Professional Ethics in Law Enforcement and Security Management
Presentation Schedule
The presentation Schedule included in your course materials gives you the
important dates for the completion of tutor-marked assignments and attending
tutorials. Remember you are required to submit all your assignments by the due
date. You should guard against falling behind in your work.
How To Get The Best From This Course
In distance learning the study units replace the university lecturer. This is one
of the great advantages of distance learning; you can read and work through
specially designed study materials at your own pace, and at a time and place
that suit you best. Think of it as reading the lecture instead of listening to a
lecturer. In this same way that a lecturer might set you some reading to do, the
study units tell you when to read your set of books or other materials. Just as a
lecturer might give you an in-class exercise, your study units provide exercises
for you to do at appropriate points. Each of the study units follows a common
format. The first item is an introduction to the subject matter of the unit and the
course as a whole. Next is a set of learning objectives. These objectives shall
let you know what you should be able to do by the time you have completed
the unit. You should use these objectives to guide your study. When you have
finished the units, you must go back and check whether you have accepted the
objectives. If you have a habit of doing this you will significantly improve your
chances of passing the course. The main body of the unit guides you through
the required reading from other sources.
Reading Section
Remember that your tutor’s job is to assist you. Whenever you need help, do
not hesitate to call and ask your tutor to provide it.
1. Read this Course Guide thoroughly.
2. Organised a Study Schedule. Refer to the ‘Course Overview’ for more
details. Note the time you are expected to spend on each unit and how the
assignments related to the units. Whatever method you chose to use, you
should decide on and write in your own dates for working on each unit.
3. Once you have created your own study schedule, do everything you can to
stick to it. The major reason why students fail is that they get behind with
their course work. If you get into difficulties with your schedule, please let
your tutor know it is too late for help.
4. Turn to unit 1 and read the introduction and the objectives for the unit.
5. Assemble the study materials. Information about what you need for a unit is
given in the ‘Overview’ at the beginning of each un it. You will almost
always need both the study unit you are working on and one of your set
books on your desk at the same time.
6. Work through the unit. The content of the unit itself has been arranged to
provide a sequence for you to follow. As you work through the unit s you
will be instructed to read sections from your set books or other materials.
Use the unit to guide your reading.
7. Review the objectives for each study unit to confirm that you have achieved
them. if you feel unsure about any of the objectives, review the study
materials or consult your tutor.
8. When you are confident that you have achieved a unit’s objectives, you can
then start on the next unit. Proceed unit by unit through the course and try to
pace your study so that you keep yourself on schedule.
9. When you have submitted an assignment to your tutor for marking, do not
wait for its return before starting on the next unit. Keep to your schedule.
When the assignment is returned pay particular attention to your tutor’s
comments, both on the tutor-Marked Assignment from and also on what is
written on the assignment. Consult your tutor as soon as possible if you
have any questions or problems.
10. After completing the last unit, review the course and prepare yourself for
the final examination. Check that you have achieved the unit objectives
(listed at the beginning of each unit) and the course objectives (listed in this
Course-Guide).
Facilitators/Tutors and Tutorials
There are between eight (8) and twelve (12) hours of tutorials provided in
support of this course. The dates, time and venue of these tutorials shall be
communicated to you. The name and phone number of your tutor will be made
available to you immediately you are allocated a tutorial group. Your tutor will
mark and comment on your assignments, keep a close watch on your progress
and on any difficulties you might encounter and provide assistance to you
during the course. You must mail your tutor marked assignments to your tutor
well before the due date (at least two working days are required). They will be
marked by your tutor and returned to you as soon as possible. Do not hesitate to
contact your tutor by phone, e-mail, or discussion board if you need help. You
will definitely benefit a lot by doing that. Contact your tutor if:
You do not understand any part of the study units or the assigned
readings;
You have difficulty with the self-tests or exercises; and ;
You have a question or problem with an assignment, with your tutor’s
comment on an assignment or with the grading of an assignment.
