Assignment

Topic 1: Suicidal Ideation

You are speaking to a 19-year-old female who has just told her mother that she is going to kill herself. Her parents brought her in to your office, and in gathering information from the parents you find out she has one past attempt and has threatened three previous times.

• What other information would you want to know from the parents? From the client? How would you assess her potential for suicide? How would you treat her?

• What might you feel if she succeeded in committing suicide, and how would you handle those feelings?

Topic 2: Suicide in the U.S

What are your thoughts on the prevalence of suicide in the U.S.? How can it be reduced?

Topic 3: Officer Robert Clarke

Read the case study on Officer Robert Clark (pages 353-355).

If you were Sergeant Gregory, how would you "straighten up" Officer Clarke? What steps would you take to correct the problems? Can the problems Officer Clarke is experiencing be overcome with minimal effort, or will it take more substantial action to correct his behavior?

Topic 4: Relationships with Subordinates

When examining law enforcement agencies, the most important characteristic to officers was the feeling that the job was important and yielded a feeling of accomplishment. Job satisfaction differs for each employee, but studies seem to confirm that essential elements include a wide range of ambient factors, such as positive relationships with supervisors.

As a supervisor, what could you do to strengthen your positive relationship with your subordinates?