1. It has come to my attention that some police officers are using their badges and identification to obtain discounts and free food at various places around the community. There have not been any complaints from the public about this and it also seems to be a long-standing practice amongst the officers, but there are rules and regulations that prohibit officers from doing this. Not only does this go against policy, but it is also unethical and is something that needs to be addressed.
2. When officers accept free food and discounts by showing their badge or identification, there may be implications on the police department. This can imply that police officers are above the law and that they are entitled to whatever they like because they are …show more content…
MAIN SUBJECT MATTER OF MEMO
3. There are also ethical concerns for the community in this situation. If businesses are giving away small items and discounts, they may feel like they can offer bigger items or bigger discounts as a bribe to the police officers since they are already accepting items and discounts. The bribe could entail the officers to turn a blind eye to any illegal dealings that the businesses may be doing or to get the police officers involved in their dealings. No matter how small or big the discount or the free items are, it be offering a bribe to a police …show more content…
This preventive training will impact performance in a positive way. Officers will know that they chose this occupation and a moral code to uphold and the public does not pay them for their services. They joined the police officer to protect and serve, not because they believe there may be some perks to having a badge. When officers are offered something for free or given a discount because they are a police officer, they will know to politely decline, pay the same price as everyone else, and let the business know that they are just doing their job and are not entitled to anything for doing their job. I believe police performance will thrive when officers know the importance of ethics and regulations and why those must be upheld at all times. I also think performance will thrive because those that cannot be ethical at all times or follow rules will no longer have the honor to hold a police badge. “The purpose of a code of ethics is to establish formal guidelines for ethical behavior and to eliminate the ambiguity that surrounds individual considerations of what is right and wrong behavior (U.S. Department of Justice, 1978: 18-22.” (Barker,
2. When officers accept free food and discounts by showing their badge or identification, there may be implications on the police department. This can imply that police officers are above the law and that they are entitled to whatever they like because they are …show more content…
MAIN SUBJECT MATTER OF MEMO
3. There are also ethical concerns for the community in this situation. If businesses are giving away small items and discounts, they may feel like they can offer bigger items or bigger discounts as a bribe to the police officers since they are already accepting items and discounts. The bribe could entail the officers to turn a blind eye to any illegal dealings that the businesses may be doing or to get the police officers involved in their dealings. No matter how small or big the discount or the free items are, it be offering a bribe to a police …show more content…
This preventive training will impact performance in a positive way. Officers will know that they chose this occupation and a moral code to uphold and the public does not pay them for their services. They joined the police officer to protect and serve, not because they believe there may be some perks to having a badge. When officers are offered something for free or given a discount because they are a police officer, they will know to politely decline, pay the same price as everyone else, and let the business know that they are just doing their job and are not entitled to anything for doing their job. I believe police performance will thrive when officers know the importance of ethics and regulations and why those must be upheld at all times. I also think performance will thrive because those that cannot be ethical at all times or follow rules will no longer have the honor to hold a police badge. “The purpose of a code of ethics is to establish formal guidelines for ethical behavior and to eliminate the ambiguity that surrounds individual considerations of what is right and wrong behavior (U.S. Department of Justice, 1978: 18-22.” (Barker,