Introduction

            Police ethics also termed as criminal justice ethics is basically the study of ethical standards as they are applicable in the field of law enforcement. Ethics is regarded as being a set of principles of moral values that aid in governing individual conduct or that of the members of a profession. The ethical courses are needed by individuals who desire to be recruited as the law enforcement officers (Barker, 2011). The main focus for them on the subject matter that is principally guided social values and the needs of social institutions. From these perspectives, it implies that the law enforcement institutions are compelled to function according to the formulated police practices as well as the ethical guidelines that are consistent with societal standards. The reason behind that is because it is one of the platforms that assist in maintaining public trust whilst executing their daily duties (Payam, 2016).

            Nevertheless, police ethics have been perceived to be an important aspect of the modern law enforcement system which aid in facilitating efficient crime control practices in the society. It, therefore, implies that it is the combination of standards, training, and law that also assists police offers with the capability of controlling and maintaining ethical behaviors while on duty. Having the means of ensuring that force has been used legitimately while holding a certain position of authority requires police officers to ensure that they adhered to strict ethical or moral standards to evade corrupt or controversial abuses of power (Payam, 2016). The need of policing the community is essential because it assist in bringing moral situations into greater consideration that revolves around situations, such as, citizens complaints, cultural profiling, immoral investigations, deployment of force, departmental affairs, procedural justice, recruitment and mediation, and so on.

Law enforcement and community values

            According to research, since police ethics are perceived to be the rules that guide the behaviors of the law enforcement officers, they are mainly based on all that the society considers to be right or wrong. What this implies is the fact although the definitions of wrong or right might keep on changing over time; ethics will have to remain constant. Despite that, what be deemed as to be ethically wrong or right can also differ greatly from what is regarded being legally right or wrong. In the law enforcement institutions, ethical standards also incorporate other values, for instance, allegiance, courage, integrity (Biggs & Naimi, 2012). Values are basically individual behaviors and ideas that assist in shaping ethical ideals in police departments. The reason for that is because research indicates that personal values are also shaped by situations such as personal experiences, upbringing, ethnicity, and religious beliefs. What individuals who desire to be enrolled as law enforcement officers need to understand is the fact that these values have to align with the beliefs and the culture of their society or the people they serve. Ideally, each person has unique values and therefore might not be considered as being an appropriate foundation for police professional ethics (Haberfeld et al., 2004).

Law enforcement oath

            An oat is basically a formal promise that a person makes voluntarily whenever he or she honestly intend to do what he or she says. Usually, law enforcement officers do take an oath as a way of promising to uphold the law. Obviously, the oath consists of provisions concerning upholding, protecting, as well as defending an individual’s country. It, of course, incorporates the pledges to act honorably, honestly, soberly, to shun offensive behaviors, as well as to obey the directives of senior officials within each department. In the process of taking such an oath, the police officer promises to be upstanding citizens as well as being part of the solutions and not part of the problems. This also takes into account the need of pledging to follow their departmental rules, without considering whether they like them or not (Haberfeld et al., 2004).

            Nonetheless, what they have to understand once they have taken the oath is the fact that they will be held responsible to higher standards as compared to the general public. Since they take an oath to serve and protect, part of their duties will entail to be ‘above reproach’, whether on duty or not. Each state, federal, or country has their own standard operating procedures (SOPs) that assist in regulating the does and don’ts of the law enforcement officers. Essentially, these regulations are aimed at protecting their departments and not them (Popa et al., 2012). It is the responsibilities of the police officer to be conscious with their departmental ethical behaviors through behaving morally when on duty or off duty. Additionally, in the process of acting honorably, it is anticipated that all police officers must admit their mistakes. Naturally, more respect can easily be reserved for those officers who admit that they messed up as compared to those who deny or lay the blame to others (Biggs & Naimi, 2012).  Truthfully, there are high chances of a person getting fired faster when he or she lies which in return will ruin his or her law enforcement career. It is, therefore, important for the law enforcement officer to understand what the oath truly means.

Code of ethics

            Codes of ethics are regarded as being the instructional aids that are established by the law enforcement departments to assist police officers in defining expectations and standards of behavior. Any law enforcement officer is anticipated to ensure that he or she has complied with code of ethics through outlining all the guidelines to moral behavior. In order to be more effective, what this implies is the fact the code of ethics ought to be part of their demeanor. It is also their responsibility to ensure that they have learned on how to ethically live and think so as to evade conflicting behaviors (Martin, 2011). Although the oath office assist in laying the groundwork for fostering ethical behavior, the majority of the agencies end up codifying the practices that they desire to promote as well as those they anticipate law enforcement officers to avoid. The reason for that is because it has the likelihood of guiding them towards ethical decision-making.

