...Misconduct, Corruption and Brutality in the Police Department Danyale Dorsey April 25, 2013 CJA/214 Todd Hill Misconduct, Corruption and Brutality in the Police Department What is this all about? Brutality, Corruption, and Misconduct has become a common occurrence in police departments today. For a better understanding of what these things mean, the book defines police corruption as acts involving the misuse of authority by a police officer in a manner designed to produce personal gain for himself, herself or for others. Misconduct is inappropriate actions taken by police officers in connection with their official duties which may lead to injustice and sometimes discrimination. Brutality is the use of excessive force, usually physical, but can be potentially a form of verbal attacks and psychological intimidation by a police officer. These types of accusations can be damaging to a police department and its link to the community that it is sworn to protect and serve. Police Corruption and Misconduct Case One: The former Police Chief, his wife, and five other officers from the Romulus, Michigan police department were indicted in a corruption scandal earlier this year. The allegations for the five officers were that there was misconduct going on in the department drug enforcement unit. These former officers of the drug unit were allegedly stealing thousands of dollars as well as drugs with a host of other charges stemming from the use of hookers, drugs while on duty...
Words: 1017 - Pages: 5
...Unethical Police Lauren Siebert CJA/214 April 16, 2013 Richard Banahan Police corruption and misconduct is an issue that is very close to home for me. I am experiencing the outcome as I sit here today. Whether people want to hear it or not, police corruption does exist, it has for a long time and probably will for another long time. During the course of this paper I will talk about police corruption, misconduct, and brutality, present two cases in which these acts took place, describe the details of the case and their outcomes and address my feelings on that outcome. As of right now, I am living one of the worst nightmares that anyone could imagine. My family is personally going through a case of police misconduct and corruption. My brother- in- law was 18 years old when he passed away on November 22, 2011. His mother sold him three fentanyl patches in which he chewed all at once and overdosed. Our family knew right away that she was responsible for his death but know we just had to prove it. We gathered every bit of evidence that we could, text messages between the two of them blatantly discussing the sale and purchase of the drugs, eye witness testimony from his friends that witnessed the sale, a video of him stating that he had bought drugs from his mother and her sister, the wrappers from the patches that have a DEA number on them that can be traced through the pharmacy right back to her, and a death certificate stating cause of death as fentanyl...
Words: 1112 - Pages: 5
...Police Corruption Ryan Alvarado CJA/214 November 13, 2012 Richard Palomo Abstract In the history of police in the United States there always has been an element of corruption. Because the police officers themselves are human, the possibility of corruption will always be present. Sometimes it is minor but then that usually can lead to more major crimes and eventually the corruption itself will spread throughout an organization. The level and extent of corruption is difficult to determine as the crime itself is very covert. There really is no for sure solution to stop the corruption and wrong doings; however, steps can be taken to alleviate some of the criminal offenses. As long as there is police there will always be a need for those who police the police. Police Corruption In any organization that involves mankind in a position of authority there is always going to be a possibility for corruption, the police department is no different. The level of corruption will always vary, depending on the situation and the environment but nonetheless police corruption does have an effect on the United States. Of course the major offenses are of more concern, like police brutality or taking major bribes or hiding evidence, but even the smaller offense, like letting a friend out of a ticket, still show bias and dilutes the trust the public has in the police department. This paper will describe the negative effect that police corruption, police misconduct, and police brutality has...
Words: 1101 - Pages: 5
...Police Misconduct Response CJS/210 February 03, 2012 Police Misconduct Response Police brutality is the use of excessive force by a police officer and can be physical attacks, verbal attacks, or psychological intimidation. Police brutality is often triggered by disrespect towards the police officer. Police corruption is a form of police misconduct that is used by police to obtain personal gain, financial benefits, or career advancement. Police misconduct are when police officers take inappropriate actions in their official duties, which can lead to an innocent person being punished for a crime they did not commit or miscarriage of justice, and often involves discrimination. The relationship between police brutality, police corruption, and police misconduct are that they are all abuses of authority and violations of federal and state laws, or violations of the constitutional rights of the individual. There are many safeguards in place to protect individuals from abuse by police officers, such as Miranda rights that prevent officers from illegally obtaining information from the suspect during an arrest, the fourth amendment that protects the individual from illegal search and seizure and use of unlawful force, justification protects public from police abuse by limiting the times an officer is able to use force, and the fourteenth amendment protects the individuals rights to due process. These are all ways to protect the rights of the individual. Other ways that...
