Do Mooching, Chiseling, and Favoritism undermine police effectiveness - Research Paper Example

Police corruption Police has a man ensuring that they provide security and arrest lawbreakers irrespective of their position in public institution. Corruption being one of the main challenges that faces many governments, police officers are expected to retain high ethical standards and ensure that they treat all citizens with justice. In some cases, police are tempted to engage in corruption through different ways. DiscussionPolice officers sometimes use their power to get what they consider as unwritten benefits and as a result give favours to some individuals.

This involves mooching where police officers receive free gifts of either coffee, cigarettes meals etc in favour for favouritism (Siegel, 2009). This prevents the police from taking action towards that person when he/she violates the law. Mooching therefore reduce the powers embedded to the police by the public to arrest any law breaker. This creates a bad image of the force as they are viewed as powerless and ineffective. In addition, the officers are unable to undertake their mandate appropriately due to hindrances of gifts they received.

Instead they try to give back through ignoring the acts committed by the person (Siegel, 2009).ChisellingSometimes police officers are underpaid therefore finding it hard to reject offers offered by the public. They interact with these people in entertainment halls where they are likely to be given free or discounted admission to these areas. This binds them against efficient operations as they try to repay the favour they received in these places even if they were not in their line of duty. When these people violate the law police ignores their acts or they try to lenient when handling their cases.

This aspect has reduced efficiency in service delivery by the officers (Palmiotto, 2000).FavouritismSome officers are offered with new licence tabs and window stickers when purchasing a car. Mainly dealers in these materials avoid being given traffic citations by offering the officers with clean licence tabs and window stickers. These are even extended to their family, friends, wives. This makes it hard for other officers to conduct their operations as all these people seem to have legal documents although they are not genuine (Conser, Paynich, & Gingerich, 2011).

When an officer is favoured he/she not only makes it hard for him to conduct his operation but he/she hinders the operations of the other people. In extreme cases accidents occur as a result of favouritism. This is because people who favoured the police officers know clearly that even if they violate the law, they are unlikely to be arrested. This relationship which is based on favouritism deteriorates service delivery while at the same increasing cases of corruption as officers are unable run away from temptations and at the same time they do not arrest corrupt individuals who favoured them (Conser, Paynich, & Gingerich, 2011).

ConclusionIn order to reduce the attempts by bribers, the only solution is to increase remuneration of the police officers. This will enable them reject different bribes which hinders them from enforcing the law. In addition performance appraisal should be followed in rewarding officers that are performing well. This appraisal should also be used in promoting and demoting these officers. ReferencesConser, J. A., Paynich, R., & Gingerich, T. E. (2011). Law Enforcement in the United States. Jones & Bartlett Publishers.

Palmiotto, M. (2000). Community Policing: A Policing Strategy for the 21st Century. Jones & Bartlett Learning. Siegel, L. J. (2009). Introduction to Criminal Justice. New York: Cengage learning.