Affirmative Action Issues

Affirmative action is another issue that should be addressed. Affirmative action was not addressed with the interviewees due to time constraints, but is an issue that was brought up during the past summer in regards to high profile incidents between police officers and minorities. The question was posed by several news outlets that a lot of police departments did not represent the community in which they served. This can pose a problem in regards to the fact that some minority candidates may be recruited based off of race and not qualifications. On the one hand, it is argued, in a racially and ethnically diverse country the needs of the citizens can be met and their rights upheld only if their police departments represent the minorities. On the other hand, some argue that job opportunities and advancement should be based on past accomplishments and current performance irrespective of race or ethnic background (Delattre, 2011). The mass hiring of officers just because they meet a color quota could allow for those who have bad ethical traits to join the department. These officers may not have the departments or the public’s best interest at heart and may be looking to pursue person gratification through illegal means. This is not to say that this is a guarantee, but hiring to fill a …show more content…
Cops that display bad ethical character do not and should not be allowed to tarnish the reputation of police departments. Public trust should not be betrayed for financial or personal gain. No excuse or theory can justify one’s misuse of authority. Civil and constitutional rights must be upheld no matter the noble cause. The noble cause of corruption is not an excuse when it comes to due process of the law. There is always an option for police officers who cannot or do not want to follow the department’s policies. They can always choose another line of