Free Services

Question 1

Imagine you are a rookie police officer on your first night of patrol. Your squad car partner is a veteran police officer with 15 years of experience. He has agreed to take you under his wing and show you the ropes. Midway through the shift, when the calls for service have slowed, you both decide to grab a quick bite to eat.

The older, experienced officer tells you that the restaurant on the corner likes to have police around the restaurant to deter criminal activity, so they always give police officers free meals. You feel a bit uneasy about this but decide to join your partner since it seems common practice for officers to dine there. Your partner orders steak, potatoes, and all the trimmings, knowing that it will cost him nothing.

You reach some decision points. What are you going to do? What if it were just coffee at a convenience store? What if the owner refused to take your money at the cash register?

INSTRUCTIONS

In your main post:

• Assess how you would respond as a police officer if you were put in a situation involving gratuities.
• Explain how partaking in even small gratuities can lead to further misconduct and even corruption.
• Explore how a police officer should respond if a merchant insists on providing a free meal or service to law enforcement.
• Describe whether it is more difficult for rookie officers to deal with ethical situations versus veteran officers.

Question 2

Financial Decisions

Imagine that you are on the board of directors of a church-based child care center. After reviewing the budget for next year, you and your fellow board members realize that the center will have to make some tough decisions. Choose one of the following budget scenarios to discuss.

1. Budget Cuts: In order to stay profitable, the center will need to make budget cuts. You are concerned because you know that if salaries do not go up, some teachers may resign. On the other hand, if tuition rates increase, some of the families may not be able to afford to stay at the center. How will you and the board go about making these cost-saving decisions?
2. Budget Surplus: Your center is in the enviable position of having a budget surplus that has resulted from careful financial management over the past several years. The center must allocate the excess funds in order to ensure future funding from the church. How will you and board go about making these spending decisions?

Using information from Chapter 3 and at least one other source (be

sure to cite your source), describe two to three specific strategies to

either save or spend money while meeting the needs of the teachers and

families. Your discussion post should be at least 200 words in length.