Ethics and Police Corruption

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ETHICS AND POLICE CORRUPTION

Ethics and Police Corruption

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Abstract

By nature, police work entails dealing with issues that can result in corruption. In turn, involvement in corruption leads to the problem of ethics and morality. What are the practices of police work that are deemed as corrupt? And how are they unethical or immoral? Is police corruption an administrative or ethical issue? Police corruption involves corruption of authority, kickbacks, opportunistic theft, shakedown, protection of illegal activities, direct criminal activities, payoffs, flaking, padding, etc. In this paper, I shall address some of the most common forms of police corruption, in relation to its ethical aspect. Police corruption has remained a big dilemma to society. Not only is it a problem within the police sector, but also to that of the public. And at the heart of this corruption problem is the question of whether a morally good end justifies the use of ethically, politically or legally dangerous means to its achievement (Klockars, 1985, 56). For, upon deciding whether to punish an officer who has achieved ends we applaud but who uses illicit means to achieve them, we are thus faced with an ethical dilemma. (Newburn, 1999, 11).

Ethics and Corruption

In general, corruption involves unethical and immoral activities involving a person’s misuse of office for personal gain. But what is police corruption? In order to understand this concept, it is important that we know its meaning. Police corruption is defined as the “ abuse of police authority for personal or organizational gain by a police officer acting officially” (Dempsey and Forst, 2010, 230). Indeed, police corruption is a major social problem all over the world. Police officers often lack integrity and professionalism. In effect, such corrupt activities pose significant obstacles to improve police public association and relations. Acts of police corruption may include corruption of authority, accepting gratuities, perjuries, kickbacks, opportunistic theft, shakedown, protection of illegal activities, direct criminal activities, payoffs, and flaking. This paper is aimed at discussing the different aspects of police corruption, while relating them to the abused code of ethics.

Police gratuity is one form of corruption that is deeply rooted in nonfederal police officers in the US. Gratuity is the act of a police officer receiving free services, discounts or free meals; these kinds of acts are sometimes considered as fringe benefits of the job. Gratuity also involves financial benefits and rewards, all of which is a violation of the police code of ethics. Gratuity is corruption because the police officer has been placed in a position where favors are available in the present and in the future (DeLattre, 1996). 

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For example, gratuities may involve a police officer asking for a bribe in return of giving valuable information. In effect, we see police officers skimming for valuable evidence from crime scenes, warehouses, property rooms or any place that is accessible to them. This is clearly a violation of the police code of ethics. For, it is the duty of law enforcement officers to serve mankind, safeguard lives, and protect property.  

Police shakedown is another form of police corruption where a police officer extorts business properties or owners for protection money. A typical scenario is a bar. Here, police ...

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