NCJ Number
170669
Journal
Police Chief Volume: 65 Issue: 1 Dated: (January 1998) Pages: 14-24
Date Published
1998
Length
11 pages
Annotation
After reporting on findings from a survey on police ethics training, this survey presents recommendations on police ethics training by the International Association of Chiefs of Police's (IACP's) Ad Hoc Committee on Police Image and Ethics.
Abstract
During the spring of 1997, the most extensive ethics training survey ever undertaken by law enforcement was conducted. More than 4,500 surveys were mailed to members of the IACP; 900 (20 percent) of the questionnaires were returned. Some 80.3 percent of the reporting agencies indicated that they commit resources to training instructors who offer ethics courses; and more than 60 percent reported that they also provide their ethics trainers additional training in adult learning theory. The survey results regarding Field Training Officers (FTOs) ethics instruction were not as overwhelming as the reported statistics for instructors in general. Other survey questions consisted of open-ended, narrative, and short-answer questions. The responses to the open- ended questions showed a paradox between a "clearly perceived need for ethics training" and a lack of "demonstrated concern in the responses." The Ad Hoc Committee on Police Image and Ethics recommends increased visibility of ethics through the adoption of support for a "Law Enforcement Oath of Honor." Other recommendations are to provide job-specific training on ethics, enhance training curriculum content, develop the appropriate training style, insist on strong recruit ethics training, focus on FTO ethics, and provide continual in-service training on ethics.