Wanted: A Few Good Detectives
As the final school bell rings, you feel a rush of excitement. Today’s the day you start training to become a student police cadet along with two of your friends, Daniel and Hannah. You’re excited to wear your new cadet uniform, and you can’t wait to see the inside of the police department.
Hannah was the first to see the school bulletin board: “Wanted: New Recruits to Become Good Detectives.” After reading it, she hurried to tell you and Daniel the news. Over at the local police department, they’re starting a new detective training academy for student cadets!
The three of you walk through the door into the police station. The desk assistant greets you. “Hello! I know exactly why you’re here. I’ll call Detective Jeffries for you.” She picks up her phone, pushes a button, then says, “Alan, your new cadets are here.”
A moment later, a towering bear of a man turns the corner and enters the room. He says, “You must be the new cadets. I’m Detective Jeffries.” His voice is deep and a little like a growl. He seems serious and a bit scary. You think, I wouldn’t want to see him angry! But then he smiles from out of nowhere and his face softens.
“Follow me,” he commands as he walks you through the station to the briefing room. Detectives and officers are busy at work. Uniforms and evidence are spread out on tables. You stop for a moment to watch all the activity. Detective Jeffries clears his throat. “Ahem!” He’s standing impatiently by the briefing room door. You quickly walk in and sit next to Daniel, Hannah, and some students from other schools in the area.
God also wants you to use your brain to investigate the truth. Read Matthew 22:37–38. God tells us to love Him with all our heart, our soul, and our ____________.
“Who wants to learn how to investigate cold cases?” asks the burly Detective Jeffries. Many hands go up. “Good.” He nods. “What part of investigations are you most interested in?”
Daniel raises his hand. “Gadgets!” he says. “The high-tech stuff you see them use to solve crimes in movies. Can you show us some of that stuff?”
Jeffries looks at Daniel with a smirk on his face. “Hmm. Movies, huh? Well, we do sometimes use technology, but I’ll tell you a secret about how we solve most crimes …” Everyone leans forward for the answer. Jeffries lifts his pointer finger and taps the side of his head.
Be sure to complete the Training Activities and Note Sheets.
“Your brain?” asks Daniel. One of the students from another school, Jason, frowns and looks disappointed at the answer.
“Don’t frown, cadet,” says Jeffries with authority. “We solve cases by learning how to think, and detectives were doing that long before the invention of gadgets and computers. The brain is more reliable. In this student cadet academy, I’ll teach you how to think like a cold-case detective. When you graduate, you’ll earn your Academy Certificates and you’ll be able to volunteer here at the police department whenever you want.”
Jason is smiling now. Obviously Jeffries has been doing this for a long time, and he sounds like he knows what he’s talking about.
You can hardly wait for the next session!