Code of Ethics
Course
Law
Enforcement I
Unit II
Code of Ethics
Essential
Question
Why is it
important to
have ethical
police officers,
and how can a
police agency
attempt to weed
out the unethical
ones?
TEKS
§130.293(c)
(4)(A)(B)(C)
(D)(E)
Prior Student
Learning
None
Estimated Time
3 to 5 hours
Rationale
A law enforcement officer must know what it means to have ethics. They
must understand the consequences of unethical behavior and how it can
affect society as a whole.
Objectives
The student will be able to:
1. Define terms associated with ethics.
2. Discuss where ethics come from and why they are important in
society.
3. Analyze the types of corrupt officers and the police subculture.
4. Assess how to make an ethical decision.
5. Examine ways to reduce corruption in law enforcement.
6. Role play an officer forced to make an ethical decision.
Engage
Have the students write down their personal code of ethics – the one that
they live by daily, or when decisions must be made. It can include how they
decide to treat others or their limits in questionable situations. Use the
Writing Rubric to assess the students’ work.
When the writing exercise is complete lead the students in a discussion. Use
the following questions and the Discussion Rubric:
 What does it mean when someone is referred to as ethical?
 Why is it important for a police officer to have ethics?
 Who is affected by unethical officers and how?
 Is breaking the law to catch a criminal a “good” act?
 Does the “good” end of crime control justify “bad” means?
Key Points
I. Police and society
A. The mission of law enforcement in protecting a democratic society:
1. To fight crime
2. To serve and protect
3. To promote public safety
4. To enforce the law
5. To provide “due process” and “equal protection” for all
B. The police work for the citizens of the community who employ them
C. Police officers have a duty to protect the community, even to the
point of death
D. Police officers have tremendous power in our society:
1. The power to arrest
2. The power to mediate or to charge
3. The power to use force
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4. The power of life and death
E. Police Authority
1. Entitlement to an unquestioned obedience that derives from
fulfilling a specific role
2. The officer has power simply because he or she is a police
officer.
F. Police Power
1. Power is the means to dominate others.
2. The term “power” implies that there might be resistance to
overcome. If there is resistance, it will be crushed.
G. According to Social Contract Theory
1. Each person gives up complete freedom in exchange for the
guaranteed protection of society from others.
2. Police power is part of this quid pro quo.
3. Police power exists to provide protection.
4. Since police power may also violate protection if abused, it is
limited to what is necessary for protection.
II.
The role of the U.S. Constitution in police work
A. The United States Constitution offers protections to citizens from
unreasonable intrusions in their life by law enforcement.
B. Police officials must have exceptions to violate these protections
and these exceptions must be proven in court:
1. Reasonable suspicion
2. Probable cause
3. Warrant signed by a judge
C. Rules and laws in relation to police officials and the U.S.
Constitution are defined in court cases; their application to law
enforcement is ever changing.
D. This separation of powers in the criminal justice field maintains the
integrity of the system while protecting innocent people from corrupt
officers.
III. Ethics in law enforcement
A. Ethics – a code of values which guides our choices and determines
the purposes and courses of our lives
B. The importance of ethics in law enforcement
1. Career survival
2. Media coverage
3. Community view of agency
4. In-house dissension
5. Personal stress
6. Innocent people can suffer
C. The origins of ethics
1. Upbringing
2. School
3. Religion
4. Friends
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5. Society as a whole
IV. Threats to ethical conduct
A. Corruption
1. Exploiting one’s position for personal gain at the expense of
those one is authorized to serve.
2. Police corruption is a worldwide problem.
B. Noble Cause Corruption
1. Involves officers employing unethical means to catch criminals
because “it’s the right thing to do.”
2. Perceived by officers as a fulfillment of their profound moral
commitment to make the world a safer place to live.
C. Discrimination
1. Occurs when a discretionary decision maker treats a group or
individual differently from others for no justifiable reason
2. Individual prejudices and perceptions of groups may influence
an officer’s decisions.
3. Everyone has prejudice; we just need to identify what it is and
not act on it.