You should make an effort to attend the tutorials. Thus, it is the only
opportunity you have to enjoy face contact with your tutor and to ask questions
which are answered instantly. You can raise any problem encountered in the
course of your study. To gain the maximum benefits from the course tutorials,
prepare a question list before attending them. You will learn a lot from
participating in discussion actively.
Summary
CSS: 342 aims to expose you to issues, ideas and methodologies,
framework in engaging some common technicalities in Safety Management
for Loss Prevention as well as policies as internationally demanded in
safeguarding human life. As you complete this course, you should be able
to answer and discuss reasonably the following:
The concept of safety ,
Issues in Safety Culture:
Key Health Issues,
Concept of Risk,
Safety and the Human Factor,
The basics of safety management and risk management,
Safety and Security in Nigeria :
Some Indicators of Violence,
Safety management in relation to building maintenance in Nigeria,
Public space and private security in the 21st century
Safety Measures on Construction Companies
Urban Crime Prevention Strategies in Africa,
Political, Religious and Ethnic Conflict In Nigeria.
The relevance of conflict management in safety management
Finally, you are advised to read the course material appreciably well in order to
prepare fully and not to be caught pants down by the final examination
questions. So, we sincerely wish you success in your academic career as you
will find this course, CSS 442 very interesting. You should always avoid
examination malpractices!
Canons of Police Ethics
Article 1. Primary Responsibility of Job
The primary responsibility of the police service, and of the individual officer, is
the protection of the people of the United States through the upholding of their
laws; chief among these is the Constitution of the United States and its
amendments. The law enforcement officer always represents the whole of the
community and its legally expressed will and is never the arm of any political
party or clique.
Article 2. Limitations of Authority
The first duty of a law enforcement officer, as upholder of the law, is to know
its bounds upon him in enforcing it. Because he represents the legal will of the
community, be it local, state or federal, he must be aware of the limitations and
proscriptions which the people, through law, have placed upon him. He must
recognize the genius of the American system of government that gives to no
man, groups of men, or institution, absolute power, and he must ensure that he,
as a prime defender of that system, does not pervert its character.
Article 3. Duty to Be Familiar with the Law and with Responsibilities of
Self and other Public Officials
The law enforcement officer shall assiduously apply himself to the study of the
principles of the laws which he is sworn to uphold. He will make certain of his
responsibilities in the particulars of their enforcement, seeking aid from his
superiors in matters of technicality or principle when these are not clear to him;
he will make special effort to fully understand his relationship to other public
officials, including other law enforcement agencies, particularly on matters of
jurisdiction, both geographically and substantively.
Article 4. Utilization of Proper Means to Gain Proper Ends
The law enforcement officer shall be mindful of his responsibility to pay strict
heed to the selection of means in discharging the duties of his office. Violations
of law or disregard for public safety and property on the part of an officer are
intrinsically wrong; they are self-defeating in that they instill in the public mind
a like disposition. The employment of illegal means, no matter how worthy the
end, is certain to encourage disrespect for the law and its officers. If the law is
to be honored, it must first be honored by those who enforce it.
Article 5. Cooperation with Public Officials in the Discharge of Their
Authorized Duties
The law enforcement officer shall cooperate fully with other public officials in
the discharge of authorized duties, regardless of party affiliation or personal
prejudice. He shall be meticulous, however, in assuring himself of the
propriety, under the law, of such actions and shall guard against the use of his
office or person, whether knowingly or unknowingly, in any improper or illegal
xxiii
CSS 442 Professional Ethics in Law Enforcement and Security Management
action. In any situation open to question, he shall seek authority from his
superior officer, giving him a full report of the proposed service or action.
Article 6. Private Conduct
The law enforcement officer shall be mindful of his special identification by
the public as an upholder of the law. Laxity of conduct or manner in private
life, expressing either disrespect for the law or seeking to gain special privilege,
cannot but reflect upon the police officer and the police service. The
community and the service require that the law enforcement officer lead the life
of a decent and honorable man. Following the career of a policeman gives no
man special perquisites. It does give the satisfaction and pride of following and
furthering an unbroken tradition of safeguarding the American republic. The
officer who reflects upon this tradition will not degrade it. Rather, he will so
conduct his private life that the public will regard him as an example of
stability, fidelity, and morality.
