Respond to this students posting. In your response, you may want to comment on the ethical issues
Question:
Respond to this students posting. In your response, you may want to comment on the ethical issues that arise in different career fields or give suggestions for dealing with the ethical questions that have been posted.
5 Important Ethical Issues within Law Enforcement-
- Being honest about probable cause, mistakes on the job, and following departmental regulations.
- Using a necessary use of force in instances that require it.
- Appearing and acting professional both on and off the job.
- Work within the best interest of the community you are protecting and act courageously.
- Use your discretion and position of power appropriately and morally.
Ethical Issues Facing Law Enforcement-
Issue 1: It's not uncommon to hear stories about corrupt police officers. Because of corruption within policing in the past, legal precedents had to be set to reduce it. Although there are rules and consequences against corruption, the best way to eliminate police corruption is to be honest.
Honesty is an important virtue to have within a field that is riddled with corruption and unethical acts. Honest officers tend not to find themselves in situations where they can abuse their power. Instead of lying about probable cause, honest law enforcement will use their power and discretion justifiably through these standards. If you make a mistake, own up to it. You never want to lie to your heads of the department and you especially never want to lie about evidence. Not only can you face departmental consequences, but you can be placed on the Brady List which will hold your name down forever. (Barabino, 2021).
According to the IACP's Code of Ethics, honesty in both your personal and work life is an important virtue to have. This includes following the law and following departmental regulations. It's a known issue that many police believe they are above the law. Some may drive under the influence of alcohol or abuse their position of power to commit crimes. Following the code of ethics ensures that you can be trusted by the community and others in your department. Honesty is a key component of success in the criminal justice field, and it's one of the most important ethical virtues you can have.
Issue 2: Police officers are held to a high standard since they are tasked with using their power to help the community they are protecting. With this high standard comes professionalism.
Remaining professional both on and off duty is important for not only your reputation and image but also for your department's image and reputation. Law enforcement officers are held to a higher standard than most jobs because of the importance and power bestowed within the job. To add to that, a good portion of the power is received from the community, if they search an officer's social media accounts or see an officer in public intoxicated and ignorant or sharing political views, the community member(s) may question the integrity and character of that officer. By remaining professional on and off duty, there is no opportunity for jeopardy.
Acting unprofessionally can have a negative impact on the department as a whole, even if it's just one officer doing the harm. It's important to keep a clean image when on the job and a clean image off the job. Many jobs allow you to separate your professional and personal life, but that isn't the case with law enforcement. A bad choice you make in your personal life can follow you around in your work life. That is why it is so important to make good choices off duty and stay professional. Your actions off duty reflect who you are on duty.