NCJ Number
183850
Journal
Law and Order Volume: 48 Issue: 5 Dated: May 2000 Pages: 28-32
Editor(s)
Bruce Cameron
Date Published
May 2000
Length
5 pages
Annotation
Even though it may not be against the law to use racial slurs, this practice should be against policy department policy and police officer ethics.
Abstract
The use of racial slurs by police officers is widespread and has significant implications. Racial epithets of any kind taint a situation as racially based and give a sense of unfair policing. Police officers using racial epithets compromise the integrity of their occupations by allowing the suspicion to prevail that they do not enforce the law equally since racially charged comments show possible bias against members of selected races or ethnic backgrounds. In addition, the use of racial epithets may heighten racial tension in the community and result in poor police-community relations. When a police officer uses racial epithets, the supervisor should consider whether that officer is involved in biased policing and assess community perceptions of that officer. To prevent inappropriate conduct by police officers, police departments should emphasize principles of cultural awareness, such as being non-judgmental, respectful, and neutral. 2 photographs