NCJ Number
156199
Journal
Journal of Criminal Justice Education Volume: 6 Issue: 1 Dated: (Spring 1995) Pages: 1-20
Date Published
1995
Length
20 pages
Annotation
This article discusses the use of officer-generated dilemmas in teaching law enforcement ethics classes for both in-service training and university students.
Abstract
The five elements that police officers perceive to be important to a code of professional ethics not incidentally are tied to the dilemmas they identify. These five elements include legality, service, honesty, loyalty, and the Golden Rule. The two most frequently cited categories of police officer dilemmas are loyalty versus whistle blowing and the use of discretion in difficult situations. This article discusses common types of dilemmas and the procedure used to analyze them in a classroom setting. Taking a structured approach to ethics education suggests to students that the shaping of a personal philosophy does not depend on avoiding dilemmas most often sensationalized by the media, but dealing with the confusion, ambiguity, and compromise that occurs in the everyday commission of duty. 16 references