This paper explores how ethics has affected the law enforcement community. The Oath of
Honor as well as the law enforcement Code of Ethics will be explored in detail to give one a better understanding of the expectations and ethical issues facing all law enforcement officers.
Examples will show how everyday decisions affect the law officer’s life as well as those of the community. Everyday heroes putting their lives on the line to “Protect and serve.”
Ethics in Law Enforcement Rodney King. A name that does not need defined for most people middle age and older. To some, the name is synonymous with police brutality, injustice and hatred. Others may have a different view point. What people can agree on is that the name …show more content…
First we will review the Oath of Honor to see how it relates to ethics and the law enforcement officer. “On my honor” – What is honor? What does it mean to be honorable? What does it mean to honor others? In this text, the word honor is defined by Merriam Webster (n.d.) as: One 's word is given as a guarantee. A law enforcement officer’s honor is emphasized and should be of upmost importance to the officer so that when challenged in a court of law his or her word is spoken with conviction and truth. “I will never betray my badge, my integrity, my character, or the public trust.” – How does one define what to betray means? Is it an opinion or are there straight facts of what betrayal is? Does the code of ethics, which we will discuss later, set the perimeters of what would constitute what betrayal would be? The word betray, is defined by the I.A.C.P. (2000) as
“breaking faith with the public trust”. Does a police officer betray the public trust when they are told information and they then have to use that information to testify in court against that person?
Does betrayal depend more on what each person has as their own philosophy of life? The …show more content…
Regardless of the situation, the badge is recognized as a universal symbol of authority and order. When a badge is shown in a situation, the community has expectations of what the officer is going to do, whether positive or negative, depending on their prior experiences with law enforcement. The badge is also a symbol of integrity. Integrity is described by the IACP (2000) as being the same person in both private and public life. The single most important quality a law enforcement officer can develop is the value of integrity. It will influence every part of one’s life. Having integrity means being totally honest and truthful in every part of life; personally and professionally. Integrity is a value, like persistence, courage, and intelligence. It is a choice of values and a resolution to live by those values that form your character and personality. It is integrity that enhances all your other values. The quality of person you are is determined by how well you live up to the values that are most important to you.
According to Love (2004), integrity is the quality that locks in your values and causes you to live consistent with them.
Character means the qualities that distinguish an individual. A simple definition of character
Honor as well as the law enforcement Code of Ethics will be explored in detail to give one a better understanding of the expectations and ethical issues facing all law enforcement officers.
Examples will show how everyday decisions affect the law officer’s life as well as those of the community. Everyday heroes putting their lives on the line to “Protect and serve.”
Ethics in Law Enforcement Rodney King. A name that does not need defined for most people middle age and older. To some, the name is synonymous with police brutality, injustice and hatred. Others may have a different view point. What people can agree on is that the name …show more content…
First we will review the Oath of Honor to see how it relates to ethics and the law enforcement officer. “On my honor” – What is honor? What does it mean to be honorable? What does it mean to honor others? In this text, the word honor is defined by Merriam Webster (n.d.) as: One 's word is given as a guarantee. A law enforcement officer’s honor is emphasized and should be of upmost importance to the officer so that when challenged in a court of law his or her word is spoken with conviction and truth. “I will never betray my badge, my integrity, my character, or the public trust.” – How does one define what to betray means? Is it an opinion or are there straight facts of what betrayal is? Does the code of ethics, which we will discuss later, set the perimeters of what would constitute what betrayal would be? The word betray, is defined by the I.A.C.P. (2000) as
“breaking faith with the public trust”. Does a police officer betray the public trust when they are told information and they then have to use that information to testify in court against that person?
Does betrayal depend more on what each person has as their own philosophy of life? The …show more content…
Regardless of the situation, the badge is recognized as a universal symbol of authority and order. When a badge is shown in a situation, the community has expectations of what the officer is going to do, whether positive or negative, depending on their prior experiences with law enforcement. The badge is also a symbol of integrity. Integrity is described by the IACP (2000) as being the same person in both private and public life. The single most important quality a law enforcement officer can develop is the value of integrity. It will influence every part of one’s life. Having integrity means being totally honest and truthful in every part of life; personally and professionally. Integrity is a value, like persistence, courage, and intelligence. It is a choice of values and a resolution to live by those values that form your character and personality. It is integrity that enhances all your other values. The quality of person you are is determined by how well you live up to the values that are most important to you.
According to Love (2004), integrity is the quality that locks in your values and causes you to live consistent with them.
Character means the qualities that distinguish an individual. A simple definition of character