D. Graft – exploitation of one’s role by accepting bribes or protection
money
E. Excessive Force – occurs when an officer goes beyond what is
necessary for arrest, or has no lawful reason to use force at all but
does
F. Racial Profiling – stopping an individual based solely on racial
characteristics
V. Other possible ethical issues in law enforcement
A. Duty
1. The responsibilities attached to a specific role
2. It is important for an officer to properly understand their role in
society so citizens’ constitutional rights are not violated.
B. Discretion – the option to choose between two or more courses of
behavior
C. Gratuities – items of value given because of role or position, rather
than a personal relationship
D. Police Subculture
1. An unofficial fraternity of police officers that promotes an “us
versus them” mentality because they
a. Typically form a homogenous social group
b. Have a uniquely stressful work environment
c. Participate in a basically closed social system
2. Characteristics of Police Subculture
a. Cynical
b. Isolated, alienated
c. Defensive, distrustful
d. Authoritarian, dogmatic
e. More conservative than the general public
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f. Value equality less than the general public
g. Value obedience over independence
VI. Types of corrupt officers
A. Grass-eaters
1. Passively corrupt
2. Opportunistic ethical violations
3. Take bribes and gratuities
4. Accept unsolicited protection money
B. Meat-eaters
1. Actively corrupt
2. Regular ethical violations
3. Participate in shakedowns
4. Rob drug dealers
5. “Shop" at burglary scenes
6. Engage in criminal activities
VII. Police discipline within Internal Affairs
A. An internal discipline system where police investigate themselves
B. This may be a separate division within the department or cases
may be given to supervisors to investigate as complaints arise
C. The assigned investigators follow up on reports by citizens and
other officers about other officers’ misbehavior or unethical choices.
D. Sometimes a committee is formed that will make a
recommendation to the chief on what the punishment should be for
the officer found guilty of unethical behavior.
VIII. Ethical decision-making in law enforcement
A. Every decision made should be assessed through application of the
following questions:
1. Is it legal?
2. Is it fair to all concerned?
3. How will the decision make me feel about myself?
B. Other standards
1. The Bell – are there warnings in your head?
2. The Book – are there any codes being violated? (penal code,
CCP, SOPs)
3. The Candle – will the decision withstand public scrutiny?
IX. Enhancing public trust in police
A. Methods to enhance the public’s trust in law enforcement
1. A tough hiring process with high qualifications helps weed out
the potential bad future employees from the good.
2. Qualifications include
a. Clean or limited criminal record
b. Good work history
c. Lack of or limited history of drug abuse
d. At least some college education or military experience
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3. A good hiring process includes
a. Extensive background investigation
b. Polygraph test
c. Oral review board
d. Psychological examination
e. Physical examination
B. Good training brings ethical issues to light and reminds officers of
what to be aware of. This can happen in
1. Police academy
2. Field training
3. In-service training
C. Other ways to reduce corruption
1. Increase pay
2. Eliminate unenforceable laws
3. Establish civilian review boards
4. Improve leadership
5. Set realistic goals and objectives
6. Provide a written code of ethics
7. Provide a whistle blowing procedure that ensures fair
treatment for all parties
8. Rotate assignments
D. Civilian review/complaint model discipline approach
1. An independent civilian agency audits complaints and
investigations.
2. Police still investigate and conduct the discipline proceeding.
3. This can provide more transparency and trust with the
department and the public.
X. Police and Ethics Conclusion – nearly every decision a law enforcement
officer makes is an ethical one and can have long-lasting consequences
in society, for good or bad.
Activities
Code of Ethics Role Play: have the students imagine they are officers at the
local police department, and then create an ethical dilemma scenario.
This could be in the form of another officer doing something illegal or the
officer being in a situation where a tough legal decision must be made.
An example is a domestic disturbance in which, according to the law,
someone must be arrested, even though it may have profound effects on
the family and their finances. After each student writes his or her
scenario, have the students trade scenarios to role play an officer in
each other’s scenario. Have the student playing the officer make a
decision based on the Code of Ethics studied including the U.S.
Constitution. Use the Role Play Rubric for assessment.
Assessments
Code of Ethics Exam and Key
Code of Ethics Open-note Quiz and Key
5
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Discussion Rubric
Research Rubric
Role Play Rubric
Writing Rubric
Materials
Code of Ethics computer-based presentation
Resources
020547893X, Fagin, James. Criminal Justice: Prentice Hall, 2007.
Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Officers Standards and Education
(TCLOESE) Training
Officer’s experience on-the-job
Accommodations for Learning Differences
For reinforcement, the students will choose a police agency they are
interested and research what the hiring requirements are. Use the Research
Rubric for assessment.
For enrichment, students will research stories in the news about corrupt
police officers. Use the Research Rubric for assessment.
State Education Standards
Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Career and Technical Education
§130.293. Law Enforcement I. (One to Two Credits).
(4) The student understands ethical behavior standards required for law
enforcement personnel. The student is expected to:
(A) explain the role of the United States Constitution in relation to the
development and implementation of law enforcement;
(B) evaluate individual ethical behavior standards;
(C) analyze legal and ethical behavior standards protecting citizens'
constitutional rights;
(D) demonstrate strategies to enhance public trust; and
(E) explain the mission of law enforcement in protecting a democratic
society.
College and Career Readiness Standards
Social Studies Standards
I. Interrelated Disciplines and Skills
F. Problem-solving and decision-making skills
1. Use a variety of research and analytical tools to explore questions
or issues thoroughly and fairly.
2. Analyze ethical issues in historical, cultural, and social contexts.
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Name: ___________________________
Date: ____________________
Code of Ethics Exam
Matching:
1. _____Items of value given because of role or position, rather than a personal relationship
2. _____Stopping an individual based solely on racial characteristics
3. _____An internal discipline system where police investigate themselves
4. _____The responsibilities attached to a specific role
5. _____The option to choose between two or more courses of behavior
6. _____An unofficial fraternity of police officers that promotes an “us versus them” mentality
7. _____Exploitation of one’s role by accepting bribes or protection money
8. _____Exploiting one’s position for personal gain at the expense of those one is
authorized to serve
9. _____Occurs when a discretionary decision-maker treats a group or individual differently
from others for no justifiable reason
10. _____Occurs when an officer goes beyond what is necessary for arrest or has no lawful
reason to use force but uses it anyway
11. _____A code of values which guide our choices and determines the purpose and course
of our lives
12. _____Involves officers employing unethical means to catch criminals because “it’s the
right thing to do”
13. _____An independent civilian agency that audits complaints and investigations against
police
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
f)
g)
h)
i)
j)
k)
l)
m)
Discretion
Duty
Police Subculture
Racial Profiling
Gratuities
Internal Affairs
Noble Cause Corruption
Excessive Force
Discrimination
Ethics
Graft
Corruption
Civilian Review/Complaint Model Discipline Approach
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Multiple Choice:
14. _____What is not the mission of law enforcement in protecting a democratic society?
a) To fight crime
b) To serve and protect
c) To protect the vested interests of the police department
d) To provide “due process” and “equal protection” for all
e) To promote public safety
15. _____Whom specifically do the police serve?
a) The chief
b) The city council
c) The citizens
d) The courts
16. _____To what point does the police officer have the duty to protect the community?
a) To the point of physical exhaustion
b) To the point of mental exhaustion
c) To the point of psychological exhaustion
d) To the point of death
17. _____What do police not have power to do in our society?
a) The power to arrest
b) The power to mediate or to charge
c) The power to use force
d) The power of life and death
e) All of the above
18. _____This is the means to dominate others. It implies that there might be resistance to
overcome. If there is resistance, it will be crushed.
a) Police Authority
b) Police Power
19. _____This is the entitlement to unquestioned obedience that derives from fulfilling a
specific role. The officer has power simply because he or she is a police officer.
a) Police Authority
b) Police Power
20. _____According to the Social Contract Theory, in Quid Pro Quo, what does each person
give up in exchange for the guaranteed protection of the society against others?
a) Complete freedom
b) Democracy
c) The right not to pay taxes
d) All of the above
21. _____What offers protection to citizens from unreasonable intrusions in their lives by law
enforcement?
a) Declaration of Independence
b) U.S. Constitution
c) Police department policy
d) An officer’s own conscious
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22. _____What is an example of an exception to the rights afforded to citizens by the U. S.