            Nevertheless, there are certain provisions within the organization’s code of ethics that to promote safeguarding property and lives, the significance of avoiding prejudice, as well as the acknowledgement that the emblem is an icon of public trust. This is to imply that police officers ought to ready always to follow and enforce the law. They are expected to be good examples to the general public as well as demonstrate to them how to behave morally, rather than some of the entitlement mentality they are accused of displaying so often ((Popa et al., 2012). The following are some of the requirements that are stipulated by the code of ethics

1. a) Primary responsibilities- On the other hand, it is the responsibility of the police officer to ensure that he or she has acted as the representative of the state who is trusted and obligated to execute their duties just within the law. The powers and the duties of the law enforcement officer are always bestowed by statute. Maintaining peace, serving the community, protecting property and the lives of the privileged, and the innocent, guaranteeing the rights to all to justice, equity, and liberty are some of the primary duties of police officers (How the New Ethics Code Will Affect Your Standards, 2019).
2. b) Execution of duties- according to the codes of ethical standards, all law enforcement officials are required to perform their work impartially without ill will, affection or favor, and without consideration to religion, race, political aspirations or beliefs, or status. It is the right of any person to be created with dignity, consideration, courtesy. They should not allow friendships, animosity, or personal feeling to be the basis for influencing their official conduct. They have the task of ensuring that the law has been enforced courteously and appropriately and when on duty, it is important for the officers to ensure they harnessed maximum collaboration from the general public. This in return has the potential of inspiring respect and confidence (Davis, 1991).
3. c) Discretion- police officers are required to utilize the discretion vested in their position responsibly as well as exercise it just within the law. The determinations of the officer will have to be guided by the principle of sensibleness or reasonableness. It is also important for the officer to take into consideration the nature of the surroundings before deciding whether to take any legal action of not. The wise and consistent use of discretion is something that is relied on professional policing competences, which in return aid in preserving better relationships as well as retaining the assurance of the general public. Although there might be difficulties in deciding between disagreeing courses of action, it is vital to use timely word of advice to assist in correcting such a situation (Martin, 2011).
4. d) The application of force and confidentiality– any police officer is not required to employ pointless violence or force. He or she can only use force in the expulsion of responsibility only in a reasonable circumstance. Although at times the deployment of force can be seldom unavoidable, it is important for the officer to ensure that he or she has refrained from applying the unnecessary infliction of suffering or pain. Moreover, whenever a law enforcement official learns, hears, sees about something that is confidential in nature, it is important for him or her to keep it a secret unless legal provision or performance of duty necessitates him to react. Since each person has the right to privacy and security, any information collected from them should not be inappropriately divulged (How the New Ethics Code Will Affect Your Standards, 2019).
5. e) Integrity – according to the ethical code of conduct, it unethical for a police officer to participate in bribery and corruption or overlook such acts. The demand of the general public is that the integrity of the police officer ought to be relatively above reproach. Therefore, he or she should ensure that they have avoided any activities that could compromise their integrity and in return destabilize the confidence of the public with their law enforcement agency. Likewise, police officers should not accept favors, presents, gifts, promises, or gratuities which can make them to refrain executing official duties within the law and sincerely. Public respect is something that is cultivated and not for purchase (Schlossberger, 2016).
6. e) Collaboration with others – it mandated for all police officers to ensure that they have legally cooperated with other authorized agencies as well as other associate representatives. The reason for that is because it is their agency with the collaboration with other that has the potential of ensuring that they have the required law enforcement services just within the area of jurisdiction. What this implies is the fact that it is imperative for them to assist their coworkers to comply with the required ethical standards (Tyler, 2016).
7. f) Professional or personal capabilities – the ethical standards stipulates that it is the responsibility of the law enforcement officers to ensure that they have understood their obligations when it comes to the need of taking reasonable opportunity that fosters the need of improving their competence and knowledge. Through experience and study, it is possible for any police officer to have the likelihood of acquiring such parameters that will boost his or her duty performance effectively. The reason for that is because the acquisition of knowledge is not something easy taking into account their professional and personal developmental skills. Ideally, it is important for the officers to ensure that they have behaved in a way that do not induce discredit to their departments or themselves (Martin, 2011). The reason for that is because it is their duty to ensure that they maintained a position of individual respect within the community that they serve.

