Ethics and Professionalism in Law Enforcement
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What is one major reason why police agencies are becoming less tolerant of officer misbehavior?

  • Due to the lack of resources for officer training
  • Because of the decreasing number of police officers
  • To avoid litigation and protect the department and city or county government (correct)
  • Because of the increasing number of police officers
  • What is a consequence of a corrupt officer advancing through the ranks?

  • The officer will have more opportunities to corrupt other officers (correct)
  • The officer will receive additional training
  • The officer will be demoted
  • The officer will be promoted faster
  • Why does the media closely watch police officers' actions?

  • To ignore the actions of police officers
  • To quickly report on missteps taken by police officers (correct)
  • To provide positive coverage of the police department
  • To report on the personal lives of police officers
  • What is the result of a community perceiving a police department as corrupt?

    <p>Mistrust, disillusionment, and lack of cooperation with the police department</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the majority of police officers today according to the text?

    <p>Good, upstanding people</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Why is it important for police officers to study ethics and professionalism?

    <p>To ensure career survival and development</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the consequence of a corrupt officer going undisciplined?

    <p>The department's morale suffers</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Why is personal integrity important for a law enforcement officer?

    <p>It helps the officer to gain the trust of the citizens</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is ethics, according to the text?

    <p>A set of beliefs or values that guide our actions</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the purpose of agency policies?

    <p>To specify the acceptable limits of officer conduct</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is justice, according to the text?

    <p>A difficult concept to define, usually implying fairness</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the purpose of a professional code of ethics?

    <p>To determine if an occupation is a profession</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What are social norms, according to the text?

    <p>Personal values developed through socialization</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is one of the consequences of corruption, according to the text?

    <p>Loss of the officer's life</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the purpose of prioritizing personal values, according to the text?

    <p>To guide the officer's behavior</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What are the six pillars of character, according to the text?

    <p>Trustworthiness, respect, fairness, and three others</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary purpose of the 'Bell' strategy in ethical decision-making?

    <p>To identify potential warning signs or 'red flags'</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary difference between bribery and extortion?

    <p>Bribery involves a citizen offering something of value to influence a police officer's performance.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is an example of 'denial of responsibility'?

    <p>It wasn't my fault</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the term for the practice of giving police officers small gifts, such as coffee or food, as a form of appreciation?

    <p>Gratuities</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the 'Purpose' component of the '5 P's' of ethical power?

    <p>A clear understanding of one's values and mission</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the 'fleeing felon' rule, and how has it evolved over time?

    <p>A doctrine that has evolved to restrict the use of deadly force, only allowing it in cases where there is a great risk to the community.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the goal of 'active anti-corruption programs' in preventing corruption?

    <p>To create a culture of integrity and accountability</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary goal of the L.A.C.T. decision-making framework?

    <p>To identify alternatives to a situation and project the consequences.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the 'Candle' strategy in ethical decision-making?

    <p>Considering how a decision would appear in the public spotlight</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the term for a person, organization, or entity that may be affected by a police officer's actions?

    <p>Stakeholder</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary benefit of having a clear 'Purpose' in ethical decision-making?

    <p>It guides decision-making and helps individuals stay true to their values</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the term for a police officer who engages in corrupt activities only occasionally?

    <p>Grass eater</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary characteristic of Type I corrupt police departments?

    <p>There is a low level of organized corruption, but individual officers act unethically.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the term for the type of sexual harassment that involves making the working conditions uncomfortable for someone due to prejudice or discrimination?

    <p>Hostile work environment</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary goal of the five standards of ethical policing?

    <p>To promote fairness and justice in policing</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the purpose of the L.A.C.T. framework's 'Tell your story' component?

    <p>To consider the consequences of one's actions and prepare to justify them</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    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.

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    Explore the importance of ethics and professionalism in law enforcement, including career survival and development, and the consequences of officer misbehavior.

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