Officer Survival: Ethical Considerations for Long Term Careers By Inspector J. Hutt July 12, 2007.

Officer Survival: Officer Survival: Ethical Considerations for Long Term Ethical Considerations for Long Term

CareersCareers

ByBy

Inspector J. HuttInspector J. Hutt

July 12, 2007July 12, 2007

Class SurveyClass Survey

• How many of you are planning on How many of you are planning on retiring from this agency?retiring from this agency?

• How many of you are planning to How many of you are planning to promote and retire at a higher pay promote and retire at a higher pay grade?grade?

• How many of you have (or will have) How many of you have (or will have) family members who depend on your family members who depend on your employment for health care benefits employment for health care benefits or financial support?or financial support?

Why is this important?Why is this important?

• Statistically speaking, we have Statistically speaking, we have employees that will not survive a full employees that will not survive a full career due to poor judgment. (currently career due to poor judgment. (currently about 1%/year)about 1%/year)

• In the last 3 1/2 years we have lost 24 In the last 3 1/2 years we have lost 24 employees (Termination or Resignation) employees (Termination or Resignation) for VBDS violations.for VBDS violations.

• In the last 10 years, we have lost one In the last 10 years, we have lost one current & 3 former employees to suicide.current & 3 former employees to suicide.

My Goal?My Goal?

• To help you avoid making a career To help you avoid making a career ending mistake.ending mistake.

• Everybody retires under honorable Everybody retires under honorable conditions.conditions.

Fundamentals of Ethical Fundamentals of Ethical ExpectationsExpectations

• ACSO Law Enforcement Code of ACSO Law Enforcement Code of EthicsEthics

• ACSO Rules of ConductACSO Rules of Conduct

• ACSO Disciplinary ProcessACSO Disciplinary Process

• ACSO Awards ProcessACSO Awards Process

ACSO Law Enforcement ACSO Law Enforcement Code of Ethics Code of Ethics

• As a member of the law enforcement As a member of the law enforcement profession, my fundamental duty is to profession, my fundamental duty is to serve mankind; to safeguard lives and serve mankind; to safeguard lives and property; to protect the innocent property; to protect the innocent against deception, the weak against against deception, the weak against oppression or intimidation and the oppression or intimidation and the peaceful against violence or disorder; peaceful against violence or disorder; and to respect the constitutional rights and to respect the constitutional rights of all people to liberty, equality and of all people to liberty, equality and justice. justice.

Code of Ethics (cont)Code of Ethics (cont)

• I will keep my private life unsullied as an example I will keep my private life unsullied as an example to all; maintain courageous calm in the face of to all; maintain courageous calm in the face of danger, scorn or ridicule; develop self-restraint; danger, scorn or ridicule; develop self-restraint; and be constantly mindful of the welfare of and be constantly mindful of the welfare of others. Honest in thought and deed in both my others. Honest in thought and deed in both my personal and official life. I will be exemplary in personal and official life. I will be exemplary in obeying the laws of the land and the regulations obeying the laws of the land and the regulations of my department. Whatever I see or hear of a of my department. Whatever I see or hear of a confidential nature, or that is confided to me in confidential nature, or that is confided to me in my official capacity, will be kept ever secret my official capacity, will be kept ever secret unless revelation is necessary in the performance unless revelation is necessary in the performance of my duty.of my duty.


• I will never act officiously or permit personal I will never act officiously or permit personal feelings, prejudices, animosities or feelings, prejudices, animosities or friendship to influence my decisions. With friendship to influence my decisions. With no compromise for crime and with no compromise for crime and with relentless prosecution of criminals, I will relentless prosecution of criminals, I will enforce the law courteously and enforce the law courteously and appropriately without fear or favor, malice appropriately without fear or favor, malice or ill will, never employing unnecessary or ill will, never employing unnecessary force or violence and never accepting force or violence and never accepting gratuities. gratuities.


• I recognize the badge of my office as a I recognize the badge of my office as a symbol of public faith, and I accept it symbol of public faith, and I accept it as a public trust to be held so long as I as a public trust to be held so long as I am true to the ethics of law am true to the ethics of law enforcement. I will constantly strive to enforcement. I will constantly strive to achieve these objectives and ideals, achieve these objectives and ideals, dedicating myself before God to my dedicating myself before God to my chosen profession..............law chosen profession..............law enforcement.enforcement.

