Professional Policing and Ethics

• Components of Ethical Behavior: 1. Moral Sensitivity: ability to recognize and understand situations that require ethical decision-making. 2. Moral Judgement: ability to evaluate situations and make sound ethical decisions. 3. Moral Motivation: internal drive to act ethically. 4. Moral Character: set of values that guides decision-making.

• Ethical Decision Making Model: 1. Legal: is it allowed by law? 2. Code of Conduct: is it permitted by professional guidelines? 3. Code of Ethics: how would it be viewed by ethical principles? 4. Personal Code: does it align with personal values? 5. Ethical Dilemma: is it a true ethical dilemma? 6. Organization: how does it apply to organizational ethics?

• Officer's Career Stages: 1. Idealistic: ethical behavior driven by ideals and personal values. 2. Frustrated: ethical behavior challenged by frustration. 3. Defiant: ethical behavior ignored in favor of personal gain. 4. Resigned: ethical behavior accepted as a necessary sacrifice. 5. Aware: ethical behavior informed by knowledge. 6. Decisive: ethical behavior based on clear decision-making. 7. Commitment: ethical behavior sustained through commitment.

• Objective Behavior: expression of facts without personal feelings or prejudices.

• Implicit Bias: automatic associations between groups and stereotypes.

• Areas of Bias: 1. Race/Ethnicity 2. Behavior 3. Gender 4. Sexual Orientation 5. Religion

• Differences between Physical and Moral Courage: 1. Physical: physical action in dangerous situations. 2. Moral: ethical decision-making in challenging situations.

• Examples of Physical and Moral Courage: 1. Physical: facing armed suspects, duty to intervene. 2. Moral: refusing bribes, refusing to participate in cover-ups.

• Texas Penal Code and Officer Behavior: 1. Chapter 36: Bribery and Corrupt Influence. 2. Chapter 37: Perjury and Other Falsifications. 3. Chapter 39: Abuse of Office.

• Federal Criminal Law and Officer Behavior: 1. Conspiracy Against Rights 2. Deprivation of Rights Under Color of Law.

• Civil Penalties for Sexual Harassment and Inappropriate Officer Conduct: 1. USC A 19 83 2. Sexual Harassment – Penal Code 39.03. 3. Texas Commission on Human Rights. 4. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

• Historical Development of Policing: 1. 1900-1940s: use of automobiles, radios, and reforms. 2. 1950s-1970s: technology improvement, faster response, and community distancing.

• Traditional Police Service Model: reactive response, incident driven, lacks community involvement.

• Community Policing: citizens and officers working together to solve community problems, greater community voice in decision making.

• Purpose of a Police Organization: fighting crime, serving and protecting, promoting public safety.

• Police Legitimacy: community view of police acting legally and lawfully.

• Four Principles of Procedural Justice: giving people a voice, neutrality, respectful treatment, trustworthiness.

• Values of Quality Police Customer Service: building pride in the agency, loyal community support.

• Police Subculture: characteristics include curiosity, solidarity, secrecy, conservatism, cynicism, and social isolation.

• Police Subculture Social Problems: stress, commitment to community, cynicism and alienation, the "Dirty Harry Problem".

• Comp Stat Information System: not effective in the 1990s, led to over policing.

• Brady List: database of police misconduct and public complaints.

• Levels of Intervention: advanced, delayed, immediate.

• The Ethical Decision Making Model: Is it legal, permitted by code of conduct, viewed favorably by Code of Ethics, approved by personal code of ethics, a true ethical dilemma, and applicable for organizations.

• Objective Behavior: Expression of facts without distortion by personal feelings or prejudices (Neutrality).

• Implicit Bias: Automatic associations between groups of people and stereotypes.

• Physical and Moral Courage: State or quality of mind or spirit enabling one to face danger; Physical - facing danger, intervening duty; Moral - refusing gratuities, cover ups, and interventions.

• Title 8 of the Texas Penal Code: Covers Bribery and Corrupt Influence (Chapters 36, 37, and 39), potential federal prosecution for unethical conduct by peace officers.

• U.S.C. 241 and 242: Conspiracy Against Rights and Deprivation of Rights Under Color of Law.

• Civil Penalties for Sexual Harassment and Inappropriate Officer Conduct: U.S.C. A 1983, Penal Code 39.03, Texas Commission on Human Rights, and EEOC.