Conclusion

            According to this study, it evident that each country end up adopting or drafting national code of ethics that any law enforcement officer is anticipated to abide by. As a result of that what this is the fact that each state will have the propensity of enabling police departments to adopt the code of conduct they consider suits the requirements of their society. What this implies that it is the responsibility of the law enforcement officers to ensure that they have managed to think as well as act ethically in the eyes of the general public. Any situation the officials might be in, the response he or she might have to take has two main factors that are, action and reaction.  The reaction is perceived to be an individual emotional response while the action is regarded to be the manner in which the officer handles the situation.

            On the other hand, ethical training that the police officer do receive is aimed at ensuring it has enabled the need of understanding the significance of responding to actions that are law abiding as well as taking personal motivation into consideration. Any action that forces a police officer to do the wrong thing just for a wrong cannot be regarded as being one of the means of acting ethically. It, therefore, implies that when a police officer fails to act ethically is what will ultimately result to the continued of loss of public trust, jeopardizing investigations, as well as exposing departments or agencies to liability issues.

            Nonetheless, it is the responsibility of the police officers to ensure that they have collaborated together taking into consideration the public demands. Although it is paramount for them to lead by example, it is important for them to ensure that they have followed the principles of policing, make hard choices that compel them to ensure that they have done the right thing regardless of the situation they might be in. It is through acting right that can enable them to offer the level of services that the community desires as well as enabling them to make a huge difference in their life and the life of others.

            Regardless of the negative behaviors that the general public could have noted from the few, the truth is that there are some police officers who are dedicated to work and remain to be truly good. Such individuals have been noted to have the ability of striving to work towards serving the general public as well as doing the right thing. What this implies is the fact any single disreputable action by any police officer is what will result to the termination of his or her work. Although all law enforcement officers might act and look the same in the eyes of the general public, the truth is that individual behaviors is what distinguishes them. Last, but not least, due to the fact that police ethics are ultimately based on social values, it becomes easy to discern the differences that exists between right and wrong.

 

 

 

 

                                                            References

Barker, T. (2011). Police Ethics : Crisis in Law Enforcement (Vol. 3rd ed). Springfield, Ill: Charles C Thomas. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=nlebk&AN=385602&site=eds-live

Biggs, B. A., & Naimi, L. L. (2012). Ethics in Traditional Policing: Reflecting on a Paramilitary Paradigm. Franklin Business & Law Journal, 2012(4), 19–39. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=bth&AN=85669472&site=eds-live

Davis, M. (1991). Do cops really need a code of ethics? Criminal Justice Ethics, 10(2), 14. https://doi.org/10.1080/0731129X.1991.9991900

Haberfeld, M. R., Klockars, C. B., & Kutnjak Ivković, S. (2004). The Contours of Police Integrity. Thousand Oaks, Calif: SAGE Publications, Inc. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=nlebk&AN=474636&site=eds-live

How the New Ethics Code Will Affect Your Standards. (2019). CPA Journal, 89(5), 11–13. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=bth&AN=136413928&site=eds-live

MARTIN, R. (2011). An Analytical Look into Police Ethics. FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin, 80(5), 11–17. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=aph&AN=64282379&site=eds-live

Payam, M. M. (2016). Police Officers’ and Candidates’ Views on Professionally Unethical Behaviors: The Elazığ and Malatya Case. Turkish Journal of Business Ethics, 9(1), 20–24. https://doi.org/10.12711/tjbe.2016.9.0002

POPA, M., NAGHI, M., & ISOPESCU, A. G. (2012). Code of Professional Ethics of the Police Officers - Instrument for Behavior Improvement. Managerial Challenges of the Contemporary Society, (4), 110–116. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=bth&AN=97821296&site=eds-live

Schlossberger, E. (2016). Engineering Codes of Ethics and the Duty to Set a Moral Precedent. Science & Engineering Ethics, 22(5), 1333–1344. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11948-015-9708-3

Tyler, N. (2016). Talking Ethics with Cops : A Practical Guide. Springfield, Illinois: Charles C Thomas. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=nlebk&AN=1403251&site=eds-live