Date 5-12-19
Scenario Analysis
I will take the Scenario 2 where I am working as a police officer in the midnight shift. In this scenario, an accident occurred where the driver is impaired. There are no witnesses at the site of incident and there are no apparent skid marks. Upon investigation, I find out that the driver is the mayor of the town who was driving under the influence. This is evident from the smell of his breath, his slurred speech, and a lethargy that he is exhibiting that shows that he was under the influence of alcohol. Upon investigation, the mayor states that he swerved to avoid a dog the reason why he lost control and hit the tree. After interrogation the mayor asks me to complete the accident report and ride him home. He explicitly cautions me about recording that he was driving under the influence of alcohol. He cites that he has a lot of influence especially at the police station and that he has had his eyes on me.
I chose this scenario because it illustrates the current level of corruption and unethical practice in the country. Police officers often file a false accident report for personal gains. The scenario will help me to address ethical issues associated with filing of fake reports, and the consequences of such actions. For instance, according to Penal Code 118.1, the California statute explicitly states that it is a crime for a police officer to make incorrect statements about the material fact in the accident report (Snape, 2016). This offense can be filed as a felony or misdemeanor. This scenario will also help me to outline the repercussions of such actions whereby an individual who is found filing false reports is punishable by imprisonment.
What I consider could pose the biggest obstacle in this project is the lack of information to back up true reports. For instance, without the necessary tools such as a blood alcohol content to show that the mayor was under the influence, it would be hard to prove that the report was false. In order to stop similar unethical practices, it is important to gather the necessary evidence appropriately (Heiskanen, 2010).
References
Heiskanen, M. (2010). Trends in police recorded crime. HEUNI, 21.
Snape, J. (2016). California Penal Code 2016 Book 1 of 2. Lulu. com.
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