Welcome to Discussion #8: Please remember that all initial responses are due by Friday and two peer responses are due by Sunday at midnight EST or EDT.

We have just completed Part 2 of the text which covers the police and one of the most controversial and often discussed issues seems to be involving gratuities. There are strong beliefs by police officers, police administrators and the public about this issue. Gratuities are items of value received by an individual because of his or her role or position rather than because of a personal relationship with the giver. Provide a persuasive argument as to whether gratuities should be acceptable or not. Are there any limitations to what can be accepted in your opinion and what are those limitations? Should an agency have a policy that outlines what is or is not allowed to be accepted and if so, where do you think the line should be drawn?

Your peer responses should be substantive and clear. Be sure to address their responses and your agreement or disagreement and why.

I look forward to reading your ideas and input regarding this topic.

resond to peer #1 (alex)

olice officers should not be able to accept gratuity. If they were able to accept gratuity, while it would give them more of an a incentive to do good work I truly believe it would end up causing wrong doing and corruption. I believe this because Police officers already have a hard job and they have to figure out what is happening in a situation and trying to keep the public safe as it is. If gratuity was implemented then it would cause them another thing to have in the back of there head while doing these tasks and it could cause an officer to not be thinking on a sitution as they should be, if gratuity is in the equation. I do not believe that there could be limitations either as that again would just cause a chance for corruption and wrong doing. I do though believe that there could be a way to accept gratuity in a sense. If a company or person would like to donate money to the Police Department and that money goes into a bonus or into a increase in better materials and equitment than I would believe it could be handled and appreciated by the force. I do believe that an Agency should have specfic outlines on gratuity and I would draw the line at full Department donations rather than individual gratuity.

peer #2(monica)

police officers should not accept gratuities due to the potential ethical implications and risks associated with doing so. While it's understandable that people may want to express gratitude for the challenging work that officers take on, accepting gratuities can create conflicts of interest and undermine the trust between law enforcement and the communities they serve. Even seemingly harmless gestures like free meals or discounts can subtly influence officers' perceptions and actions, potentially compromising their neutrality. Also, accepting gratuities may give the impression of special treatment, consuming public confidence in the fairness and integrity of law enforcement. Having clear policies that prohibit accepting gratuities is essential for organizations to respect the values of accountability and objectivity. Following these rules will allow police to put the needs of the public before their own interests, which will build confidence and trust in the communities they serve.