Words: 279 - Pages: 2
...Check Point Police Misconduct Response September 13, 2013 I would define police brutality as something that occurs when a police officer acts with excessive force by using the amount of force with regards to a subject that is more than necessary. Excessive force by law enforcement officers is a violation of a person's rights. Excessive force is not subject to a precise definition, but it is generally beyond the force a reasonable and prudent law enforcement officer would use under the circumstances (www.definitions.uslegal.com). I feel that police brutality happens when an officer has the subject under control and then might hit the subject with a black stick. When trying to get a suspect to comply with orders given by an officer, the amount of force should be used in only the minimum amount to gain control of a situation. Police brutality is a direct violation of the laws within the police force. This is a form of police misconduct. The violation of state and federal laws or the violation of individuals' constitutional rights by police officers; also when police commit crimes for personal gain. Police misconduct and corruption are abuses of police authority. Sometimes used interchangeably, the terms refer to a wide range of procedural, criminal, and civil violations. Misconduct is the broadest category. Misconduct is "procedural" when it refers to police who violate police department rules and regulations; "criminal" when it refers to police who violate state and federal...
Words: 311 - Pages: 2
...takes a small bribe or is involve in a drug trade, the corruption forever change the relationship between communities and the face of justice. . . Unethical Police Operation When a Police Officer abuses his authority, it is called police misconduct. Police misconduct is a broad term used to describe police corruption and police brutality which include violations of state and federal laws, the violation of an individual’s constitutional rights, and the abuse of police authority for personal gain: excessive force, false arrest and imprisonment, malicious prosecution, and wrongful death. (The Free Dictionary, n d.) Corruption is one of the world oldest practices and is defined as the abuse of authority for personal gain. Before the 1970, alcohol, gambling, and prostitution were the primary drivers of police corruption. Drug-related police corruption became a major factor after the 1970’s. Ethics involve making moral judgments about what is right or wrong. It is said that ethics provides a way to make moral choices when we are uncertain about what to do in a situation. Police officers everyday life involves this type of thinking and their code of ethics help prevent them from engaging in various types of corruption. Corruption Behavior The divergence of this sort of police corruption unquestionably affects how the public views law enforcement, especially perceptions of authority. Police corruption can defined as any prescribed act involving the misuse...
Words: 1142 - Pages: 5
...significant role in society and are held to a higher standard. There are procedures and laws that they must abide by when performing their law enforcement duties. Some officers bend or break these rules and commit corruption, misconduct, and police brutality. Not all cases are caught. Some are swept under the rug. For those who are caught and found guilty of these acts, examples are made out of them. All though a small percentage are reprimanded there is still a large issue within policing that is mishandled. The three terms may overlap and become confusing. Each of the three are considered criminal activity. They each are very different. Police corruption is defined as acts involving the misuse of authority by a police officer in a manner to produce personal gain. Two elements are required for corruption to be committed: personal gain, and misuse of authority. Police corruption generates a high cost on police, the criminal justice system, as well as society. Not only does corruption by police undermine public confidence for police and the effectiveness of the criminal justice system, it also helps to protect others who are committing criminal activity. (Walker & Katz, 2013) Corruption takes on many forms and various by degree of seriousness. Several corruption activities include violent crimes, denial of civil rights, criminal enterprise, property crimes, major bribes, role malfeasance, being above “inconvenient laws”, minor bribes, playing favorites, and gratuities. These...
