As a member of the Virtual Police Department's Administrative Services Unit you have been called into a meeting with your supervisor, several other police commanders, and the Chief of the Virtual Police Department. This is what you are told by the head of the Crime Analysis Unit.

There has been a dramatic increase in commercial burglaries in the downtown business area in the city of Virtual. Based on the limited criminal intelligence available, there are indications of juvenile gang involvement. The items taken (computers, cash, cell phones, etc.) indicate these crimes may be part of a gang initiation or gang revelry. Additionally, some of the stolen items have been recovered in drug raids, indicating the thieves may be using them as barter items for drugs. These burglaries are the subject of public, political and community demand for action. The Virtual Small Business Association is petitioning the Mayor for more police presence (particularly during non-business hours) and closer cooperation between the police and their own private security and alarm companies. They are also calling on full prosecution of any persons arrested, adults or juveniles.

The Chief has decided to form a 8-unit task force. This operation will be a collaborative effort involving both the Virtual Police Department and other appropriate “partner” agencies within the criminal justice system. The Administrative Services Unit will draw up the proposal for the Chief to take to the Mayor. Your supervisor gives this assignment to you.

1. Identifying 6 and only 6 departmental units that will be included in some manner on the task force from the Virtual Police Department Table of Organization chart. (See Virtual Police Table of Organization.)

NOTE: All of Patrol (Commanders A, B and C, Captains, Lieutenants, Sergeants, COPs and Patrol Officers) is 1 single unit. If patrol is selected as part of the task force the requirements in #2 below must be completed.

ALSO: Selection of a "Commander" (e.g., Special Operations Commander) as a Unit includes the official and their immediate office staff. It does not include each of the subordinate units.

2. For each of the 6 units selected from within the Virtual PD you are asked to

a) Identify the unit and briefly describe its typical operational/administrative role and regular duties in a law enforcement agency

b) Explain why the unit was chosen for this task force, what role it will play on the task force

If more than 6 units in the Virtual Police Department have a potential role on this task force, you must select the 6 units having the most impact and/or being most useful in achieving the reduction in violent crime goal.

3. Additionally, you will identify 4 units in the Virtual Police Departmental units that will NOT be part of the task force. For each of these units not selected, you are asked to

a) Identify the unit and briefly describe its typical operational/administrative role and regular duties in a law enforcement agency

b) Explain why it was NOT chosen for this task force.

4. To complete the 8 unit task force, you will also identify 2 non-departmental units from the criminal justice system that should be included in some manner on the task force

a) Identify the unit and briefly describe its typical operational/administrative role and regular duties in the criminal justice system

b) Explain why the unit was chosen for this task force, what role it will play on the task force

5. In order to present a convincing argument and demonstrate the depth of your research you may include supportive outside resources. If you do use outside resources (or course materials) you must acknowledge them using appropriate American Psychological Association (APA) citation format.

Again, the goal of this project is to give you an opportunity to determine, analyze and assess the role of various police department units, their relationship to other units, and how their skills can be applied to counter criminal activity.

Format:

Four (4) FULL narrative pages, not including cover page and references page.

1. The cover page should include the name and number of the course, the name of the student, title of the project and the date of submission.
2. The composition may be a combination of outline and narrative with outline statements separated by no more than double spacing.
3. The description of the function and relationship of each unit should be presented as narrative.
4. This is a formal presentation from the Chief of the Virtual Police Department to the Mayor. As such, it should be written is the third grammatical person.
5. Resources, including course materials, must be cited both in the narrative where appropriate and on a separate references page, using APA citation rules.
6. Projects should be submitted using the Assignment Folder unless instructed otherwise.