Ethical Dilemma in the Police Force - Research Paper Example

Ethical Dilemma in the Police Force Introduction In order to define ethical dilemma and find various circumstances when a professional faces ethical dilemma, an understanding of the meaning of ethics is necessary. Ethics refer to established practices and standards of wrongful and rightful acts that professionals need to do in terms of specific virtues, benefits to the society, fairness, obligations and rights to people (Cahn, 2009). Ethics encompasses ethical standards, which include the virtues of loyalty, compassion and honesty. Another definition of ethics refers to the development and study of a person’s ethical standards. It is extremely important to check ones ethical standards since social norms, feelings and laws can deviate from what is ethical in the view of professionals. In this respect, ethics means the continuous study of moral conduct and beliefs and hard work to make sure that the organizations we work for practice the standards that are acceptable and firmly based. In respect to this, ethical dilemma refers to a situation where two or more choices are ethically questionable (Davis and Aroskar, 2010). The police profession is one aspect where ethical standards are enforced and implemented. Over the past years, study of ethics in the police force has expanded considerably due to cases of police brutality and corruption surfacing in the courtrooms and the media (Appiah, 2006). The original conception of the police force in England emphasized the need of the police to get the good will of the people to effectively do their policing roles. In England, the first instruction to police constables was in 1829 and it advocated for low temper from police officers, tolerance from foul language and should do their duty in a determined and quiet way since this will aid the officer in getting support from whomever he seeks it. In the United States, the officers never adhered to legal norms despite their training as law enforcers. The police were part of the political system used by local political organizations and no established code of conduct was in place. This paper will find the various codes of ethics in use by police officers, giving various ethical dilemmas police officers face. The questions to be answered by this paper are: What are the standards, codes of conducts practiced by the police force? What are the ethical dilemmas facing the police force? Ethical Conducts of Police Officers The following are codes of conduct governing police officers, (Herbefeld, 2006): To provide service to the public, protect property and lives and in the process shielding citizens from fraud and the vulnerable against oppression, the peaceful against aggression and to revere the constitutional rights of all to equality, liberty and justice. To keep their private life free from illegal activities to be emulated by all and act in a way that does not bring discretion to them and my agency. Maintaining courage and calm in the face of danger ridicule and scorn. Developing self-restraint and mindful of the welfare of others. Honesty in thought and deed in personal and official life and obeying the laws and regulations of a police officer. Anything confidential I see or hear in my official capacity as a law enforcement officer will be kept in secret unless revelation is necessary while on duty. To never let prejudices, personal feelings, aspirations, hatred or acquaintances manipulate their decisions. To not compromise with crime and with relentless prosecution of criminals, imposing the law considerately and properly without fear or favor, cruelty or ill will and never using force, violence or accepting gratuities. Recognizing the police badge as a sign of public confidence and trust. Never employing acts of fraud, corruption or condoning such acts by colleagues in the law enforcement agency. Cooperating with all legal bureaus and their agents in the pursuit of justice and law enforcement. A law enforcement officer is accountable for a high standard of skilled performance and should utilize each opportunity to develop and enhance level of understanding and proficiency. Constantly striving to do the above mentioned goals and ideals, dedication before God to the selected profession as a law enforcement officer Four Ethical Dilemmas Facing the Police: Use of Force Use of force is not a last mechanism for controlling a situation but it is necessary to convey group loyalty, achieve deterrence and some measures of justice (Garber, 2008). Force, instead of being the last means of controlling a situation, is extolled in the law enforcement officer’s sub-culture because of its ability to portray to the public that it is not a weak organization and depicting to other officers that the law enforcement officer can be counted on should one of them become a victim of a violent encounter. Therefore, using force brings loyalty to the police force as well as providing a measure of deterrence to those who might attack the police in future (Rachels, 1998). Force is in use by the police officers when they view the legal system is not enough in meting out punishment to criminals. In making decisions, as a police officer, I will only use lethal force as a last resort and where my life or a victim’s life is in danger. The theory that best describes this dilemma is consequentialism. This theory states that an action depends on the non-moral consequences the action brings about. It further states that we should do right and only right action in terms of evil and good (Foot, 1967). In using force as the last resort, a police officer will satisfy the requirements of this theory since it is good to save life by eliminating the life of the other person that threatens an innocent victim’s life i.e. using dire to do good. Time An officer can never respond too quickly to a call for police services, nor should they respond too slowly to a call. When not responding to calls for service, an officer’s time is for doing his/her personal issues. Given the nature of police