Part 2 The Police Role in Society-
Ch. 6
In the beginning, the police were indeed public servants, and performed social service duties. However, graft was rampant, and the force generally served those in power. The “Professional” movement of the 1920’s diminished the police’s social service responsibilities and focused more on the law. General training requirements were instituted and the police became somewhat detached from the communities they served.
More recently, we have seen a move toward “community policing,” which brought the police closer to the community, as the police and community sought to work together to solve problems. Rather than just respond to crime, the police were now engaged in the process of trying to prevent crime by helping to solve the underlying problems that lead to disorder and crime. Departments experienced quite a bit of resistance from veteran officers, who balked at what they considered a return toward “social work” duties. Most recently, the post-9/11 environment has been one of stricter crime fighting and an emphasis on security first.
Next the author defines the related terms of force, power, persuasion, and authority, and revisits the concept of the Social Contract. Here, students can see that the purpose of the police is to wield the minimum amount of force necessary to achieve a safe and secure society. In performing their duties, police officers use discretion every day, and should do so ethically. Discretion is the authority to choose between two or more courses of action.
To guide their use of discretion, use of force, etc, police officers adopt a formal code of ethics. A formal code of ethics is one of the characteristics of a “profession.” Codes of ethics for police departments should include four elements: fairness, service to the community, primacy of the law, and a high standard of personal conduct.
Of course, the occupation of law enforcement is unique in several ways. One of these unique characteristics is the fact that the duties and experiences of police officers are different from any other occupation, and can lead to the creation of a police “subculture.” Common within police culture is a strong sense of loyalty to other police officers and a general disdain for the public. Due process is seen as a barrier that prevents officers from doing their job and removing the criminal element from the community. These perceptions, as well as the danger involved in the job, can influence one’s use of on-the-job discretion.
The common belief among police officers that they are united in a fight against crime can lead to an acceptance of rule-breaking, which is often referred to as “noble cause.” In other words, it may be wrong to lie on the witness stand or to plant evidence, but it is being done for the “noble cause” of ensuring that guilty offenders are convicted. Related to the “noble cause” is the “curtain of secrecy” that police officers maintain. This means they do not report each others’ violations, and may engage in covering up mistakes or violations of suspect rights. We see here the effects of a detached police department, and can see that there are egoistic and utilitarian reasons for covering up the errors or transgressions of fellow officers. The author suggests that the “noble cause” and “blue curtain of secrecy” are less evident today than in the past, thanks to increased diversity among the front-line ranks, threat of lawsuit, and better relationships between officers and administrators (some of which was brought about by the unions).
More recently, we have seen a move toward “community policing,” which brought the police closer to the community, as the police and community sought to work together to solve problems. Rather than just respond to crime, the police were now engaged in the process of trying to prevent crime by helping to solve the underlying problems that lead to disorder and crime. Departments experienced quite a bit of resistance from veteran officers, who balked at what they considered a return toward “social work” duties. Most recently, the post-9/11 environment has been one of stricter crime fighting and an emphasis on security first.
Next the author defines the related terms of force, power, persuasion, and authority, and revisits the concept of the Social Contract. Here, students can see that the purpose of the police is to wield the minimum amount of force necessary to achieve a safe and secure society. In performing their duties, police officers use discretion every day, and should do so ethically. Discretion is the authority to choose between two or more courses of action.
To guide their use of discretion, use of force, etc, police officers adopt a formal code of ethics. A formal code of ethics is one of the characteristics of a “profession.” Codes of ethics for police departments should include four elements: fairness, service to the community, primacy of the law, and a high standard of personal conduct.
Of course, the occupation of law enforcement is unique in several ways. One of these unique characteristics is the fact that the duties and experiences of police officers are different from any other occupation, and can lead to the creation of a police “subculture.” Common within police culture is a strong sense of loyalty to other police officers and a general disdain for the public. Due process is seen as a barrier that prevents officers from doing their job and removing the criminal element from the community. These perceptions, as well as the danger involved in the job, can influence one’s use of on-the-job discretion.
