38 Questions
What are the main objectives of the Ethics and Professionalism course?
To provide alternatives in moral decisions affecting law enforcement officers' lives and careers
How many sources of ethics are identified in the course?
Six
What are the 'P's of ethical power?
Power, Position, Privilege, Prestige, and Pride
What is the acronym 'A.C.T.' an abbreviation for?
Accountability, Competency, Transparency
What is the main difference between 'grass eaters' and 'meat eaters'?
'Grass eaters' are petty corrupt, while 'meat eaters' are highly corrupt
What is the main objective of the debate regarding gratuities?
To discuss the ethical implications of accepting gratuities
What are the three classifications of corrupt departments according to Sherman?
Typical, Corrupt, and Rogue
What is the purpose of the ethics check questions?
To provide a framework for making ethical decisions
Under common law, what was the punishment for felonies?
Death
According to the Supreme Court Rule, when can officers use deadly force?
To protect themselves or others from harm
What is the purpose of identifying alternatives in a situation?
To determine the best course of action
Who are stakeholders in a situation?
The community, suspect, department, and family
What is one of the three ethics check questions?
Is it legal?
What is the purpose of the 'Bell' in ethical decision-making?
To check for any warning signs or red flags
What is an example of the 'Denial of responsibility' excuse?
It wasn't my fault
What is one of the five 'P's of ethical power?
Purpose
What is the 'Theory of relative filth'?
Comparing one's actions to others to justify them
What is the purpose of the 'Candle' in ethical decision-making?
To consider how the decision will be perceived by others
What is one reason why police agencies are becoming less tolerant of officer-misbehavior?
To avoid litigation and protect the department and city or county government
What happens to the community's perception of a police department when corrupt officers are not disciplined?
The community feels mistrust, disillusionment, and lack of cooperation
What is one consequence of a corrupt officer's behavior on their colleagues?
The officer's colleagues' morale suffers when they see a corrupt officer go undisciplined
What is one way that a corrupt officer's behavior can affect their own life?
Their behavior can result in serious injury or loss of life
What is one reason why an officer's personal integrity is important?
It is necessary to maintain the trust of the community and family
What is the primary purpose of an agency's policy?
To specify the acceptable limits of officer conduct
What is the main difference between a professional code of ethics and social norms?
A professional code of ethics is used to determine if an occupation is a profession, while social norms are developed through socialization
What is ethics, according to one definition?
A code of values that guides our choices and actions
What is one consequence of an officer's corrupt behavior on the media?
The media will report the officer's behavior, leading to negative consequences
What is the primary role of an FTO (Field Training Officer) in shaping the 'norm'?
To strongly influence the 'norm'
What is the main difference between bribery and extortion?
Bribery is initiated by the citizen, while extortion is initiated by the officer
What is one source of ethics, according to the 3rd edition of 'Policing in America'?
Justice
What is one way that an officer's integrity can be measured?
By the 'anchors' of behavior, such as values and principles
What are the 'six pillars of character'?
Trustworthiness, Respect, Responsibility, Justice, Caring, and Civic virtue
Why is it important for officers to have a set of values and principles?
So they can distinguish between right and wrong
What is the main difference between 'grass eaters' and 'meat eaters'?
Grass eaters are officers who engage in illegal activities occasionally, while meat eaters are officers who aggressively pursue corrupt activities
What is quid pro quo in the context of sexual harassment?
A type of sexual harassment where something is exchanged for a favor
What is the primary purpose of the 'five standards of ethical policing'?
To evaluate officer performance and promote ethical policing
What is the significance of the 'Tennessee v. Garner' case?
It established the 'fleeing felon' rule
What is the main purpose of regulating gratuities?
To prevent corruption and maintain public trust
Study Notes
Ethics and Professionalism in Law Enforcement
Importance of Ethics and Professionalism
- Seven justifications for attending this program:
- Career Survival: Police agencies are becoming less tolerant of officer misbehavior and take steps to remove problem officers.
- Career Development: As an officer progresses through the ranks, their span of contacts opens up.
- Media Coverage: The news media watches officers' actions, and is quick to report missteps taken by a police officer.
- Community Perception: The community perceives the department as only as effective as the community perceives it to be.
- Intra-departmental Dissension: The majority of police officers tend to look down on those few who have chosen to fall to the temptation of corruption.
- Officer Survival: Corrupt officers find their job more difficult due to lack of trust and may result in serious injury or loss of life.
- Personal Integrity: Depending on the officer's involvement in corruption, there is usually a strong sense of guilt.
Defining Ethics
- Ethics is a code of values that guides choices and actions, determining the purpose and course of our lives.
- Ethics is not a written code, but it's about what we do.
- Ethics has also been described as a core set of beliefs or values, or standards.
Sources of Ethics
- The six sources of ethics are:
- Justice
- Law
- Agency Policy
- Professional Code of Ethics
- Social Norms
- Personal Values
Pillars of Character
- The six pillars of character are:
- Trustworthiness
- Respect
- Responsibility
- Justice and Fairness
- Caring
- Civic Virtue and Citizenship
Standards of Ethical Policing
- The five standards of ethical policing are:
- Fair Access
- Public Trust
- Safety and Security
- Teamwork
- Objectivity
Bribery and Extortion
- Bribery: When police officers are offered something of value to influence their performance of a duty.
- Extortion: When the officer initiates the agreement, by requiring a person to give him/her something of value in return for some performance (or lack of performance) by the officer.
Corruption Classification
- According to Sherman, there are three classifications of corrupt departments:
- Type I: "Rotten Apples & Rotten Pockets" - Individual officers who use their position for personal gain.
- Type II: "Pervasive Unorganized Corruption" - The organization does not control individual corrupt officers.
- Type III: "Pervasive Organized Corruption" - There are bad officers acting in an organized manner, and the police administration either actively participates or assists passively.
Gratuities and Sexual Harassment
- Gratuities: The arguments for and against accepting gratuities, including abuse of police authority, expression of appreciation, attempt to corrupt officers, goodwill, and social resource.
- Sexual Harassment: Two main forms - quid pro quo and hostile work environment.
Ethics in Decision-Making
- The three ethics check questions:
- Is it legal?
- Is it balanced?
- How will I feel about myself?
- The three "ethical choice strategies":
- The Bell - Do any "bells" or "warning buzzers" go off as I consider my alternatives?
- The Book - Do any of my alternatives violate any laws, policies, rules, Commandments, etc.?
- The Candle - How will my decision stand "the light of day" or the spotlight of publicity?
- The five "P's" of ethical power:
- Purpose
- Pride
- Patience
- Persistence
- Perspective
Study of principles guiding personal conduct as law enforcement officers, covering moral principles such as fairness, honesty, integrity, and consistency. Application in real-life situations is discussed.
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