Constitution?
a) Reasonable suspicion
b) Probable cause
c) A warrant
d) All of the above
23. _____Where are the U.S. Constitution and other laws sometimes defined in regard to
their application to law enforcement?
a) The local city council
b) The Chief’s office
c) Court cases
d) The executive branch of the state (the Governor)
24. _____Which is a reason ethics are important to law enforcement?
a) Career survival
b) Increasing the number of arrests
c) Innocent people can suffer
d) A and C only
25. _____What is not a place we get our ethics from?
a) Society as a whole
b) Religion
c) Our upbringing
d) None of the above
26. _____Police corruption is a rare problem in most parts of the world.
a) True
b) False
27. _____Everyone has some form of prejudice. Officers must not act on theirs.
a) True
b) False
28. _____What, when specifically studied, is important for an officer to properly understand
so citizens’ Constitutional rights are not violated?
a) Their role in their police department
b) Their department’s Standard Operating Procedure
c) Their duty
d) Their law book
29. _____The police subculture attempts to break through the cynical nature and isolation
that police work can bring a person.
a) True
b) False
30. _____This officer is actively corrupt.
a) Grass-eater
b) Meat-eater
31. _____This officer engages in criminal activities.
a) Grass-eater
b) Meat-eater
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32. _____This officer takes bribes and gratuities.
a) Grass-eater
b) Meat-eater
33. _____ This officer shops at burglary scenes.
a) Grass-eater
b) Meat-eater
34. _____This officer takes advantage of opportunistic ethical violations.
a) Grass-eater
b) Meat-eater
35. _____This officer is passively corrupt.
a) Grass-eater
b) Meat-eater
36. _____This officer regularly engages in ethical violations.
a) Grass-eater
b) Meat-eater
37. _____This officer robs drug dealers.
a) Grass-eater
b) Meat-eater
38. _____This officer accepts unsolicited protection money.
a) Grass-eater
b) Meat-eater
39. _____This officer participates in shakedowns.
a) Grass-eater
b) Meat-eater
40. _____Every decision we make should not be assessed with which of the following
questions?
a) Is it legal?
b) Is it fair to all concerned?
c) Is something I need to keep to myself?
d) How will the decision make me feel about myself?
41. _____In making an ethical decision in law enforcement, what would be the symbol for
seeing if the decision will withstand public scrutiny?
a) The bell
b) The book
c) The candle
42. _____In making an ethical decision in law enforcement, what would be the symbol for the
warnings in your head?
a) The bell
b) The book
c) The candle
43. _____In making an ethical decision in law enforcement, what would be the symbol for
seeing if any codes would be violated?
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a) The bell
b) The book
c) The candle
44. _____Which provides more transparency and trust with the department and the public?
a) Internal Affairs
b) Civilian Review/Complaint Model Discipline Approach
45. _____A committee formed to make a recommendation to the police chief for the
punishment of an officer who has been found guilty of unethical behavior would be
a characteristic of what?
a) Internal Affairs
b) Civilian Review/Complaint Model Discipline Approach
46. _____Which of the following is not one of qualifications a police department would use in
their hiring process to weed out the good potential employees from the bad ones?
a) Clean or limited criminal record
b) Good work history
c) No limits on history of drug abuse
d) At least some college education or military experience
47. _____A good hiring process will include
a) Extensive background investigation
b) Polygraph test
c) Oral review board
d) Psychological Examination
e) Physical Examination
f) All of the above
48. _____By the time an officer is in field training, undergoing ethics training would be too
late to have much of an impact.
a) True
b) False
49. _____Increasing pay for police officers is one way to reduce corruption.
a) True
b) False
50. _____A written code of ethics is an effective way to reduce corruption.
a) True
b) False
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Code of Ethics Exam Key
1. E
2. D
3. F
4. B
5. A
6. C
7. K
8. L
9. I
10. H
11. J
12. G
13. M
14. C
15. C
16. D
17. E
18. B
19. A
20. A
21. B
22. D
23. C
24. D
25. D
26. B
27. A
28. C
29. B
30. B
31. B
32. A
33. B
34. A
35. A
36. B
37. B
38. A
39. B
40. C
41. C
42. A
43. B
44. B
45. A
46. C
47. F
48. B
49. A
50. A
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Name: ___________________________
Date: ____________________
Code of Ethics Open-note Quiz
What involves officers employing unethical means to catch criminals because “it’s the right thing
to do”?
1.
What is an independent civilian agency that audits complaints and investigations against police?
2.
What are items of value given because of role or position, rather than a personal relationship?
3.
