Police officers follow a strict code of ethics. Ethics is essentially the moral obligation police officers have to act in ways that are just and proper. In order to make sure a work environment remains ethical, it is crucial for agencies to hire candidates with excellent character and a professional attitude.
It is important for an officer to use their own judgment when dealing with different situations. Community policing requires officers to use discretion when it comes to building relationships and solving problems.
Police misconduct can be divided into two distinct groups: physical and emotional abuse and corruption. American police have a long, unfortunate history in both these areas, which has lead to a somewhat distrusting opinion of police officers among the general public.
Attempts to control corruption are ongoing, but since corruption involves the misuse of an official position, it can be hard to detect at times.
There are various types of police corruption including the most common -- corruption of authority.
The videotaped beating of Rodney King by a group of Los Angeles police officers back in 1992 and the Abner Louima case in New York City brought police brutality to the public’s attention. In actuality, most forms of physical violence are rare, but when it does occur, it affects officers across the country.
Another ethical decision facing cops is the decision to use deadly force. This can be a problem when it occurs frequently or in situations where it was not necessary. Strict gun control measures have been taken to reduce the number of officers who resort to or are victims of deadly forces.
This course discusses the importance of ethics in policing. It will focus on police misconduct and corruption as well as the consequences for these actions.
By the end of this course, students will be familiar with the following terms: ethics, professionalism, discretion, unintended consequences, quotas, malfeasance, corruption, kickbacks and excessive force.