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Policing and Police Issues

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Submitted By barb1960
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Policing and Police Issues
CJA 303
Police misconduct of the past was centered on the police turning a blind eye toward other officers who committed crimes. When police officers join a police department, they become members of a “brotherhood.” This “brotherhood” plays an important role in the way officers see themselves and the world around them. Officers learn early in their career of the importance of loyalty to fellow officers. This misplaced loyalty is a major factor in police misconduct. Police culture allows misplaced loyalty to flourish, rationalizing it as part of the “brotherhood” (Barry, 1999).
The majority of law enforcement holds the public trust as sacred. These men and women are honest, hardworking police officers who have a commitment to serving the public with integrity and have the highest standards of ethical behavior. There will always be a small number of officers who misuse or abuse the public’s trust (Beech, 1996).
One of the most difficult ethical dilemmas that an officer can face is informing on another officer. Informing or testifying against one’s peers has always been perceived as a career killer for the officer testifying. There are problems however, when police officers protect each other. One of the greatest harms of cover-ups is the harm that is inflicted upon a police officer’s creditability (Pollock, 2004). Who would believe this officer in court testifying at a trial? The defense will go after the officer’s creditability and if there is any hint of corruption or dishonesty, the case is lost. Someone who is guilty is set free because of misplaced loyalty. Untruthfulness should not be tolerated it is not compatible with the police code of ethics and their oath of office.
The reasons that policing is susceptible to corruption are police have the authority to enforce law; police also have the discretion to not enforce the law. Police

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