Essay on Ethics in Policing - 824 Words

Ethics in Policing CJS/210 November 1, 2009 William Whitlatch, Instructor Ethics in Policing According to Webster’s Dictionary, ethics is defined â€Å"as the discipline dealing with what is good and bad and with moral duty and obligation† (Merriam-Webster Online). This concept is prevalent in the world of police work since police officers are supposed to be the â€Å"good† in whatever is considered a â€Å"bad† situation. Many police departments offer training in ethics during the time in which a cadet is in the police academy and after officers are put on the streets, which is called in-service training. It is the hope that while this training is available to officers, that they hold a basic code of ethics within themselves which†¦show more content†¦While the wording of the police code of conduct may vary by jurisdiction, the end result is the same— â€Å"protect those that need protecting, perform the job with integrity, keep others information confidential unless the performance of duty or legal provision requires oth erwise, use discretion based on reasonableness, never employ use of force unless in the defense of life, and behave in a manner that does not discredit the office in which they are employed† (Ethics and Law Enforcement, 2002). Corruption Police corruption is one of the ethical issues affecting law enforcement officers. Corruption is defined as â€Å"impairment of integrity, virtue or moral principle; inducement to do wrong by improper or unlawful means† (Merriam Webster Online, 2009). While the most recognizable form of corruption involves officers taking money for favors (bribery), the actions that are considered corruption include filing false police reports, harassment of any person due to sex, race, creed, religion, national origin or sexual orientation, and failure to protect the rights of citizens. Corruption exists in all levels of law enforcement. When people think of police misconduct, they immediately think of police brutality. While police brutality is a form of police misconduct, the term is much broader. Police misconduct is any conduct that is outside the ethical code that officers are sworn to follow.Show MoreRelatedCode Of Ethics Within Policing1018 Words   |  5 Pagesow n code of ethics. But a question some might ask is, what is a code of ethics? Code of ethics set out the values that reinforce the code and will describe a company’s obligation to its stakeholders. The code is available to the public and can be addressed to anyone who shows interest in the company’s activities and how that company does business. The purpose of this paper is to compare a code of ethics from another institution outside of policing, with a code of ethics within policing. The followingRead MoreCharacter and Cops Ethics in Policing1755 Words   |  8 PagesFinal Essays Four Final Essay Questions Zachary Karenchak Character and Cops Ethics in Policing Noble Cause Corruption Are police ever justified in committing illegal acts that violate others rights are they ever justified especially when there is no personal gain but for reasons that may seem to be about a higher purpose. This is the argument for noble cause corruption. This idea brings it to the end justifies the means thinking. If we start down this line where can it lead us? The ideaRead MoreEthics And Situational Problem Oriented Policing ( Miami Police Department )1071 Words   |  5 PagesFor this assignment I got to research many interesting things. First I learned what CPTED is and what theory it is based on. Next, I found a previous Goldstein award finalist: Operation Safe Clubs: Enforcement and Situational Problem-Oriented Policing (Miami Police Department). After finding a Goldstein award finalist, I evaluated the questions given to me about the problems they were attempting to address, how they determined their best course of action, the response, and how they measured theirRead MorePo lice Ethics As A Hot Button Topic Socially Today1183 Words   |  5 PagesPolice Ethics when policing minorities and use of force is a hot button topic socially today. With the recent climb of deaths caused by Police or while in police custody the questionability of ethics in minority has risen among all and not just with the minority groups. There are many current cases where the use of force that police officers chose is queried on excessive force. Recently there are several cases that bring investigation into the ethics of the officers who are involved in using deadlyRead MoreEthics And The Law Enforcement Code Of Ethics1412 Words   |  6 PagesThis paper inquires how ethics has impacted the law enfacement communities. The Oath of Allegiance along with the law enforcement Code of Ethics will be discussed in detail to give you a better appreciation of the expectations and ethical issues covering all law enforcement officers. This paper will discus how everyday decisions influen ce the law officers life, in addition to those of the community. Hero’s sacrificing their lives to â€Å"Protect and Serve†. Ethics, also know as moral philosophy, isRead MoreSir Robert Peel Paper690 Words   |  3 Pagesknown for today. Peels ideas were very well defined and offered a lot to policing even up to modern day. To understand the impact of this, we must take a look at Peels act, and know how it would change policing. Peel was Home Secretary of England when his act passed in 1929. Sir Peel’s mission in creating his police force was to establish control on crime. He wanted to obtain this through crime prevention. Thus far, policing had been reactive for the most part. His ideas of crime prevention reflectedRead MorePolice Enforcement And Police Officers Essay1621 Words   |  7 Pagesassist in a smooth social atmosphere. This also implies that the community is responding positively to the police. Community policing is a state of mind, meaning it relies on the individual to react to a certain situation they’re confronted with, which involves developing a plan to deal with the situation. Therefore, community policing is the most important role in policing today, it is a new way of thinking about police within the community, the police and the public become one, they work togetherRead MoreMandatory Minimum State Standards For Selection Standards926 Words   |  4 Pagesemphasized to th e states until 1975, when The Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations found police selection standards lacking (Conser, 1978). This lead to enacting legislation, employing the development of state commission councils of policing standards composed of local officials’ and law enforcement agencies, whose main responsibilities were to: oversee, implement and enforce the screening and evaluation of potential candidates; ensuring properly provided services and protection of localRead MoreEssay about Police Professionalism and Responsibility1363 Words   |  6 Pagespaper was obtained from a literature review of peer reviewed scholarly articles within the American Military University’s online library, as well as from scholarly texts. Professional Policing comes to America As reforms efforts gained momentum and politics played a less obvious and less intrusive role in policing, law enforcement in America began to be viewed as a profession. The so called professional phase of law enforcement began in the 1920s. The professional phase can be analyzed and bestRead MoreReactions and Reflections to Cyndi Banks Criminal Justice Ethics: Theory and Practice1060 Words   |  4 PagesReactions and Reflections on Readings in Cyndi Banks Criminal Justice Ethics: Theory and Practice Introduction No serious-minded individual over the age of twelve actually thinks that justice and ethical issues involved in criminality are purely black-and-white or clear-cut issues of good and bad. The first chapters of Cyndi Banks (2008) Criminal Justice Ethics, however, make it clear that the issues of right and wrong in the criminal justice system are far more complex, specific, and subtle