Ethical Environment of the New Orleans Police Department
Melissa Boutte
McNeese State University
CJUS 630-W
Ethics in Criminal Justice

Telephone: (337) 888-0633
Email: mboutte@mcneese.edu
Instructor: Dr. Wayne Thompson

Abstract
Society entrusts police officers to protect citizens from harm and to maintain civil order by enforcing laws set before them. The New Orleans Police Department must adhere to a code of conduct which basically means for officers to treat individuals fairly regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, gender, or sexual orientation; to only use the force necessary to uphold the law and/or to protect themselves and/or others from harm; and to act with dignity and integrity when enforcing the law. This has not always been the case with the NOPD. This paper will discuss the scrutiny the NOPD has fallen under over the years and also what actions have been taken to correct the problems that have arisen within the department. It will also discuss the hiring and training process, along with the reprimanding process for individuals who exhibit unethical behavior.

Ethical Environment of the New Orleans Police Department
The New Orleans Police Department has a long history of corruption and scandal, and although such corruption has been documented dating back to when the department first began, I will only discuss those which have happened from the early 1980s to the present. I will begin with the many scandals over the years, discuss the current hiring procedures, training, and steps that have been taken to reduce the amount of corruption inside the department.

History
Vigilante Cops
Police officers have a sort of “brotherhood” that involves protecting and having each other’s backs, so-to-speak. This brotherhood, for the most part, is considered a good thing; however, when good cops find themselves on the other side of the law