Need help on writing an Executive Summary.

Term Project/Situational Report

Courtelaney Pass is a mid-sized municipality in the Southeastern United States. It has a

population of 80,000 residents made up of: 55% white, 38% black, and 7% Hispanic. The

primary industry is agricultural and industrial with the unemployment rate at 8.7%. By national

standards the city would be considered “blue collar” with a median household income of

$38,000. The school system remains troubled as the drop-out rate is high and, other than the

elementary schools, the middle and high schools have perpetual “D” ratings. There is a great

deal of “southern pride” evident in this community as confederate flags are frequently flown and

unfortunately, the fledgling local KKK is attempting to revitalize itself.

Two out of the five city council members are considered “good old boys” that are satisfied with

the status quo and are apathetic towards the civil unrest that has been percolating in the black

community. Within the past twelve months there have been protests in the black community that

have steadily been growing. Those residents complain that policing is biased against them and

that unnecessary and excessive force is commonplace, especially amongst young black males.

Due to recent nationwide events surrounding similar claims, the national media is paying

particular attention to Courtelaney Pass.

The police department is appropriately sized to police this jurisdiction. The chief is a 42-year-old

white male who has been with the department for twenty years working his way up the ranks.

He has no college degree but is working towards it via on-line classes. The demographics of the

agency do not mirror the community as 94% of the department is white. The only minorities in

the agency works in non-sworn support roles. The chief claims that he is attempting to attract

minority applicants but the majority of those interested cannot pass the entrance exam. He

claims that those who can pass end up going to work for the state police instead where the

salary is $12,000 per year more.

Questionable Enforcement Tactics?

There are eight major intersections in Courtelaney Pass (CP) and each is equipped with

intersection cameras. As municipalities that employ such devices share the revenue from fines with the manufacturer, the city averages $2.1 million dollars per year in revenue from these

fines. The constitutionality of this practice is highly debated, and public support is low according

to recent surveys. A local “action group” has filed a lawsuit against the city in an attempt to

remove these cameras; this lawsuit is pending a court date. A recent study conducted by a local

CP reporter indicated that per capita, the revenue generated for the city is twice as high as any

similarly situated city in the state that utilizes these cameras. The reporter also alluded to the

fact (not substantiated yet) that black residents are twice as likely as whites to be ticketed for

intersection violations.

Courtelaney Pass is listed by AAA as the “Biggest Speed Trap in the South” as a major highway

runs north to south through the town. Particularly, the speed limit reduces from 55 mph to 35

mph in a 50-yard stretch of road and consistently a police officer is running radar (in a

concealed fashion) at the 35 mph speed sign. The CP reporter has also written that blacks and

out of town travelers passing through receive 87% of the speeding tickets. This statement is

backed up by the reporter’s study of statistics from the Department of Highway Safety and

Motor Vehicles. The reporter has also spoken to former officers (off the record) who report that

the Chief of Police mandates that each officer issue at least 12 citations per shift. It is common that most traffic enforcers allow a motorist 10 mph over the posted limit, but during a recent

interview with the chief he has stated that he has a “zero tolerance for speed, as it kills” so he

instructs his officers to issue tickets for 5 mph over the limit. The chief would not comment on

the 12-citation minimum per shift policy.

As Courtelaney Pass has recently seen its violent crime rate soar by 35%, the chief believes

that this is due to the proliferation of street drugs being sold in open air, drive up, drug markets.

These “markets” are located on the southern edge of the city where the majority of the

population is minority. The CP Police Narcotics Unit conducts regular and aggressive

enforcement actions including crack cocaine search warrants and reverse sales operations

wherein undercover officers pose as drug sellers and customers are arrested for purchasing.

During one of these operations, a shooting occurred wherein a known dealer shot at the

undercover officer who returned fire, killing the dealer. The ensuing internal affairs investigation

cleared the officer and the day that this report was made public, rioting erupted in the minority

community. This unrest spilled over into the down- town area requiring the chief of

police to call in re-enforcements from neighboring agencies and the state police. As a result, 13

businesses were badly damaged, 8 officers injured, and 112 rioters and looters were arrested.

The minority community has warned that if relations do not immediately improve with the police

that more unrest was certain. After this shooting incident and subsequent riots, the chief has

suspended all narcotic enforcement actions in the area.

