officer and you witness your partner of 6 years strike a criminal suspect who has been arrested and is secured in handcuffs. The actions of your partner are in violation of your department’s Use of Force policy. Your partner has already received punitive sanctions in the past for unwarranted use of force, and this incident may jeopardize his career. What would you do?

3. Please read Mark 10:42–45 and explain why it is important to be a servant leader.

4. Dilemma:

Read Scenario 1 (p. 39) in the Goodman textbook. How would you handle this situation?

Forum 5 (Module 5) 

Topic: Incidents

Please post your answers to the following questions:

1. Consider Frank Serpico, New York City Police Detective (Retired).

In the 1970’s, Detective Serpico “broke the ranks” and exposed police corruption in the New York City Police Department. As a result, he was shot in the face, and it is his belief that he was set up by his colleagues – officers charged with the protection of the citizenry. Do you believe the subculture is so strong that an officer who is considered to be a “rat” or a “snitch” will be ostracized? Would this officer not be afforded backup or assistance in a crisis situation? Explain your response.

2. Congressman Charles Rangel and Mayor Rudolph Giuliani both speak of the “blue wall of silence.”

Please describe what you think is meant by the blue wall of silence? Does it truly exist or is this just a perception? Would a police officer with very strong morals, values, and ethics fail to expose officer wrongdoing? Does the subculture constrain the officer’s individual values?

3. In Hebrews 13:17, the Bible states, “Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.” What must effective leaders do to ensure they have faithful followership?

4. Dilemma: Read Scenario 35 (p. 73) of the Goodman textbook. What would you do?

Forum 6 (Module 6) 

Topic: Lead by Example

Please post your answers to the following four questions:

1. Rookie officers often emulate the actions of their field training officer. Therefore, why is it important to ensure we select the best field training officers in the organization?

2. Please consider the scenario, Moral Weakness/Moral Courage, found in the lecture notes for this module/week. How would you have handled this situation?

3. Please read 1 Timothy 4:8 and explain how this is relevant to strong, effective leadership in the criminal justice system.

4. Dilemma: Read Scenario 38 (p. 76) from the Goodman textbook. Please advise how you would handle the situation.

Forum 7 (Module 7) 

Topic: Conduct Becoming

Please post your answers to the following five questions:

1. Consider my decision to search the residence for the fugitive from this week’s lecture notes. What is your opinion?

2. Do you conduct yourselves as if you are on video at all times? Have you done things that you would not do in front of your grandmother? Why?

3. How do you feel about setting limits related to tolerable behavior?

4. Read Philippians 2:3–8 and explain the leadership lesson.

5. Dilemma: You are the assigned investigator in the abduction of a five year old girl. Based off of your interrogation of the suspect, you believe that he is aware of the girl’s whereabouts. To what lengths would you go to get the suspect to reveal the location of the abducted child?

Forum 8 (Module 8) 

Topic: Right or Wrong

Please post your answers to the following five questions:

1. Can an independent thinker be a team player?

2. Should we admit to doing wrong? Why or why not?

3. What is the difference between a mistake of the mind and a mistake of the heart?

4. During this class, we have continued to emphasize the importance of strong character-driven leadership. Provide a biblical example of unethical leadership and describe its consequences. Provide a biblical example of strong ethical leadership and describe its advantages.

5. Dilemma: You are the lead investigator in a double homicide case. You develop a suspect, and during your interrogation, you have the opportunity to lie to the suspect concerning the evidence you have against him in this case. The Virginia Court of Appeals upheld lying to a suspect as an ethical practice in Arthur v. Commonwealth 1997. As a Christian, you know it is a sin to lie. Will you lie to the suspect concerning the evidence you have against him in this case in an attempt to illicit a voluntary confession? This interrogation technique is legally accepted; however, is it moral and ethical?