CRJS420 DB2

CRJS420-DB2

Name

Class

Date

Professor

Police Ethics

In order to be an effective police officer and public servant the applicant must be capable of displaying ethical behavior. Police officers are afforded a great deal of discretion in their decision making and must be able to apply ethical decision making to the choices that they make. If a police officer begins there career with a lie they are not displaying the type of behavior that is expected by a public servant. If the new police officer were to take Jim’s advice and lie on the questionnaire, he has begun his career as a police officer with an unethical act. Ethics are both professional and personal. If a person displays unethical behavior in their personal life it could extend to their professional role.

If the police officer lies on the questionnaire the old charges could resurface resulting in the officer losing their job. Jim is only concerned for himself and fear that the information about his past drug arrests may surface. The applicant should be completely honest on the questionnaire and explain the circumstances of the arrest. Since all charges were dropped the applicant does not have a criminal record this display of honesty will show that the applicant is capable of displaying ethical behavior. The applicant does not need to mention Jim’s name when answering the questions truthfully.

Police officer must act and think ethically (Gleason, 2006). If the applicant tells the truth about his past drug use in college he could potentially be looked over for the job or he could be respected for his honesty and be considered for the position as police officer. Jim on the other hand has already lied and could face graver consequences for telling a lie. Police officers are expected to display ethical behavior. Jim failed to show ethical behavior when he lied and when he encouraged the applicant to lie as well. Jim could potentially be fired for lying on his questionnaire.

References

Gleason, T. (2006). Ethics Training for police. Retrieved June 18, 2013 from

http://www.policechiefmagazine.org/magazine/index.cfm?fuseaction=display_arch&article