Premium Essay

Unethical Police Operations

In:

Submitted By Bran1234
Words 963
Pages 4
The actions of police are watched very closely. To the public, they are seen as those who protect and preserve the peace. However, there have been many situations in 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 to go without a ticket in a traffic violation. This poses a threat to the community because an officer is basically giving someone the right to commit traffic offenses, placing other’s lives in danger. This behavior is

Similar Documents

Premium Essay

Unethical Police Operations

...Unethical Police Operations Willie L Jones CJA/214 12/3/2012 University of Phoenix Abstract Police unethical operations, imposes high cost on police, the criminal justice system, and society. Criminal activity by a police officer undermines the basic integrity of law enforcement and the grounds which the laws were based on. Regardless if an officer 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...

Words: 1142 - Pages: 5

Premium Essay

Unethical Police Operations

...Unethical Police Operations Taylor Whitehead-McGuire CJS 241 January 11, 2016 Arnold Wicker Unethical Police Operations Police officers play a 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...

Words: 1368 - Pages: 6

Premium Essay

Corruption

...Unethical Police Operations Paper Jose Cuevas CJA/214 March 9, 2013 Coby Webb Unethical Police Operations Paper As a police officer you have an ethical job in front of your community and a pact of trust within everyone but because of all the respect and importance a police has this can lead for police corruption. Police corruption is the act of involving the misuse of authority by a police officer as a manner designed to produce personal gain for himself or for others. The two key elements of corruption are the misuse of authority and personal gain. Corruption is only one form of misconduct or deviant behavior by police officers. Some officers will save lives because that’s their passion others will look at the beneficial and financial matter and will be capable of disobeying laws. Police deviance distinguishes between occupational deviance and abuse of authority. Occupational deviance includes criminal behavior which is committed during the course of normal work activities or committed under the guise of the police officers authority. Including improper behavior that is not illegal such as sleeping in the job. Abuse of authority includes an action by a police officer that tends to injure, insult, tress lass upon any human action of dignity, or to violate an inherent legal right of a citizen. An illegal arrest and use of excessive force is wrong but does not involve any person gain. A criminal assault on a friend or family member by an off duty police officer is a private...

Words: 893 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

Crime Scene

...Crime Scene Operations Recent months have seen a surge in allegations of police brutality and excessive use of force when making arrests. In fact, some allegations have seen the police being accused of committing murder against civilians. Policemen, mostly whites, have been alleged to have been involved in the killings of civilians mostly from the African American race. The United States has grown to be polarized on the basis of race. In a bid to enhance accountability in the face of such serious accusations, the American media has been active in covering crime scenes mostly involving the police and civilians. From an analytical point of view, media coverage of crime scene, as unethical as it may seem, has been able to enhance professionalism that crime scene operations are conducted with. Through the rigorous news coverage expeditions that media houses and other private practitioners have perfected in recent months, the evil of police brutality has been exposed to the public. The kind of police brutality that has been reported and, in most instances recorded, by media houses and other media platforms brings to the fore the question of whether crime scene operations in the United States are conducted in adherence to the ethical code of conduct set for such operations. In a span of just about six months, video recordings of real life crime scene operations conducted by the police have indicated the unprofessionalism that lies within the American police force. This...

Words: 615 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Egan Criminal Justice Organization Case Study

...Unethical conduct among co-workers may lead to standards of feeling helpless and annoyed with the conduct of their co-workers and or leaders. This frustration results of honest employees either searching for alternative employment or end up with high stress and health related problems. Unethical behavior in organizations may lead to the institution’s inability to no longer forge and maintain any long-term relationships with customers and employees. The organization becomes vulnerable to long and expensive litigations. Eventually the effects of unethical behavior in the organization are that clients and customers will completely alienate organizations products or services, hence some drop-in sales. Eventually this will drive investors and other stakeholders away from the...

Words: 1687 - Pages: 7

Free Essay

Ethics

...Q: Describe the unethical behaviours born out of the 2004-2009 Zimbabwean economic challenges that developed into cultures and suggest how managers can counter them. It is a sad truth that the 2004-2009 Zimbabwean economic challenges led its citizens, companies, service providers and even the government as a whole into taking part in unethical behaviours, which even up to this day are being practised and replenishing no matter how much we try to fight them away. Before dealing with the fundamental issues raised by this argument and its implication, l will first address the problem of defining unethical behaviour. The Encater (computer program) definition of unethical behaviour is any action that is aimed at taking advantage of another without their knowledge or consent or manipulating someone without their permission. The 2004-2009 Zimbabwean economic crisis resulted in a hyper-inflation rate of over 231million per cent where goods and services were being sold at artificially inflated prices. The government was failing to perform duties and support companies and banks as it’s supposed to. This led to the closure of certain companies and banks. Salaries were structured in such a way that top officials would get paid unjustifiable salaries and bonuses at the expense of other workers whose salaries were below the poverty datum line. These things are happening even up to this day regardless of the economy restoration. The inflation has stayed at a constant rate of 3,1 per cent...