• Historical Development of Police Service Models: 1900s to 1940s (use of automobiles, radios, rapid response, and "reform era"), 1950s to 1970s (technology improvement, faster paced service, and "community policing" era).

• Traditional Police Service Model: Reactive response, incident driven, lacks community involvement, and uses statistics to measure performance.

• Community Policing Model: Officers and citizens work together to solve community problems, allowing citizens a greater voice in setting priorities.

• Purpose of Police Organization: To fight crime, serve and protect, and promote public safety.

• Police Legitimacy: Community's view of whether police have acted legally and lawfully.

• Principles of Procedural Justice: Give people a voice (listen), neutrality (be fair), respectful treatment, and trustworthiness (explain yourself).

• Values of Quality Police Customer Service: Builds pride and community support, and increases trust and legitimacy.

• Police Subculture Characteristics: Curiosity and suspiciousness, solidarity, secrecy, political and social conservatism, cynicism, social isolation, and authoritarian approach to control.

• Police Subculture Social Problems: Stress, commitment to community, cynicism and alienation, and the "Dirty Harry Problem" (end justifies the means).

• Comp Stat Information System: Used in the 1990s, led to over policing.

• The Brady List: A database of police misconduct, public complaints, and use of force.

• Levels of Intervention: Advanced (prevention), delayed (intervention), and immediate (reaction).

• Police Officer Duties on 9/11: 343 Firefighters and 71 Law Enforcement Officers died.

• Crime Stoppers in Texas: Established in 1981.

• Moral and Physical Courage: State or quality of mind or spirit enabling one to face danger; Moral - refusing gratuities, cover ups, and interventions; Physical - facing danger, intervening duty.

• The Ethical Decision Making Model: 1. Is it legal, 2. Is it permitted by code of conduct, 3. How would it be viewed by Code of Ethics, 4. Does personal code of ethics approve, 5. Is it an ethical dilemma, 6. Can it be applied to an organization.

• Objective Behavior: Expression of facts without distortion by personal feelings or prejudices.

• Implicit Bias: Automatic associations people make between groups of people and stereotypes.

• Physical and Moral Courage: 1. Physical: facing danger, 2. Moral: making ethical decisions, 1. Physical: facing barricaded or armed suspects, 2. Moral: refusing bribes, 3. Moral: refusing to participate in cover ups, 4. Duty to intervene.

• Texas Penal Code: 1. Bribery and Corrupt Influence (Chapter 36), 2. Perjury and Other Falsifications (Chapter 37), 3. Abuse of Office (Chapter 39).

• Federal criminal law: Unethical conduct by peace officers can result in federal prosecution.

• Civil penalties: 1. USC A 19 83 Violation of Civil Rights, 2. Sexual Harassment (Penal Code 39.03), 3. Texas Commission on Human Rights, 4. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

• Historical development of police service models: 1. Use of automobiles and radios, 2. Use of technology (computers), 3. Reform era, 4. Creation of the FBI, 5. Improved communications, 6. Desire for higher education, 7. Loss of positive relationships with the public.

• Community Policing: Officers and citizens working together to solve community problems, allowing citizens a greater voice in setting local police priorities.

• Police organization: Fight crime, serve and protect, promote public safety.

• Police Legitimacy: Community view of police actions as legal and lawful.

• Values of providing quality police customer service: Builds pride, community support.

• Police Subculture: Curiosity and Suspiciousness, Solidarity, Secrecy, Political and Social conservatism, Cynicism, Social Isolation, Authoritarian approach, Support.

• Police Subculture social problems: Stress, commitment to community, cynicism and alienation, Dirty Harry Problem.

• Comp Stat information system: Used in the 1990's, led to over policing.

• Brady list: A database of police misconduct, public complaints, use of force, etc.

• Results of Comp Stat: Led to over policing.

• Intervention levels: Advanced, Delayed, Immediate.

• September 11: 343 Fire fighters died, 71 Law Enforcement Officers died.

• Police officer referrals: Cannot refer someone to a private attorney or bail bondsmen.

• Crime Stoppers: Came to Texas in 1981, funded with non-taxpayer dollars.

• Definition of Courage: State or quality of mind or sprit that enables one to face danger.

Test your knowledge of procedural justice and law enforcement models with this quiz. Find out how well you understand the pillars of procedural justice and the advantages of the professional model for law enforcement.