Political Influences

The 5,600 Hispanic residents are counted only as those who responded to the census or were

property owners. It is estimated that an additional 5,000 + undocumented immigrants also call

Courtelaney Pass home. The majorities of these folks work in the immense strawberry fields

and orange groves and are paid $5.00 per hour in cash (off the books). It is very common for

these migrants to be the victims of home invasion robberies on pay day. Local drug dealers and

MS13 gangsters kick in their doors, take their hard-earned cash, and occasionally even rape

their wives. The CP Police Sergeant that oversees street crimes reports that these migrants are

easy prey as they will not report these crimes to the police for fear of being deported. The

sergeant addressed this issue at a city council meeting where no words of wisdom were offered

to him. At the conclusion of the meeting, in the parking lot, a white city councilman told the

sergeant “I couldn’t care less what happens to those people…. they don’t vote!!!”

More Revelations

4 years ago, Kayla Williams disappeared from her bedroom. Kayla, a 9-year-old African

American child was sleeping in her bed in a very small bedroom with no air-conditioning so, as

typical, her window was open. Her mother found her bed empty the next morning and frantically

called the police. The responding officer from Courtelaney Pass Police Department downplayed

the mother’s fears by stating that Kayla probably ran away. The officer told her to call back if

Kayla did not come home by the next day and left without documenting the incident. The

horrified mother spoke with her father who told her that the police would not help them as they

are “the wrong color” and they must help themselves. The family and friends convened a search

party and two days later found Kayla’s body in a cypress swamp bordering Lake Diemer. She

was wearing her night shirt, no panties, and there were no visible signs of trauma or injury.

The police were summoned to the scene and two officers responded. Upon viewing her body,

which laid on its back almost in a peaceful sleeping position, the officers notified the forensics

unit and one technician came to the scene. The body was photographed, and the area was

searched for any sign of evidence. Numerous footprints, large and small, were detected in the

immediate area which was no surprise; the area is a favorite fishing spot. Most of the footprints

were photographed, but plaster casts were not made. Kayla’s ripped panties were discovered

on the leaf covered trail that leads to the water’s edge. The medical examiner responded to the

scene and removed the body. The following day, Det. Singer attended the autopsy which was to

be performed by Dr. Elmer Clausen, a lifelong resident of CP. Det. Singer was surprised that the

doctor did not perform a full autopsy wherein the body cavity was opened and internal organs

examined, nor did he perform a sexual assault examination. When asked by Det. Singer, the

doctor stated that he had already “surmised” that she had died as a result of a snake bite,

probably from a water moccasin. He pointed out two small puncture type wounds on the back

side of Kayla’s right thigh. He promised Singer that toxicology would support his belief. When

Singer questioned him about the ripped panties, he replied “That’s your job; there is a scratch

by her upper thigh that looks like a tree branch hit her, it probably ripped her panties and they

fell off”. When Det. Singer reported this to his Sergeant, he was told that there is no fighting Dr.

Clausen…. historically what he says goes!! Kayla Williams “official” cause of death was snake

venom poisoning, even though the toxicological results were still pending, and she was buried

the following week.

The black community was outraged at what it deemed an insufficient investigation due to the

fact that Kayla, and her family, was poor and black. Det. Singer, who was relatively new to the

police department and area, was invited to lunch with a reporter from the Courtelaney Journal.

The reporter told Singer that this was not the first time a young minority girl had been found

dead under suspicious circumstances in Courtelaney. During the past seven years, three other

pre-teens, two Hispanic, one black, were discovered “missing” from their bedrooms and later

their bodies were discovered in wooded areas. Reportedly, none had obvious signs of trauma

and all were deemed “Death by Non-Homicide” by Dr. Clausen.

Very recently, retired CP police Detective Sid Throtmorten became terminally ill and called for

his best friend and local plumber Tom Johnson to come to his bedside. Sid, knowing that he

was hours away from death told Tom that he had to make something right before he died. He

asked Tom if Tom remember Officer Iozzi who worked for the agency for ten years before being

fired for gross insubordination. Tom vaguely recalled Iozzi. Throtmorten told Tom that Iozzi was

attracted to young girls and that he had raped and killed that “little Kayla girl”. He further advised that Iozzi, also a former police defensive tactics instructor, bragged that by utilizing a “carotid choke hold” he could kill someone without leaving marks on the victim’s neck. Just before dying,

Throtmorten also reported that other officers, still with the agency, are aware of what Iozzi did.