Words: 1462 - Pages: 6

Premium Essay

Police Corruption

...Case Study: Police Corruption and Its Prevention Management Human Resources (CRJ535) TABLE OF CONTENTS Page Title Page 1 Table of Contents 2 Abstract 3 CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION TO THE STUDY Introduction and Background to the Problem 4 Definition 4-5 Prevention Begins With Leadership 5-7 CHAPTER TWO: REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE Psychology and Social Perspectives 7-9 Theories to Analyze Police Behavior 9-15 CHAPTER THREE: DISCUSSION Implications of Police Corruption and Conclusion 15-18 REFERENCES 19 Abstract Society has a responsibility to respect the community and of course, the police officers that protect the community. More often than not, society’s respect of police officers is nonexistent due to the constant media reports of police corruption and brutality. Police corruption has been around since its conception, but is now being publicized more heavily. As a result, mistrust of police officers has increased. Solutions to the mistrust must be discovered and implemented. Even more important than solution is prevention of police corruption and practices that will make the police reputation and actions more ethically sound. With appropriate discipline and prevention practices in place, integrity will be established within the organization and public trust will be established within the community. CHAPTER ONE Introduction and Background Police Corruption takes place when a police officer engages in an...

Words: 5109 - Pages: 21

Premium Essay

Ethics

...entering into new employment or profession. The new job’s culture is not quickly learned; therefore, one has to observe and take notes on his or her new job’s way of doing things and adapt. In this ethical dilemma, a police officer has just transferred to a new department. In his transition to the new department, the officer witnesses another officer violating the department’s ethical code of coduct. The officer witnesses another officer taking gifts from the community members and local businesses he services. As a new member to the department, the officer debates on what actions if any he should take in this situation. What measures do you take in regarding this type of ethical conduct? What measure would you take? “Integrity is telling myself the truth. And honesty is telling the truth to other people.” In this situation, the officer faces a difficult dilemma of integrity. Reporting the situation would not only show the officer’s integrity but also labels him as one who tattles. On the other hand, the officer does not want to cause any ways because he is new to department. In this situation, I would first speak with the officer informally about his actions in private. Taking this action will make hopefully the officer conscious of his unethical behavior; hence, discontinuing his dishonorable behavior. Although the unscrupulous officer is well known, popular, and politically connected to the department I would disclose the information to a higher authority. ...

Words: 754 - Pages: 4

Free Essay

Phone Scandle Case Study

...attention from the general public was in November 2005, when Prince William’s knee injury, which was only known to few cronies, was exposed as news by News of the World. Former NOtW royal editor Clive Goodman was accused of hiring private detective Glenn Mulcaire for phone hacking activities. The major victims were celebrities, politicians, and members of the British Royal family. Later in 2006, both Goodman and Mulcaire were sentenced. The chief editor Andy Coulson then resigned from the newspaper. However, in July 2011, it was revealed that the phone of missing school girl Milly Dowler had also been hacked by a journalist from the News of the World. The messages in the voice mail box had been erased, which gave false hope survival to police and the girl’s family and potentially destroyed valuable evidences about the girl’s abduction and murderer. Within more and more , resulted in a public outcry against the News International. On the 8th of July, after the British Parliament’s urgent debate regarding the affair, British Prime Minister David Cameron announced that a public inquiry would look in to the scandal and that further investigations needed to be conducted. Due to advertisement boycotts and unrelenting public pressure, News of the World ended its 168 years publication on 10th of July. Eight days later, former News of the World reporter Sean Hoare was found dead. He was the first to allege phone hacking at the publication. News of the World (this part is replaced...

Words: 3036 - Pages: 13

Premium Essay

Ethical Environment of the New Orleans Pd

...Ethical Environment of the New Orleans Police Department Melissa Boutte McNeese State University CJUS 630-W Ethics in Criminal Justice Telephone: (337) 888-0633 Email: mboutte@mcneese.edu Instructor: Dr. Wayne Thompson Abstract Society entrusts police officers to protect citizens from harm and to maintain civil order by enforcing laws set before them. The New Orleans Police Department must adhere to a code of conduct which basically means for officers to treat individuals fairly regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, gender, or sexual orientation; to only use the force necessary to uphold the law and/or to protect themselves and/or others from harm; and to act with dignity and integrity when enforcing the law. This has not always been the case with the NOPD. This paper will discuss the scrutiny the NOPD has fallen under over the years and also what actions have been taken to correct the problems that have arisen within the department. It will also discuss the hiring and training process, along with the reprimanding process for individuals who exhibit unethical behavior. Ethical Environment of the New Orleans Police Department The New Orleans Police Department has a long history of corruption and scandal, and although such corruption has been documented dating back to when the department first began, I will only discuss those which have happened from the early 1980s to the present. I will begin with the many scandals over the years, discuss the current...