Words: 1368 - Pages: 6
...What is police brutality? It is the use of force when its not necessary to a victim for unlawful police purpose. Although there is reliable information of these incidence existing. We see it in our everyday life on tv and the news and there are some victims that have loss their lives in police brutality cases. Police oath is to never betray their badge or their integrity , the public trust but it seem like they already have. Police brutality exist in many countries , even people that prosecute. It is one the several many forms of police misconduct. which include several ways that the police can use brutality without physical abuse. False arrest ,intimidation,racial profiling and police corruption. Under the law of police brutality is investigated by a commission it district attorneys. Unfortunately , even though the law is covering police brutality , many complaints are made by victims about excessive use of force are not investigated....
Words: 523 - Pages: 3
...Police Misconduct Amanda Stasiewicz CJS/210 01/31/2015 Professor Harvey Smith Police brutality is a major issue in today’s society. I would define police brutality no different than what it really is which is when an officer uses physical force with an intent to harm(Grant & Terry, 2008). Police brutality is not only physical though there is also verbal brutality. If an officer yells at you, calls you names, or uses profanity towards you for no reason than it is a form of verbal brutality. If an officer lays hands on you and uses excessive force purposely when it is not needed than it is considered physical brutality. A lot of police officers believe they can get away with it and it simply boils down to them having a little power and taking advantage of it which leads to my next point. Police brutality is not the only problem we have. We also have police corruption and misconduct and all three of these things normally go hand in hand with each other. They have a relationship they share which is normally because when one is present another is also being performed. Police corruption is the misuse of authority by an officer(Grant & Terry, 2008). This is where an officer allows the little bit of power that they have get to their heads and take advantage of it. They believe they can do what they want and get away with it. When this happens normally police brutality is not far behind. There are a few different things that could be done to prevent all of...
Words: 387 - Pages: 2
...which victims have had to testify against a police officer because of some type of misconduct. When this happens, it takes a serious toll on the entire community. Trust becomes ruined, and in most cases the victim is left with a mental scar. Police officers have ethics that they are expected to follow. In the cases where they do not follow these ethics, they have to deal with more serious offenses. [Because of the special role that officers play in society, federal courts and professional perspectives place restrictions on an officer’s behavior on and off duty] (University Of Phoenix, 2012, p. 1). In this paper, I will explain unethical police operations. I will describe the extent of police corruption, misconduct and brutality in the United States. I will also Research two current cases on police corruption and brutality. Just because an officer wears a uniform does not give him or her the right to use his or her authority for personal gain. Officers are expected to follow certain ethics and rules just as we are. Police corruption and misconduct happens every day. A situation of police corruption occurs when an officer bribes a criminal to pay him or her in large sums of money without receiving any other type of penalty, overlooking violations of the law. There are also cases in which officers receive drugs from criminals in turn that they will not penalize them. Another type of police corruption is playing favorites. This happens where an officer usually allows his or her friend...
Words: 963 - Pages: 4
...Police Misconduct/ Corruption Over that past 50 years the media has done a spectacular job of broadcasting police misconduct and corruption to the public. Unfortunately, in the past 25 years the detection of misconduct and corruption has skyrocketed because of the rapid development of technology; for example dash cams and microphones have been notoriously known for catch police misconduct. Police officers are trained to follow certain ethical protocols, but after they leave the academy some officers diverge from that ethical line. This is for a variety of reasons; some being cynicism, arrogance, financial necessity, and even fear. The term corruption and misconduct has always been part of the police culture since the very beginning; from...
Words: 1036 - Pages: 5
...affect how the ethical police officer is treated. Police corruption has always existed and most likely will always exist. As well as misconduct, police officers are not always perfect and sometime misbehave because of the stress of their jobs. There are many ways that a person can define police corruptions. Herman Goldstein defined police corruptions as “acts involving the misuse of authority by a police officer in a manner designed to produce personal gain for himself or for others” (Washington DC: The Police Foundation, 1975, p. 3). Police corruptions has two key elements, one is the misuse of authority, the second to personal gain. A gratuity is a type of corruption that police are involved in. Gratuities are the type of corruption in which an officer will receive something free or a discount on purchases. Amazingly there are some police departments that prohibit gratuities and there are others that do not prohibit it. Another type of police corruption is police receiving bribes. An example of bribe is, when a police officer receives money for not giving a traffic ticket. Theft and burglary is yet another type of police corruption. Brutality and corruption is an important issue. An example of brutality and corruption is, when officers would beat and steal drugs from drug dealers and sell them to other drug dealers or even other officers. Police brutality is a very severely issue. When a police officer commits brutality, that officer is not the only person who gets in trouble...
