Police Ethics

The objective of this book is to provide law enforcement officers and supervisors with an understanding of ethical behavior as it relates to the police occupation. This book is based on the premise that an ethical crisis has always existed in law enforcement and is the result of the nature of the police occupation created by the Metropolitan Police Act of 1829. Policing is and always has been a morally dangerous occupation. There are four questions that are critical to the understanding of the ethical problems of the American law enforcement community. These questions are: (1) Is law enforcement a profession? (2) Can law enforcement officers be professional? (3) What forms of behavior are the major law enforcement ethical violations? and (4) Can we control police ethical violations? At times the answers to these questions will be disturbing to some, particularly those who believe that rhetoric, denial, and blaming others are the solutions to the ethical crisis. Additional topics include the Law Enforcement Code of Ethics, corrupt practices, police misconduct, and control of ethical violations. The moral dangers of this occupation are discussed in detail, and the reader will realize how important ethical standards are for police officers. This book will serve as a guide for new officers and a refresher for experienced officers as we move the occupation forward and make policing a profession that is real.