After being terminated from the department, Iozzi moved to Idaho. Tom reported this revelation

to Det. Singer.

One month ago, as a result of continual racial tensions and allegations of corruption, the Chief

of Police resigned under pressure. Governor Neely has installed an interim Chief of Police to

heal the community, examine and evaluate policy, practices, and procedures, and restore the

faith and trust of the people. He also appointed a Special Prosecutor to examine all things of

legal relevance to the issues in this community. The Special Prosecutor must evaluate civil and

criminal issues pertaining to the governance of Courtelaney Pass and utilize his/her legal power

as needed to issue subpoenas, search/arrest warrants, etc. The Interim Chief of Police has

brought with him/her a special investigator who will hold the rank of Captain of Investigations.

This individual will evaluate, examine, lead, and investigate all issues pertaining to criminal acts.

Instructions

After carefully reading and studying this situational report, contemplate which of these three

roles/tracks you wish to assume for your senior project:

Chief of Police- You have full authority to examine all policies and practices within the agency.

As such, you can make policy, dispose of bad policy, and address employment and hiring

concerns. You will be responsible to effectively deal with the racial unrest and identify its core.

You have the power to hire, fire, demote, and/or promote.

Special Prosecutor- Your role is to examine, evaluate, and act upon any and all legal issues,

civil and criminal, that may arise from your research and investigation. This includes hiring

practices, enforcement techniques and strategies, issues relative to discrimination, excessive

force, and evidence handling issues. You can issue subpoenas, search and arrest warrants,

wire-tap orders, and any and all other legal tactics available. You would also serve as the

prosecutor for any arrests made under this inquiry.

Captain of Investigations- Lead, and participate in, all criminal and forensic investigations and

issues that arise from the situational report. Suspect identification, location, arrest, forensic

analysis, setting strategies for needed criminal investigations, and execution of search warrants,

arrest warrants, etc. are some of the typical duties involved.

Deliverables

Identification of Research and Investigative Issues and Questions:

From the situational report, comprise a list of concerns and issues that are relative to your

position. Hint: There are a least a half dozen issues and concerns for each position. You must

articulate why your issue is a concern and not simply list it without explanation. For example: Do not simply list “Ticket Quotas”. If you feel this is an issue, explain why you feel ticket quotas may be problematic for the city. List those issues very specifically as this will be the launch pad for your over-all inquiry. This is due in Module 2.

Annotated Bibliography:

Utilizing the Saint Leo Library and any other supplemental resources, locate at least ten (10)

peer reviewed articles regarding your inquiry. During this assignment you will have the

opportunity to examine what the experts have researched, studied, and written about in your

specific discipline. There is a plethora of articles related to civil and criminal law, as well as case

law, leadership issues regarding hiring, promotion, anti-discrimination, civil unrest, forensic

science, DNA analysis, exhumation procedures, etc. Utilize library resources in addition to

https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/01/ in order to refresh yourself on creating an

annotated bibliography. Your assignment requires 10 annotated bibliographies relative to your

situation report position. This is due in Module 3.

Literature Review:

Utilizing your annotated bibliography, create a brief literature review that synthesizes what you

have learned from your research. Utilize library resources in addition to

https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/01/ in order to refresh yourself on creating a

literature review. Your literature review should be 3-4 pages. This is due in Module 4.

Preliminary Report – Executive Summary:

Create an executive summary for the Governor. In this summary, you will synopsize what you

have determined and accomplished thus far and what you anticipate discovering and

accomplishing in the future. Remember, the Governor is counting on you to execute your duties

with precision. Your executive summary should be 4-5 pages. This is due in Module 5.

Formal Presentation:

You will be reporting to the Governor all of your findings, actions, and remedies during this

PowerPoint presentation. It is vitally important to focus on issues that you identified and

why/how you dealt with those issues. Your presentation must be professionally presented with

appropriate transitions, animations, video (if utilized), notes from interviews you may have had

with real-life experts, and highly detailed with specificity. This will be an in-class presentation

and you should have at least 15 slides. The draft of this is due in Module 7, the final version is

due in Module 8.