Article 7. Conduct toward the Public
The law enforcement officer, mindful of his responsibility to the whole
community, shall deal with individuals of the community in a manner
calculated to instill respect for its laws and its police service. The law
enforcement officer shall conduct his official life in a manner such as will
inspire confidence and trust. Thus, he will be neither overbearing nor
subservient, as no individual citizen has an obligation to stand in neither awe of
him nor a right to command him. The officer will give service where he can,
and require compliance with the law. He will do neither from personal
preference or prejudice but rather as a duly appointed officer of the law
discharging his sworn obligation.
Article 8. Conduct in Arresting and Dealing with Law Violators
The law enforcement officer shall use his powers of arrest strictly in
accordance with the law and with due regard to the rights of the citizen
concerned. His office gives him no right to prosecute the violator nor to mete
out punishment for the offense. He shall, at all times, have a clear appreciation
of his responsibilities and limitations regarding detention of the violator; he
shall conduct himself in such a manner as will minimize the possibility of
having to use force. To this end he shall cultivate a dedication to the service of
the people and the equitable upholding of their laws whether in the handling of
law violators or in dealing with the lawabiding.
Article 9. Gifts and Favors
The law enforcement officer, representing government, bears the heavy
responsibility of maintaining, in his own conduct, the honor and integrity of all
government institutions. He shall, therefore, guard against placing himself in a
position in which any person can expect special consideration or in which the
public can reasonably assume that special consideration is being given. Thus,
he should be firm in refusing gifts, favors, or gratuities, large or small, which
xxiv
CSS 442 Professional Ethics in Law Enforcement and Security Management
can, in the public mind, be interpreted as capable of influencing his judgment
in the discharge of his duties.
Article 10. Presentation of Evidence
The law enforcement officer shall be concerned equally in the prosecution of
the wrong-doer and the defense of the innocent. He shall ascertain what
constitutes evidence and shall present such evidence impartially and without
malice. In so doing, he will ignore social, political, and all other distinctions
among the persons involved, strengthening the tradition of the reliability and
integrity of an officer's word. The law enforcement officer shall take special
pains to increase his perception and skill of observation, mindful that in many
situations his is the sole impartial testimony to the facts of a case.
Article 11. Attitude toward Profession
The law enforcement officer shall regard the discharge of his duties as a public
trust and recognize his responsibility as a public servant. By diligent study and
sincere attention to self-improvement he shall strive to make the best possible
application of science to the solution of crime and, in the field of human
relationships, strive for effective leadership and public influence in matters
affecting public safety. He shall appreciate the importance and responsibility of
his office, and hold police work to be an honourable profession rendering
valuable service to his community and his country.
An ethical climate is one in which the department’s values are routinely
articulated, supported, practiced, and respected. The ethical climate of an
organization is determined by a variety of factors, including the following: •
Individual character of unit members,
xxv
CSS 442 Professional Ethics in Law Enforcement and Security Management
•Policies and practices within the organization,
•Actions of unit leaders, and
•A variety of environmental and mission factors.
Leaders should periodically assess their organization’s ethical climate and take
appropriate actions, as necessary, to maintain the high ethical standards expected
of public service organizations. This survey will assist you in making periodic
assessments and in identifying the actions necessary to maintain a healthy ethical
climate.
Self Assessment Exercise
1. How do Police Chiefs set the context for ethical behaviour in Law
enforcement?
4.0 Conclusion
In the world of increasing population deviance and crime as well individual self
control, no doubt ethical issues are very vital in the operation of law enforcement
in order not to abuse powers. On the other hand offenders and the general public
are also enlightened regarding the powers of police and other security agents
complying and conforming to their directives.
5.0 Summary
This examines police ethics and relevant information on police ethics, ethical
behaviours, the way and manner they are set, Policies and practices within law
enforcement organizations, expected actions of unit leaders, and a variety of
environmental and mission factors. It concluded with the submission that ethics is
vital in the enforcement of laws on the part of the enforcers and compliance of
offenders and the general public.
