NCJ Number
154540
Journal
Sheriff Volume: 47 Issue: 2 Dated: (March-April 1995) Pages: 12-13,54
Date Published
1995
Length
3 pages
Annotation
This article presents basic principles of right and wrong for police officers and argues against ethical compromises and for the application of the Golden Rule in police conduct.
Abstract
There are eight basic ethical prohibitions that are absolute for police officers. (1) It is always wrong for a police officer to accept money or other goods or services in exchange for favors of any kind; (2) It is always wrong to use more force than is necessary, whether to apprehend, subdue, or transport a suspect or prisoner, quiet a situation, or for any other purpose; (3) It is always wrong to falsify or plant evidence against anyone, to file false reports, or to commit perjury; (4) It is always wrong to prejudge others because of color, gender, ethnic background, nationality, or any other fact of birth; (5) It is always wrong to give illegal substances or prescription drugs to informants, suspects, or anyone else; (6) It is always wrong to bring a hangover to work, to use alcohol on the job, or to consume illegal substance of any kind at any time; (7) It is always wrong to commit acts that put pressure on fellow police officers to lie or cover up wrongdoing; and (8) It is always wrong to fail to back up a partner or other officers in a dangerous situation or to place another officer or member of the public in a needlessly dangerous situation. Overall, police officers will act ethically if they follow the Golden Rule, which is to "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." Although there are differences between job-related behaviors and attitudes and actions and attitudes in private life, integrity means being the same person in both public and private, no matter whether anyone is watching or could catch any in wrongdoing. 1 reference