Ethics and Professionalism in Law Enforcement

Justifications for Attending the Program

• Career Survival: Police agencies are becoming less tolerant of officer misbehavior, and acting inappropriately can lead to litigation and removal of problem officers.
• Career Development: As an officer progresses through the ranks, their span of contacts increases, and a corrupt officer can taint more officers and widen their scope of corruption.
• Media Coverage: The news media watches officers' actions, and missteps can lead to negative community perception and mistrust.
• Community Perception: The community's perception of the police department affects its effectiveness, and corruption can lead to mistrust, disillusionment, and hostility.
• Intra-departmental Dissension: Corruption can lead to morale suffering among good officers and create a divide within the department.
• Officer Survival: Corrupt behavior can result in serious injury or loss of life due to lack of trust and compromised integrity.
• Personal Integrity: Studying ethics and professionalism helps maintain personal integrity and upholds the oath taken as a law enforcement officer.

Definition of Ethics

• Ethics: A code of values that guides choices and actions, determining the purpose and course of life.
• Core Set of Beliefs: Ethics is about what we do, and it sets standards for behavior.
• Values: Ethics involves prioritizing values, and different values can lead to different outcomes.

Sources of Ethics

• Justice: A difficult concept to define, depending on one's point of view, and the law serves to define its limits.
• Law: Used to control individual and government behavior, relying on the ethics of those in government service.
• Agency Policy: Used to specify acceptable limits of officer conduct, defining the agency's values and community expectations.
• Professional Code of Ethics: Used to guide and restrict behavior, determining if an occupation is a profession.
• Social Norms: Developed through socialization, influencing personal values and behavior.
• Personal Values: Prioritizing values, which can conflict with social norms and agency expectations.

Pillars of Character

• Trustworthiness: Honesty, integrity, promise-keeping, and loyalty.
• Respect: Treating others with dignity and respect.
• Responsibility: Accountability, pursuit of excellence, and self-restraint.
• Justice and Fairness: Upholding justice and fairness in all actions.
• Caring: Showing empathy and compassion towards others.
• Civic Virtue and Citizenship: Demonstrating civic responsibility and good citizenship.

Standards of Ethical Policing

• Fair Access: Ensuring equal access to police services and resources.
• Public Trust: Maintaining trust between the police and the community.
• Safety and Security: Prioritizing safety and security for all individuals.
• Teamwork: Collaborating with others to achieve common goals.
• Objectivity: Making decisions based on facts and evidence, rather than personal biases.

Bribery and Extortion

• Bribery: When a citizen offers something of value to influence an officer's performance.
• Extortion: When an officer initiates an agreement, requiring a person to give them something of value in exchange for a performance.

Corrupt Departments

• Type I: Individual officers using their position for personal gain, with no organized effort.
• Type II: Pervasive unorganized corruption, with many officers acting unethically, but not organized.
• Type III: Pervasive organized corruption, with bad officers acting in an organized manner, and the police administration either actively participating or assisting passively.

Sexual Harassment

• Quid Pro Quo: Literally "this for that," where an officer demands something in exchange for a favor.
• Hostile Work Environment: Creating an uncomfortable work environment due to prejudice or discrimination.

Gratuities

• Arguments: Abuse of police authority, expression of appreciation, attempt to corrupt officers, or goodwill.
• Socialization: New officers may feel compelled to accept gratuities to avoid alienation from other officers.
• Regulating Gratuities: Important to set boundaries and guidelines for accepting gratuities.

Tennessee v. Garner

• Case: A young man was shot by an officer while attempting to escape from a burglary scene, leading to a Supreme Court rule.
• Supreme Court Rule: Deadly force can only be used to protect oneself or others, or to prevent escape of someone who poses a great risk to the community.

L.A.C.T.

• Identify Alternatives: Considering different options when faced with an ethical dilemma.
• Project the Consequences: Evaluating the potential outcomes of each alternative.
• Tell Your Story: Preparing to defend one's actions without lying.

Stakeholders

• Definition: Any person, organization, or entity affected by an officer's actions.
• Examples: Community, suspect/defendant, department, family, and police family.

Ethics Check Questions

• Is it Legal?: Ensuring actions are within the bounds of the law.
• Is it Balanced?: Evaluating the potential consequences of each alternative.
• How Will I Feel About Myself?: Considering the personal impact of one's actions.

Ethics Choice Strategies

• The Bell: Considering warning signs or "bells" when evaluating alternatives.
• The Book: Ensuring alternatives do not violate laws, policies, or rules.
• The Candle: Evaluating how actions will stand up to public scrutiny.

Excuses for Unethical Behavior

• Denial of Responsibility: Shifting blame or claiming innocence.
• Denial of Injury: Downplaying the harm caused by one's actions.
• Denial of the Victim: Dehumanizing or justifying harm to others.
• Condemnation of the Condemners: Shifting focus to others' wrongdoing.
• Appeal to "Higher Loyalties": Justifying ethical misconduct by appealing to a higher authority or group loyalty.

The 5 P's of Ethical Power

• Purpose: Understanding one's purpose and the agency's mission.
• Pride: Maintaining self-esteem and a sense of satisfaction.
• Patience: Having a clear purpose and being willing to wait for the right outcome.
• Persistence: Sticking to one's principles, even when it's not convenient.
• Perspective: Reflecting on one's actions and seeking guidance from within.

Preventing Corruption

• Sound Applicant Selection: Ensuring that new officers are of high moral character.
• Reinforcement of Core Values: Emphasizing the importance of ethics and professionalism.
• Active Anti-corruption Programs: Implementing programs to prevent and detect corruption.