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Career

Survival

Strategies

Law Enforcement Ethics

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Objectives

Define the terms ethics & professionalism.

Help new law enforcement officers address ethical and moral situations which could lead to behavior that would be considered unethical or immoral.

Develop an understanding of the need for standards of ethical and moral conduct within the law enforcement profession.

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Individual Exercise

The Ideal Police Officer Your elderly mother lives alone in a

distant city, over 2000 miles away. 1:30 a.m. two armed intruders forcibly

enter the back door of her home. Very frightened, she frantically hits the

panic button on her home alarm to summon police

What is one quality you want the responding police officer to have?

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Ethics The principles of honor

and morality; Accepted rules of conduct; The principles of conduct governing an individual or group.

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Ethics in Action

“Doing the right thing, at the right time, in the right way”

Example – “Golden Rule”

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Profession

“A vocation or occupation, requiring advanced training in some liberal art or science, and usually involving mental rather than manual work, such as teaching, engineering, writing, law, medicine, or theology”.

[Webster’s New Universal Unabridged Dictionary]

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Professions Professions or “callings”

require an ethical adherence to a code of behavior

Examples of Professionals

- Doctor

- Minister

- Social Worker

- Teacher

- Attorney

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Is Law Enforcement a Profession?

Based on what we have discussed so far, are law enforcement officers justified in calling themselves professionals?

Does law enforcement have difficulty being recognized as a profession due to the way our “customers” are treated?

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Pinning on a badge and wearing a gun does not make a professional law enforcement officer any more than one would become a doctor by putting on a white jacket and stethoscope. Professional status is not attainable by merely proclaiming that we are a profession.

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Ethical Qualities Honesty Respect Compassion Integrity Courtesy Diversity Trustworthiness Courage Empathy Fair

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Ethics is the key to every law enforcement officer being recognized as a professional.

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Unethical Behavior

Dishonesty / Perjury Brutality Racial Prejudice Soliciting or Accepting Gratuities Violation of Laws or Department

Regulations Discourteous Conduct Misuse of discretion

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Unethical Behavior

Divulging confidential information Falsifying reports Excessive use of alcohol Extramarital affairs Gambling Illegal Drugs Theft

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Unethical Behavior

Violations of Civil Rights:

- Illegal search

- False arrest

- Right to an attorney

- Right to bail

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Unethical Behavior Consequences Lack of Respect Lose Credibility Discipline Loss of Police Certification Ends Careers Can lead to Legal and/or Civil

Consequences Family Disgrace

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Unethical Behavior Consequences Department Embarrassment

Fellow Officers feel emotional and professional impact

Your pride in yourself and your profession is lessoned or lost

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Making the right ethical decisions

Is my decision legal? Would I do this in front of my

family? Is this worth my job and career? What would I do if I were being

video taped? Will friends and family be proud of

this decision? Am I following the Golden Rule? How would I feel if I were the

citizen in this case?

Ask Yourself:

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Ethical Behavior; Are your actions right or wrong?

Know the Law

Know Department Rules and Regulations

Know the Golden Rule

Know the Code of Ethics

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Reporting Violations

If you do nothing, you are in fact condoning the activity

Reporting violations of conduct is your sworn duty. It is no different than violations of criminal law

We cannot expect citizens to believe we can police ourselves until we prove that we can

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Moral Courage

Refusing gratuities Refusing to participate in a cover-up Refusing to participate in ethnic or

gender-based humor or practical joking

Reporting violations of department rules and regulations or criminal law

In essence, moral courage is this:

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An Ethical Officer’s Motto

I will always hold myself and others accountable for having the courage and dedication to always do the right thing.

Ethics begin and end with

YOU