Words: 2785 - Pages: 12

Premium Essay

Ethics in Criminal Justice

...purpose of this thesis is to express the need for young men and women in law enforcement to endure ethical dilemmas through a Christian worldview. Ethical dilemmas and moral struggles in the criminal justice field are described in detail throughout the thesis. In the decision-making process during an ethical dilemma, an officer with a Christian worldview should make better decisions with the added guidance from the Holy Spirit. This thesis delves into the different aspects of ethics including reasons why some police officers make immoral decisions. The ethical issues in criminal justice have been a problem in law enforcement for years and this study identifies the importance of maintaining the honor of the police badge. ETHICS IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE 4 The Problems with Ethics in Criminal Justice Through a Christian Worldview Introduction Law enforcement professionals are handed a great deal of responsibility to represent and uphold the standards of a given police department. Putting on a badge that...

Words: 8552 - Pages: 35

Free Essay

Business Research Ethics

...influential company that is currently being run by Vice-President Dick Cheney. It has been discovered that Halliburton overcharged the military $6.3 million dollars. Halliburton is debatable considered as one of the evilest companies in the entire world. (http://alizul2.blogspot.com) In 2003, one of the unethical problems with Halliburton was overcharging the United States military in Iraq for food and oil supplies. Vice President Chaney has announced that the overpayment in the amount of $27.4 million dollars will be paid to the US government. (http://www.socialistappeal.org). Halliburton was accused of covering up violation of the law and misleading investigators, by a former Halliburton employee affirmed that he received criminal notes on; how to handle federal investigations received by email. The email was intended for another employee named David Smith. Smith was the Vice President of Halliburton Tax Group. (http://www.nbcnews.com) The e-mails that the former employee received were focusing on how the Houston oilfield facilities corporation would defend itself against a federal review of bribery and corruption charges connected to Halliburton’s natural gas operations in Nigeria. (www.academia.edu). David A. Smith, who says he owns a single share of company’s...

Words: 800 - Pages: 4

Free Essay

Leadership

...Midterm Essay Josephine Ceasar University of North Texas Dallas Dr. Larry D. Terry II Mgmt. Leadership 4470 090 Date Introduction There are many definitions of leadership. According to Northouse, leadership is a process whereby an individual influences a group of individuals to achieve a common goal (2013, p. 5). Yet true leadership is much more than that. A leader can be the CEO of an organization or a first year employee who leads his or her team to success behind the scenes. A leader might lead through official authority and power, yet just as often great leaders lead through inspiration, persuasion, and personal connections. So what is leadership? Leadership is the art of leading others to deliberately create a result that wouldn’t have happened otherwise. The assumption is that because he or she has the ability to display these characteristics, others will automatically follow their direction. However, to me, leadership is more than just about getting others to follow your lead. The purpose of this analysis is to understand the role of leadership and the purpose of a leader. A leader has many roles that will be identify in this paper. True leadership must begin with a strong sense of self. Leaders must be able to lead themselves first before they can expect to effectively lead others. This is important, because the challenges of leadership are huge! The tests that leaders face often...

Words: 1177 - Pages: 5

Premium Essay

Is Responsible Business Important?

...the World published an article written by royal editor Clive Goodman, claiming that Prince William was in the process of borrowing a portable editing suite. Following the publication, the Prince and royal staff met to try to figure out how the details of their arrangement had been leaked, as only two other people were aware of it, and asked police for investigation. In August 2006, Goodman and private investigator Mulcaire were arrested by the Metropolitan Police, and later charged with hacking the telephones of members of the royal family by accessing voicemail messages. It was first reported by The Guardian on 4 July 2011 that police had found evidence suggesting that the private investigator Glenn Mulcaire collected personal information about the family of the missing schoolgirl Milly Dowler, following her disappearance in March 2002 and the subsequent discovery of her body six months later. According to the paper, journalists working for the News of the World had hired private investigators to hack into Dowler's voicemail inbox while she was still missing. It was alleged that they had deleted some messages, giving false hope to police and to Dowler's family who thought that she might have deleted the messages herself and therefore might still be alive. Until the report of Milly Dowler the victims seemed to be royal members, celebrities, publicists, politicians and other journalists – the sort of people who, in the British mind, probably deserve what they get. But the following...

Words: 618 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Media Influence on Criminal Justice

...the scene with white sheets covering them. It’s human nature to stop and look at an accident with ambulances present. The media attempts to interview victims, witnesses and family members of victims immediately after the crime. I think this type of reporting can effect a criminal investigation. Also they give out facts of the case that the police try to prevent the public from knowing so that it may not tip off a criminal of impending arrest. When there is an arrest made they like to film the arrestee in handcuffs being put into a car or being lead into the station “the perp walk.” Sometimes when the public views these situations it may be difficult to have a non-biased jury. The power of the media and their coverage can influence the operations of the criminal justice system and even the outcome of individual cases. The impact of high profile cases can have a ripple effect throughout the judicial system. Defendants who committed a similar crime my be treated differently within the justice system had not a high profile case preceded theirs. Secondly I believe that the public’s image of police is shaped largely by what they see on T.V. or read in newspapers. Most of what they see is fictional....

Words: 738 - Pages: 3