work and the difficulty in carrying out direct supervisory role, officers enjoy much opportunities and time in defining their work (Appiah, 2006). This makes some officers relegate some calls to the status of social work or order-maintenance because they do not meet the standards of what is real police work as defined by their basic training instructors. Calls for services on crime fighting such as robbery have higher status because they give good opportunities for social rewards from administrators, the public and positive media coverage. When not responding to duties, an officer’s time is his and there is a strong incentive to skip duty by ignoring opportunities to engage in proactive forms of policing such as social work (Schmalleger, 2008). As an officer, I will respond to every call with diligence since I will not make a distinction between social disorder and criminal disorder. The theory in use is values clarification (philosophical relativism) (Foot, 1967). This theory observes that the most crucial element is not what an individual believes but awareness of personal values, feelings and belief system. Therefore, people will consider alternative models of acting and thinking and thus one develops their own values. Loyalty Do not trust anyone except your fellow officers; not the public or the media. Group loyalty provides protection from the hostile and unsympathetic administration and from real dangers of police work, and serves to give emotional support in performing difficult tasks (Rachels, 1998). Officers most times feel socially rejected by a public that inspired them to join the law enforcement agency. They learn that the most events and persons pose a problem for an officer later. The officer also learns that their bosses are concerned about managing the department’s image, reducing exposure to civil liability and satisfying other organizational demands than providing resources for combating crime (Garber, 2008). Therefore, police learn that loyalty is crucial for the group’s survival. This loyalty comes in the form of physical, legal and emotional support. Officers who do not offer total loyalty find themselves isolated within the police subculture. As a law enforcement officer, equal level of trust will be given to my fellow police officers, public and media since in fighting crime, we need each other in providing information about certain aspects of criminal activities. The theory that best supports this argument is utilitarianism (Foot, 1967). This theory states that the moral standard is promoting the best long-term interests of everyone concerned. In this aspect, the interests of the police officers, media and the public need to be promoted. Fringe Benefits Police do a difficult task, one that is dangerous and requires that they deal with society’s problems. Due to the dangers of the occupation and the clientage with which they interact with, police are highly underpaid (Spreen and Hollaway, 2003). Therefore, any rewards in appreciation or extended to their service are a form of deserved and proper compensation. Police departments usually prohibit accepting gratuities. However, merchants and citizens may wish to extend a gratuity to officers in the form of a free cup of coffee or discount as a gesture of appreciation. Organizational Policy prohibits their acceptance and the rationale for such policies is that acceptance may result in selective enforcement of the law and/or differential responses to calls for service. Despite these problems, officers see gratuities as a form of compensation for doing a difficult job that is woefully undercompensated. As a police officer, I will not accept gratuities and fringe benefits (Garber, 2008). This contravenes the code of ethics to be followed by law enforcement officers and amounts to abuse of office. The theory that best describes this approach is principal ethics theory. This theory states that principles are guidelines to action and when they meet each other in a conflict; it is not conflict in norms but in reasoning and logic (Foot, 1967). To accept gratuity or not depends on the principles and behavior of the police officer and the conflict therein is a conflict of logic and reasoning. Conclusion The police officers meet many ethical dilemmas while conducting their duties and on many occasions, they act out of the established codes of conduct. In order for police officers to effectively focus on their duties and act professionally in accordance to established principles and norms, reforms are essential. Police oversight authority needs to check the conduct of the police and given power to dismiss and hire police officers. Police officers need to undergo refresher courses sensitizing them on their ethical responsibilities and how to handle new forms of crime. After reforms, the transformation of the police force is imminent and will attract community participation from the public and positive media coverage. This is essential for building morale of the police officers. References Appiah, A. (2006). Cosmopolitanism: ethics in a world of strangers. New York: W.W. Norton & Co. Cahn, S. M. (2009). Exploring ethics: an introductory anthology. New York: Oxford University Press. Davis, A. J., Fowler, M. D., & Aroskar, M. A. (2010). Ethical dilemmas & nursing practice (5t ed.). Boston: Pearson. Foot, P. (1967). Theories of ethics. London: Oxford University Press. Garber, P. R. (2008). The ethical dilemma. Amherst, Mass.: HRD Press. Haberfeld, M. R. (2006). Police leadership. Upper Saddle River, N.J.: Pearson Prentice Hall. Rachels, J. (1998). Ethical theory. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Rafilson, F. M. (2005). Master the police officer exam (17th ed.). Lawrenceville, N.J.: Thomson Petersons. Sampson, F., & Silva, N. (2001). Police conduct, complaints & efficiency. London: Blackstone Press. Schmalleger, F. (2008). Criminal justice: a brief introduction (7th ed.). Upper Saddle River, N.J.: Pearson/Prentice Hall. Spreen, J. F., & Holloway, D. (2003). 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