Words: 909 - Pages: 4
...Dwayne Harris CJS/241 July 3, 2016 KENNETH JONES There have been many incidents that involved police officers using brutality, misconduct and corruption in the past 10 years. Some of the cases or incidents that happened were heard around the world. Cases like Michael Brown or Trayvon Martin were seen in every part of the world, but there were some cases that were similar to this two cases, but were not talked about like these two. Police brutality, misconduct, and corruption has been going on for a long time and many instances were never talked and release to the public. There have been may other cases of police corruption that take place here in the United States. Most of the cases are either never spoken about or if they do make it to the news it not breaking news or main topic. According to Assefa (2016), “A band of rogue Philadelphia police officers allegedly held a drug suspect over the balcony railing of his 18th-floor apartment as an interrogation technique, federal prosecutors say. In another instance, according to prosecutors, the six officers allegedly kidnapped a drug suspect and kept him in a hotel room for days while threatening his family. In what Philadelphia's police commissioner described as one of the worst cases of corruption, the six officers were arrested Wednesday on a range of charges, including conspiracy, robbery, extortion, kidnapping and drug dealing. The case centers on a six-year scheme in which they allegedly pocketed $500,000 in drugs, cash...
Words: 1583 - Pages: 7
...Abuse of Police Authority For years men and women of all nationalities and creed have been victim of harassment and brutality by the people who they pay to protect their neighborhoods and streets. Namely the police departments, the police have a vital role to play because they, more than any other institution, are at the epicenter of the upheavals that erupt in our cities. What they do or fail to do can affect fundamentally the scope of the damage to life, property, and community spirit. Police officers take an oath when they first join their department. This oath is a code of ethics. The Law Enforcement Code of Ethics, promulgated in 1893, established the basic responsibility of a police officer: To serve the community; To protect lives; To save the weak from those who would use intimidation; To obey the constitutional guarantees afforded to every citizen; To keep an officer’s private life separate from his official duty (such as personal or political beliefs, prejudices, aspirations, animosities or friendships); To be courageous and show resolve when faced with the possibility of death; The badge symbolizes not only authority, but also acts as an image of public faith; The officer will maintain confidentiality; and The conduct of the officer will always be ethical and consistent with department regulations and the law . These are the expectations of the citizens, and when there abused it lessens the faith of all. The abuse of police authority makes the head lines...
Words: 1876 - Pages: 8
...presents the temptation to abuse the power that’s given to them. This paper will explain the rule- of-law and how it represents societal standards that define police duties and responsibilities. Police officers are given a significant amount of discretion simply due to the nature of their job. Officers are faced with many threatening situations forcing them to react quickly yet appropriately. They have the power to infringe upon any citizen’s rights to freedom and therefore must use their power effectively. One major concern with a number of discretion officers have is their power to decide when to use force or when to use lethal force (Lee, Lim, Moore, & Kim, 2013) Additionally, public perception of policing will be discussed, police brutality and due process within the criminal justice system. Accountability is one of the most important components when it comes to public perception of police officers. When officers begin to use force to control the community, citizens began to review officers as authority figures instead of protecting and serving the community. This results in a breakdown between the officer and the community. Daredevil is a fictional character that will be used in this paper that demonstrates functions of police officers. Daredevil is a superhero who use his amazing powers and abilities to protect and serve society. Police When debating the issue of police use of force we also need to address the issue of what actions constitute too much...
Words: 1529 - Pages: 7
