Note: Your assignment will be checked for originality via the SafeAssign plagiarism tool.For
each article critique, you will select 2 peer-reviewed articles no older than 5-10 years. Using
concepts presented in the weekly reading and study, you will write a paper critique that is at
least 4 pages but no more than 7 pages of these articles in current APA format. For specific
grading criteria, see “Article Critiques Grading Rubric.” The rubric can be located under
Course Content-> Course Guides and Assignment Instructions.
Article Critique 1
Locate 2 peer-reviewed articles no older than 5-10 years about ethics in policing
administration. Provide an in-depth discussion of the findings in each article.
1. Based on your critique of the literary pieces, what might an ethical organization look like?
2. Specify the characteristics of training, leadership, and employees that might be expected
in an ethical police organization.
3. Review the biblical themes in the presentation titled: “Police (Part 1)” found in the
Module/Week 2 Reading & Study folder.
4. Discuss some of the challenges associated with organizations that are replete with
corruption like racism and discrimination from a Christian and biblical worldview.
Running head: ARTICLE CRITIQUE
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ARTICLE CRITIQUE 2
Cops, cameras, and the policing of ethics by Stalcup and Hahn (2016) look at the
intention behind having the body-cams and the dash-cams on the police and their cars
respectively. It is noted that the idea behind was to create accountability and tell it from the cops’
perspective but this has not worked as it was intended. Instead, they use cameras, by both
citizens and the police have worked to circulate violent video for mass consumption online. The
article further notes that the problem goes back to the training whereby the police are taught
using a problem-based approach whereby they are given scenarios and asked to solve them as
opposed to teaching skills and ethics as well as legislation.
This article acknowledges the role of technology in propagating the circulation of violent
videos on mainstream as well as on social media. It further notes that this puts a strain on the
relationship between the police and the public where each party acts defensively as opposed to
thinking through their actions. The reactions based on these videos have been most violent
resulting in mass destruction of property as well as deaths and injuries among both parties. These
reactions from both parties cannot be considered ethical in any manner.
The major weakness of the article is that it does not look into the psychology behind the
violent actions of the police officers. Failure to understand what the officers perceive to be a
threat and why leads us to draw no proper solutions. Instead, it problematizes the media for
pushing this type of content which is highly graphic yet the intention behind it is to have the
officers held accountable.
Gender differences in policing: a consideration of ethics by Harvey (2017), takes into
account the age-old problem of women being nurturers and notes that statistically, more women
in the police service were found to practice ethics of care. However, the number of women in the
ARTICLE CRITIQUE 3
service is lower than that of men in the service and hence the overall representation that seems to
suggest that the police service is low on ethical care.
By bringing in gender issues into ethics, this article brings in a new perspective into the
ethics equation. While gender roles and disparities have been studied under different scopes, it is
interesting to note that the police service just like other careers, has women practicing more
ethical care. This, therefore, paints the picture that this might be a problem with social constructs
whereby women socialize differently.
Gender stereotypes in my opinion seem to be a lazy excuse for having men disregard
their ethics because at the end of the day, being a decent human doesn’t have to be torn down to
gender as stipulated by the article.
Integrity is one of the key factors that should drive members of the police service,
whether or not they are being watched (Stalcup & Hahn, 2016). Their work is to uphold the law
and while in doing so, they should be aware of their own biases to consciously work towards
treating everyone in an equal manner. By working past personal biases, there are bound to be
fewer cases of discrimination and instead, everyone gets a chance to be treated in a fair and just
manner. Honesty also goes a long way to enforce the law and as such, the law should not be bent
to enable some people getaway. The law is meant to equalize all members of society and the
police must learn how special their role is towards creating an equal society for all. By learning
the purpose of the law and their role in the bigger picture, there would be fewer cases on
corruption seeing that we would be working with officers who know their role in society and as
such incorruptible (Westmarland & Rowe, 2018).
ARTICLE CRITIQUE 4
There is a need to change the training for members of the police service to take on more
skills and a value-based approach. Leaders who are identified to be ethical should be recognized
more often to provide an example for people to emulate. Training would need to inculcate values
such as humanity, fairness, integrity, honesty, and respect among other values. By constantly
reminding people of these values and seeing them being practiced by their leaders, there is a high
possibility that the learners would come out and practice the said values in real life. As a result,
their decision-making process would be value-driven as opposed to knee-jerk reactions that have
in the time led to wrongful persecution of innocent members of the public by the police.
Herbert (2017) notes that placing a high regard on the human value would see that fewer
people are killed or harassed by the police. Instead, alternative methods would be used and force
would only be used as the last resort. Also, appreciating all human value would see the police
treat everyone with respect treating a homeless person with the same regard they would a
politician as they are all entitled to proper service under the law. This also creates a great rapport
with the public and make the work of the police easier as the public would be more willing to
cooperate if they can view the police as their friends and protectors.
Looking at ethics from a Christian perspective, there are several quotes from the Bible
that ask of Christians to be just and fair as well as treat everyone fairly. More so, the Bible talks
against favoring the rich and powerful which indicates that corruption might have existed since
time immemorial but the guidelines from the Holy Book are to treat everyone fairly and avoid
discrimination. In the current world where there is a lot of chaos and where the public fights with
the people meant to defend them, everyone must fall back onto the ancient knowledge found in
the scriptures that is as relevant today as it was in the past. If we practiced what The Word said,
we would love one another and do unto others what we wanted to be done unto us. This would
ARTICLE CRITIQUE 5
not only work for the police to treat the public well and their colleagues with respect but would
also serve to create a better community whereby the masses trust the police and the police
lookout for the best interests of the public.
ARTICLE CRITIQUE 6
References
Harvey, W. (2017). Gender differences in policing: a consideration of care ethics.
Herbert, S. T. E. V. E. (2017). Accountability: ethnographic engagement and the ethics of the
police (United States) (pp. 23-41). Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press.
Stalcup, M., & Hahn, C. (2016). Cops, cameras, and the policing of ethics. Theoretical
Criminology, 20(4), 482-501.
Westmarland, L., & Rowe, M. (2018). Police ethics and integrity: can a new code overturn the
blue code?. Policing and Society, 28(7), 854-870.
Outline
I. Cops, cameras and the policing of ethics by Stalcup and Hahn (2016), looks at the
intention behind having the body-cams and the dash-cams on the police and their cars
respectively.
II. This article acknowledges the role of technology in propagating the circulation of violent
videos on mainstream as well as on social media. It further notes that this puts a strain on
the relationship between the police and the public where each party acts defensively as
opposed as thinking through their actions.
III. The major weakness of the article is that it does not really look into the psychology
behind the violent actions of the police officers. Failure to understand what the officers
perceive to be a threat and why leads us to draw no proper solutions.
IV. By bringing in gender issues into ethics, this article brings in a new perspective into the
ethics equation.
V. Gender stereotypes in my opinion seem to be a lazy excuse for having men disregard
their ethics because at the end of the day, being a descent human doesn’t have to be torn
down to gender as stipulated by the article.
VI. There is a need to change the training for members of the police service to take on a more
skills and value-based approach. Leaders who are identified to be ethical should be
recognized more often in order to provide an example for people to emulate.
VII. Herbert (2017) notes that placing a high regard on the human value would see that less
people are killed or harassed by the police. Instead, alternative methods would be used
and force would only be used as the last resort.
VIII. Looking at ethics from a Christian perspective, there are several quotes from the Bible
that ask of Christians to be just and fair as well as treat everyone fairly.