ACSO Rules of ConductACSO Rules of Conduct

• VALUE BASED DIRECTIVE SYSTEM: VALUE BASED DIRECTIVE SYSTEM: Any Sheriff's Office policy, procedure, Any Sheriff's Office policy, procedure, memorandum, email, job description, memorandum, email, job description, performance anchor, post order, performance anchor, post order, instructional material or instructions, instructional material or instructions, law enforcement code of ethics, or law enforcement code of ethics, or supervisor’s directive, either oral or supervisor’s directive, either oral or written that serves to direct or guide written that serves to direct or guide a member's actions.a member's actions.

Rules of Conduct (cont)Rules of Conduct (cont)

• 1.1. Compliance with Sheriff's Office Value Based Compliance with Sheriff's Office Value Based Directive System Directive System

• Members of the Sheriff's Office shall maintain Members of the Sheriff's Office shall maintain familiarity with, perform their duties according to, familiarity with, perform their duties according to, and conduct themselves within the framework of and conduct themselves within the framework of the Sheriff's Office Value Based Directive System.the Sheriff's Office Value Based Directive System.

• Each member of the agency shall maintain Each member of the agency shall maintain familiarity with, and obey all rules, regulations, familiarity with, and obey all rules, regulations, lawful orders and directives. A member shall not lawful orders and directives. A member shall not commit or omit any acts that violate any rule, commit or omit any acts that violate any rule, regulation, order or directive; nor shall aid or abet regulation, order or directive; nor shall aid or abet another to do so. another to do so.


• 2.2. Lawful ConductLawful Conduct

• Members shall conduct themselves Members shall conduct themselves in a lawful manner. Members shall in a lawful manner. Members shall obey the laws of the United States of obey the laws of the United States of America and of any state or local America and of any state or local jurisdiction. A criminal conviction for jurisdiction. A criminal conviction for violation of a law is prima facia violation of a law is prima facia evidence of a violation of this rule. evidence of a violation of this rule.


• 3.3. TruthfulnessTruthfulness

• Members shall be truthful in all Members shall be truthful in all matters associated with the Sheriff's matters associated with the Sheriff's Office. Office.


• 4.4. Respect for OthersRespect for Others

• Members shall treat others Members shall treat others courteously, with fairness and courteously, with fairness and respect.respect.


• 5.5. Public Trust and AuthorityPublic Trust and Authority• Members are entrusted to non-abusively Members are entrusted to non-abusively

safeguard the authority and public trust vested in safeguard the authority and public trust vested in them and other members. Members shall always them and other members. Members shall always use their position, resources, and credentials use their position, resources, and credentials appropriately. Members shall not make promises appropriately. Members shall not make promises or arrangements with a suspect, or between a or arrangements with a suspect, or between a suspect and a victim, intended to permit the suspect and a victim, intended to permit the suspect to escape prosecution, without the suspect to escape prosecution, without the knowledge and authority of supervisory personnel knowledge and authority of supervisory personnel and the Office of District Attorney.and the Office of District Attorney.

• Each member shall faithfully and properly Each member shall faithfully and properly perform all duties.perform all duties.


• 6.6. Gifts and Gratuities 4-ALDF-7C-02,Gifts and Gratuities 4-ALDF-7C-02,• Members shall not use their Sheriff's Office status Members shall not use their Sheriff's Office status

to seek or accept for themselves or others, any to seek or accept for themselves or others, any favors, gifts, benefits, rewards or gratuities which favors, gifts, benefits, rewards or gratuities which may compromise the member's position and/or may compromise the member's position and/or would not ordinarily be afforded the public. A would not ordinarily be afforded the public. A gratuity is defined as a free or reduced price gratuity is defined as a free or reduced price service, or item given to or accepted by an service, or item given to or accepted by an identified member of the agency with the identified member of the agency with the anticipation of influencing or gaining additional anticipation of influencing or gaining additional presence or service from the member or other presence or service from the member or other members of the agency. No members or members of the agency. No members or contractors will use their official position to secure contractors will use their official position to secure privileges for themselves. <4-ALDF-7C-02>privileges for themselves. <4-ALDF-7C-02>


• 7.7. Adherence to Orders - Members Adherence to Orders - Members shall obey lawful orders given by shall obey lawful orders given by supervisors, acting supervisors and supervisors, acting supervisors and trainers to those in training. In some trainers to those in training. In some cases, orders may be issued by a cases, orders may be issued by a member with seniority. <12.1.3> member with seniority. <12.1.3> <P.2.1.3> <P.2.1.3>


• 8. Conduct 8. Conduct – On and Off DutyOn and Off Duty

• Members shall use reasonable Members shall use reasonable judgment and refrain from conduct that judgment and refrain from conduct that reflects unfavorably upon the Sheriff's reflects unfavorably upon the Sheriff's Office. Regulations in this section shall Office. Regulations in this section shall apply to the conduct of members both on apply to the conduct of members both on and off duty. This type of conduct and off duty. This type of conduct includes:<P.3.2.10>includes:<P.3.2.10>


• A. Brings the Sheriff's Office into A. Brings the Sheriff's Office into disreputedisrepute

• B. Reflects discredit upon the B. Reflects discredit upon the individual as a member of the individual as a member of the Sheriff's OfficeSheriff's Office

• C. Tends to impair the operation, C. Tends to impair the operation, effectiveness or efficiency of the effectiveness or efficiency of the Sheriff's Office or its members.Sheriff's Office or its members.


