DB Response

Zerana Biance Shellaberger

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

I think it's human nature to want to belong in a community, especially for those who work in professions like police officers and corrections officers, where they put their lives at risk every day and face significant pressure from the public regarding safety, expectations, and even due to current events. Therefore, due to all this, you want the people working with you side by side to not only be equipped with the knowledge to help you but also to be willing to assist you in times of emergency. Therefore, they would need stronger bonds compared to an IT job, where you can get your job done without putting your life at risk or depending on other people to have your back when it comes down to it.  Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 states, "Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up" (New International Version, 2011). The verse emphasizes the importance of working together, relying on one another, and building strong bonds with one another. For police officers and corrections officers, who face life-threatening risks and intense scrutiny from the public every day, having colleagues who are reliable and willing to support each other is crucial.

Having said all that, loyalty and camaraderie should still not come at the expense of the police community's trust in the public. The oath you took was not just to serve each other in the line of duty, but mainly to serve the people. As stated on the San Antonio Police Department Law Enforcement Code of Ethics: "As a Law Enforcement Officer, my fundamental duty is to serve mankind; to safeguard lives and property; to protect the innocent against deception, the weak against oppression or intimidation, and the peaceful against violence or disorder; and to respect the Constitutional rights of all persons to liberty, equality, and justice" (2010).

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?

The longevity of our partnership does not justify my remaining silent in this case. If he has already been reprimanded for excessive use of force in the past, he should understand the gravity of his actions, and at this point, there are no excuses. Unfortunately, if he has repeated this behavior, there is a strong possibility it could escalate, as he clearly has not learned from previous consequences. It is his responsibility to reflect and change, not mine to protect his job. Therefore, I will be reporting him. I want to make it clear that if he had truly changed his behavior, this situation would not have happened again. I am doing this for his own good, to prevent him from causing further harm in case his actions escalate. I will also advocate for leadership to ensure he gets the help he needs because, at the end of the day, he is one of us and should not be left to handle situations he cannot manage on his own.

As Galatians 6:1 reminds us, "Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted"  (New International Version, 2011). This verse teaches that we have a responsibility to help others correct their mistakes, but we should do it with care and kindness. If someone keeps making bad choices, it is not wrong to report or address it—it is a way to help them see the problem and prevent more harm. At the same time, we need to be careful to stay honest and not get caught up in their wrongdoing. In this situation, this means reporting the repeated misconduct is the right thing to do, both to protect others and to give the person a chance to learn from their actions.

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

The passage is essential for being a servant leader, as it serves as a great reminder that to embody a worldly leader, one must first serve and put the needs of others before their own, just like how Jesus Christ came to the earth not to be served for his greatness but to serve others, including the sick, the poor, the marginalized, and sinners, and even to sacrifice his own life.

2

Haley Whitehead

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

Any unwritten code of conduct amongst police officers would reinforce solidarity and trust amongst the group. In theory, this would encourage loyalty in tough situations. However, if someone were to go against that code of conduct, there is a high chance they would be ostracized from the group. This ideology can become toxic by creating a “code of silence” among officers. The “code of silence” would encourage officers to cover for one another's misconduct and take away accountability from those who do wrong. This would undermine the justice system in multiple ways. Law enforcement roles should be held to high ethical standards. Although there are a few positives to an unwritten code of conduct amongst officers, the negatives are far greater. 

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?

After having the same partner for six years and working that closely with someone, there is a certain level of trust that develops. There are those who may have a moment of hesitation prior to acting in this scenario. The knee-jerk reaction would be to give your partner the benefit of the doubt and hear their side of the story. However, given the officer’s background of receiving punitive sanctions for the same reason, unwarranted use of force, there is no other action that should be taken other than reporting them. On the matter of abuse of authority, the textbook included that, “The most serious abuse of authority is when officers use their legal power to use force against individuals without just cause” (Pollock, 2014). Situations in which there is an abuse of power need to be reported and taken care of, not forgiven and swept under the rug. The partner would need to take accountability for their actions, regardless of the terrible consequences. Unreported misconduct would allow them to commit the same grievance, as their history proves they would most likely reoffend. 

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

Being a servant leader is a direct reflection of Jesus and His mission. There are a multitude of examples in the Bible of how Jesus lived a life of serving others, from washing His disciples' feet to healing the sick. 1 John 2:6 states, “Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did” (New International Version, 2011). If someone claims to be a follower of Christ, their actions should be consistent with Christ’s examples of humility, love, and obedience. In Mark 10:42-45, Jesus explains that kingdom leadership is different from worldly leadership. The idea is that status is highly valued in this world, but it means little to God. A willingness to serve others is far more valuable to Him. Having this kingdom mindset allows the focus to shift from personal well-being to the well-being of others. Being a servant leader is a way to highlight the goodness of God while fostering positive relationships.

Zerana Biance Shellaberger

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

I think it's human nature to want to belong in a community, especially for those who work in professions like police officers and corrections officers, where they put their lives at risk every day and face significant pressure from the public regarding safety, expectations, and even due to current events. Therefore, due to all this, you want the people working with you side by side to not only be equipped with the knowledge to help you but also to be willing to assist you in times of emergency. Therefore, they would need stronger bonds compared to an IT job, where you can get your job done without putting your life at risk or depending on other people to have your back when it comes down to it.  Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 states, "Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up" (New International Version, 2011). The verse emphasizes the importance of working together, relying on one another, and building strong bonds with one another. For police officers and corrections officers, who face life-threatening risks and intense scrutiny from the public every day, having colleagues who are reliable and willing to support each other is crucial.

Having said all that, loyalty and camaraderie should still not come at the expense of the police community's trust in the public. The oath you took was not just to serve each other in the line of duty, but mainly to serve the people. As stated on the San Antonio Police Department Law Enforcement Code of Ethics: "As a Law Enforcement Officer, my fundamental duty is to serve mankind; to safeguard lives and property; to protect the innocent against deception, the weak against oppression or intimidation, and the peaceful against violence or disorder; and to respect the Constitutional rights of all persons to liberty, equality, and justice" (2010).

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?

The longevity of our partnership does not justify my remaining silent in this case. If he has already been reprimanded for excessive use of force in the past, he should understand the gravity of his actions, and at this point, there are no excuses. Unfortunately, if he has repeated this behavior, there is a strong possibility it could escalate, as he clearly has not learned from previous consequences. It is his responsibility to reflect and change, not mine to protect his job. Therefore, I will be reporting him. I want to make it clear that if he had truly changed his behavior, this situation would not have happened again. I am doing this for his own good, to prevent him from causing further harm in case his actions escalate. I will also advocate for leadership to ensure he gets the help he needs because, at the end of the day, he is one of us and should not be left to handle situations he cannot manage on his own.

As Galatians 6:1 reminds us, "Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted"  (New International Version, 2011). This verse teaches that we have a responsibility to help others correct their mistakes, but we should do it with care and kindness. If someone keeps making bad choices, it is not wrong to report or address it—it is a way to help them see the problem and prevent more harm. At the same time, we need to be careful to stay honest and not get caught up in their wrongdoing. In this situation, this means reporting the repeated misconduct is the right thing to do, both to protect others and to give the person a chance to learn from their actions.

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

The passage is essential for being a servant leader, as it serves as a great reminder that to embody a worldly leader, one must first serve and put the needs of others before their own, just like how Jesus Christ came to the earth not to be served for his greatness but to serve others, including the sick, the poor, the marginalized, and sinners, and even to sacrifice his own life.