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Authority Under Pressure:
A Structured Case Study in Decision-Making Under Stress
Michael Wolanski, a retired Police Lieutenant, draws on more than two decades of command-level experience to guide students through a structured case analysis of a real critical incident involving lethal force. The program examines how authority, stress, and ethical decision-making intersect in real time through facilitated classroom discussion. Structured analytical guidance is introduced at key decision points throughout the case.
Lt. Wolanski’s presentation provided our students with a rare opportunity to examine real-world decision-making under stress through a structured analytical framework…”
Dawn Flanders
Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice and Criminal Justice Program Coordinator
at Sussex County Community College
and Adjunct Professor of Criminal Justice at Seton Hall University
Program Structure
The program is delivered as a structured, interactive case analysis.
Ret. Lt. Michael Wolanski presents a real critical incident from firsthand experience. At key decision points, the presentation pauses and students engage in guided analysis, examining how legal, ethical, and operational considerations shape decisions in real time.
These analytical segments are facilitated by Chief Daniel Finkle, who provides structured
perspective at critical moments throughout the case.
The session concludes with an open discussion and Q&A, allowing students to further explore the decision-making process and its broader implications.
About Michael
Following first-hand involvement in a critical line-of-duty incident, Ret. Lt. Wolanski’s professional perspective shifted toward examining how decisions made under extreme stress are later understood and evaluated by both individuals and institutions.
Student Reflections
“Seconds felt like minutes and minutes felt like hours…it showed how stress can distort what someone believes they saw and remembered in the moment.”
— Seton Hall Student
“Professionals in positions of authority have to look at themselves in the mirror and evaluate their own decisions from an outside perspective.”
— Seton Hall Student
“He could have accepted the praise he was receiving, but instead he asked people to show him where he might have been wrong.”
- Seton Hall Student
Engagement Options
01
Guest Lecture + Facilitated Case Analysis
60-90 minute structured presentation with facilitated classroom discussion
Michael presents a first-person account of a critical line-of-duty incident while Chief Daniel Finkle facilitates structured discussions at key decision points throughout the lecture. Rather than a retrospective narrative, this format positions students as active participants in a live case analysis; examining the legal, psychological, and ethical dimensions of real decisions as they unfold.
02
Extended Seminar + Workshop
Full lecture presentation followed by a role-based workshop analysis
The facilitated case study lecture is followed by an extended workshop in which students examine the incident from multiple professional perspectives, including: officer, supervisor, institution, as well as the public. Small groups analyze decision points through their assigned lens before reconvening for a facilitated debrief. This format deepens application and is ideal for programs seeking a full-session immersive experience.
Tailored For:
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Criminal Justice programs examining discretion and institutional accountability
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Leadership and Ethics seminars exploring authority and responsibility
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Public Administration programs analyzing oversight and organizational culture
Tailored For:
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Criminal Justice programs examining discretion and institutional accountability
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Psychology courses focused on stress and cognitive processing
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Leadership and Ethics Seminars exploring authority and responsibility
-
Public Administration programs analyzing oversight and organizational culture
Focus Areas
Examines how professionals process and grow from critical incidents, using the case study to explore the psychological and ethical pathways through which adversity can lead to deeper professional insight and accountability.