• 9.9. Cooperation in InvestigationsCooperation in Investigations

• Members shall assist and Members shall assist and cooperate with any Sheriff's Office cooperate with any Sheriff's Office authorized investigation. authorized investigation.


• 10.10. Security of InformationSecurity of Information

• Members shall treat the Members shall treat the official business of the Sheriff's Office official business of the Sheriff's Office as confidential. Members do not:as confidential. Members do not:


• a.a. Access, review or remove any report or Access, review or remove any report or record for other than Sheriff's Office purposes;record for other than Sheriff's Office purposes;

• b.b. Communicate any information that may Communicate any information that may jeopardize an investigation, arrest, law jeopardize an investigation, arrest, law enforcement action or prosecution, or which enforcement action or prosecution, or which may aid a person to escape, destroy or may aid a person to escape, destroy or remove evidence remove evidence

• c.c. Communicate any information that may Communicate any information that may endanger the safety or well being of others or endanger the safety or well being of others or jeopardize the operation of the Sheriff's Office. jeopardize the operation of the Sheriff's Office.

Overview of Disciplinary Overview of Disciplinary ProcessProcess

• Review Disciplinary Process Review Disciplinary Process PresentationPresentation

Overview of Awards ProcessOverview of Awards Process

• Review presentation of Awards Review presentation of Awards ProcessProcess

Career Survival TipsCareer Survival Tips

• If you find yourself in an ethical If you find yourself in an ethical dilemma:dilemma:DO THE RIGHT THING-THE RIGHT WAY!DO THE RIGHT THING-THE RIGHT WAY!

• DON’T- Tarnish your long term record DON’T- Tarnish your long term record for a short term issue.for a short term issue.

• Talk to a trustworthy confidant before Talk to a trustworthy confidant before you make a decision if you are able.you make a decision if you are able.

• Get Help from somebody who’s been Get Help from somebody who’s been there.there.

Tips (cont)Tips (cont)

• If you become the subject of an IA:If you become the subject of an IA:a. TELL THE TRUTH!!!a. TELL THE TRUTH!!!b. Accept responsibility b. Accept responsibility c. Learn from your mistakec. Learn from your mistaked. Don’t repeat your mistaked. Don’t repeat your mistakee. Move on gracefully-others have. e. Move on gracefully-others have.

Tips (cont)Tips (cont)

• Remember, most IA’s are not career Remember, most IA’s are not career enders- LYING IS!enders- LYING IS!

• Most IA’s are survivable-don’t make Most IA’s are survivable-don’t make it worse by lying or refusal to accept it worse by lying or refusal to accept responsibility. responsibility.

Warning SignsWarning Signs

• BurnoutBurnout

• ApathyApathy

• BitternessBitterness

• Us vs. Them attitudeUs vs. Them attitude

• Everybody else is an Adam HenryEverybody else is an Adam Henry

Get Help before the fallGet Help before the fall

• If you or a co-worker exhibit are If you or a co-worker exhibit are experiencing any of these-GET HELP-experiencing any of these-GET HELP-before it gets worse.before it gets worse.

• Dr. Gilmartin’s bookDr. Gilmartin’s book

• Peer SupportPeer Support

• EAP- Pamphlets in hallwaysEAP- Pamphlets in hallways

• Health Care ProviderHealth Care Provider

My Goal?My Goal?

• To help you avoid making a career To help you avoid making a career ending mistake.ending mistake.

• Everybody retires under honorable Everybody retires under honorable conditions.conditions.

• Call me or a trusted friend before Call me or a trusted friend before something bad happens. Get help on something bad happens. Get help on the front end before it’s too late. the front end before it’s too late.

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• Questions or Comments?Questions or Comments?

Officer Survival: Ethical Considerations for Long Term Careers By Inspector J. Hutt July 12, 2007.

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Transcript of Officer Survival: Ethical Considerations for Long Term Careers By Inspector J. Hutt July 12, 2007.