Career Survival Strategies Law Enforcement Ethics

Objectives Define the terms ethics & professionalism. 4/19/2017 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. Relate Rodney King Case, Elian Gonzales, LAPD Rampart Division, etc.

Individual Exercise The Ideal Police Officer 4/19/2017 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? The instructor will lead a class discussion of personal qualities of the ideal police officer. Each student will provide at least one example. The reasoning behind each example will be examined.

4/19/2017 Ethics The principles of honor and morality; Accepted rules of conduct; The principles of conduct governing an individual or group. Without clear boundaries of expected behavior how can we expect to earn the public trust. Standards of Conduct help to ensure the professionalism of police work that all of us should strive for. Judges have told me that they can no longer believe the testimony of officers over citizens. This is a scary situation. The judges have caught the officers being unethical in a situation, therefore they tend to discount further testimony even if truthful.

Ethics in Action “Doing the right thing, at the right time, in the right way” Example – “Golden Rule”

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]

Professions Professions or “callings” require an ethical adherence to a code of behavior Examples of Professionals - Doctor - Minister - Social Worker - Teacher - Attorney

Is Law Enforcement a Profession? 4/19/2017 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? Introduce the code of ethics here

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.

Ethical Qualities Honesty Respect Compassion Integrity Courtesy 4/19/2017 Ethical Qualities Honesty Respect Compassion Integrity Courtesy Diversity Trustworthiness Courage Empathy Fair

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

Unethical Behavior Dishonesty / Perjury Brutality Racial Prejudice 4/19/2017 Unethical Behavior Dishonesty / Perjury Brutality Racial Prejudice Soliciting or Accepting Gratuities Violation of Laws or Department Regulations Discourteous Conduct Misuse of discretion Explore Gratuities -- Does the officer’s department have a policy on this issue. What do the officers believe they are gaining/losing by the acceptance of gratuities. Show Video Tape Ethics - New Orleans Police Department

Unethical Behavior Divulging confidential information 4/19/2017 Unethical Behavior Divulging confidential information Falsifying reports Excessive use of alcohol Extramarital affairs Gambling Illegal Drugs Theft

Unethical Behavior Violations of Civil Rights: - Illegal search - False arrest - Right to an attorney - Right to bail

Unethical Behavior Consequences 4/19/2017 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 Without public respect, it is almost impossible to do your job. Police authority only goes as far as the public lets it go. Police forces are not in the business of forcing entire communities into compliance. We rely on the public to voluntarily respect what we as police are trying to accomplish. Go over some Academy board de-certification hearings you have witnessed.

Unethical Behavior Consequences Department Embarrassment Fellow Officers feel emotional and professional impact Your pride in yourself and your profession is lessoned or lost

Making the right ethical decisions 4/19/2017 Making the right ethical decisions Ask Yourself: 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? Imagine a member of your family rides with you every day and observes your actions. Remind students that not only is the media a great presence today, technology is everywhere. Just because you live in an area without a TV Station does not mean a private citizen is video taping your actions. Explore the citizen angle. If the tables were turned, would the officer be comfortable with how he is being treated.

Ethical Behavior; Are your actions right or wrong? 4/19/2017 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 Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.

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

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:

An Ethical Officer’s Motto 4/19/2017 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. As we discussed earlier in the week, we all occasionally lose our tempers. Anger can easily lead to unethical behavior. If you witness this, you have a duty to stop whatever is occurring. The method need not be confrontational. You simply must step in and take control

Ethics begin and end with YOU 4/19/2017 Ethics begin and end with YOU Ethics is a personal choice.