The common belief among police officers that they are united in a fight against crime can lead to an acceptance of rule-breaking, which is often referred to as “noble cause.” In other words, it may be wrong to lie on the witness stand or to plant evidence, but it is being done for the “noble cause” of ensuring that guilty offenders are convicted. Related to the “noble cause” is the “curtain of secrecy” that police officers maintain. This means they do not report each others’ violations, and may engage in covering up mistakes or violations of suspect rights. We see here the effects of a detached police department, and can see that there are egoistic and utilitarian reasons for covering up the errors or transgressions of fellow officers. The author suggests that the “noble cause” and “blue curtain of secrecy” are less evident today than in the past, thanks to increased diversity among the front-line ranks, threat of lawsuit, and better relationships between officers and administrators (some of which was brought about by the unions).
Community Policing-
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| broken_windows-student_edition.pdf |
Police Culture Today
1. Increasing diversity of police recruits
2. Police Unions are have more and more increasing power AB 301 rights
3. Civil Litigation has increased the risk of covering for another officer.
4. An informal subculture is described as:
a. Orientation to law enforcement, an ever changing dynamic
b. Orientation to order maintenance
c. Orientation to community policing
d. Aggressiveness
e. Selectivity
f. distrust of citizens
and
g. Perceptions of citizen cooperation
2. Police Unions are have more and more increasing power AB 301 rights
3. Civil Litigation has increased the risk of covering for another officer.
4. An informal subculture is described as:
a. Orientation to law enforcement, an ever changing dynamic
b. Orientation to order maintenance
c. Orientation to community policing
d. Aggressiveness
e. Selectivity
f. distrust of citizens
and
g. Perceptions of citizen cooperation
Power and Discretion-
Power -means to achieve domination
Discretion- Authority to make a decision between 2 or more choices.
Formal Ethics for Police Officers
The Law Enforcement Code of Ethics
As a Law Enforcement Officer, my fundamental duty is to serve mankind; to safeguard lives and property; to protect the innocent against deception, the weak against oppression or intimidation, and the peaceful against violence or disorder; and to respect the Constitutional rights of all men to liberty, equality and justice.
I will keep my private life unsullied as an example to all; maintain courageous calm in the face of danger, scorn, or ridicule; develop self-restraint; and be constantly mindful of the welfare of others. Honest in thought and deed in both my personal and official life, I will be exemplary in obeying the laws of the land and the regulations of my department. Whatever I see or hear of a confidential nature or that is confided to me in my official capacity will be kept ever secret unless revelation is necessary in the performance of my duty.
I will never act officiously or permit personal feelings, prejudices, animosities, or friendships to influence my decisions. With no compromise for crime and with relentless prosecution of criminals, I will enforce the law courteously and appropriately without fear or favor, malice or ill will, never employing unnecessary force or violence and never accepting gratuities.
I recognize the badge of my office as a symbol of public faith, and I accept it as a public trust to be held so long as I am true to the ethics of the police service. I will constantly strive to achieve these objectives and ideals, dedicating myself before God to my chosen profession...law enforcement.
I will keep my private life unsullied as an example to all; maintain courageous calm in the face of danger, scorn, or ridicule; develop self-restraint; and be constantly mindful of the welfare of others. Honest in thought and deed in both my personal and official life, I will be exemplary in obeying the laws of the land and the regulations of my department. Whatever I see or hear of a confidential nature or that is confided to me in my official capacity will be kept ever secret unless revelation is necessary in the performance of my duty.
I will never act officiously or permit personal feelings, prejudices, animosities, or friendships to influence my decisions. With no compromise for crime and with relentless prosecution of criminals, I will enforce the law courteously and appropriately without fear or favor, malice or ill will, never employing unnecessary force or violence and never accepting gratuities.
I recognize the badge of my office as a symbol of public faith, and I accept it as a public trust to be held so long as I am true to the ethics of the police service. I will constantly strive to achieve these objectives and ideals, dedicating myself before God to my chosen profession...law enforcement.
| pollock_ethics_8e_ch05.ppt |
| pollock_ethics_8e_ch06.ppt |
Break out Groups- In your group and based on conversations in previous classes, build a guide for officers to follow.
Each group is an organization, develop a policy and procedure for gratuities.
Class time 20 minutes.
Police Brutality
Videotaped on November 29, 2008 in Seatac, Washington in a City Hall jail cell, after 15-year-old female suspect, Malika Calhoun, is taken into custody under suspicion of car theft. Upon being ordered to remove her shoes by King County Deputy Paul Schene, Calhoun loosens her shoe, and defiantly kicks it towards the officer. Right the shoe appears to make contact with the officer's shin, Schene lunges at the girl, brutally assaulting her over and over again, while his partner stands by and watches.