What is the term for stopping an individual based solely on racial characteristics?
4.
What is an internal discipline system where police investigate themselves?
5.
What is an unofficial fraternity of police officers that promotes an “us versus them” mentality?
6.
What is exploitation of one’s role by accepting bribes or protection money?
7.
What is exploiting one’s position for personal gain at the expense of those one is authorized to
serve?
8.
What are the responsibilities attached to a specific role?
9.
What is the option to choose between two or more courses of behavior?
10.
What occurs when a discretionary decision-maker treats a group or individual differently from
others for no justifiable reason?
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11.
What occurs when an officer goes beyond what is necessary for arrest or has no lawful reason
to use force but uses it anyway?
12.
What is a code of values which guide our choices and determines the purpose and course of
our lives?
13.
List at least two different types of missions of law enforcement in protecting a democratic
society.
14.
15.
Whom specifically do the police serve?
16.
To what point does the police officer have the duty to protect the community?
17.
Name two kinds of powers police have in our society?
18.
19.
What is the means to dominate others and implies that there might be resistance to overcome
that will be crushed?
20.
What is the entitlement to unquestioned obedience that derives from fulfilling a specific role
where the officer has power simply because he or she is a police officer?
21.
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What happens in Quid Pro Quo?
22.
What does the U.S. Constitution do?
23.
List an example of an exception to the rights afforded to citizens by the U. S. Constitution?
24.
Where are the U.S. Constitution and other laws sometimes defined in regard to their application
to law enforcement?
25.
List two reasons why ethics are important to law enforcement?
26.
27.
Name two origins of ethics?
28.
29.
What is a worldwide problem?
30.
What does everyone have a form of?
31.
What is important for an officer to properly understand so citizens’ Constitutional rights are not
violated?
15
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32.
List two characteristics of the police subculture.
33.
34.
List two characteristics of a grass-eater.
35.
36.
List two characteristics of a meat-eater.
37.
38.
List one of the questions every decision we make should be assessed with?
39.
What is the bell?
40.
What is the book?
41.
What is the candle?
42.
List at least two qualifications a police department would use in their hiring process to weed out
the good potential employees from the bad ones?
43.
44.
Name two things a good hiring process includes?
45.
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46.
Name one place in which ethics training can happen?
47.
List two effective ways to reduce corruption?
48.
49.
List at least one comparison between Internal Affairs and the Civilian Review/Complaint Model
Discipline Approach.
50.
17
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Code of Ethics Open-note Quiz Key
1. Noble Cause Corruption
2. Civilian Review/Complaint Model Discipline Approach
3. Gratuities
4. Racial Profiling
5. Internal Affairs
6. Police Subculture
7. Graft
8. Corruption
9. Duty
10. Discretion
11. Discrimination
12. Excessive Force
13. Ethics
14. To fight crime
15. To serve and protect; To promote public safety; To enforce the law; To provide “due
process” and “equal protection” for all
16. The citizens
17. To the point of death
18. The power to arrest
19. The power to mediate or to charge; The power to use force; The power of life and death
20. Police Power
21. Police Authority
22. Each person gives up complete freedom in exchange for the guaranteed protection of the
society against others
23. Offers protections to citizens from unreasonable intrusions in their life by law enforcement
24. Reasonable suspicion, Probable cause, A warrant
25. Court cases
26. Career survival
27. Media coverage, community view of the agency, in-house dissension, personal stress,
innocent people can suffer
28. Society as a whole
29. Religion, Upbringing, Friends
30. Police corruption
31. Prejudice
32. Their duty
33. Cynical
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34. Isolated, alienated, defensive, distrustful, authoritarian, dogmatic, more conservative than
the general public, value equality less than the general public, value obedience over
independence
35. Takes bribes and gratuities
36. Takes advantage of opportunistic ethical violations, passively corrupt, accepts unsolicited
protection money
37. Actively corrupt
38. Engages in criminal activities, shops at burglary scenes, regularly engages in ethical
violations, robs drug dealers, participates in shakedowns
39. Is it legal? Is it fair to all concerned? How will the decision make me feel about myself?
40. The symbolic symbol for the warnings in your head
41. The symbolic symbol for seeing if any codes would be violated
42. The symbolic symbol for seeing if the decision will withstand public scrutiny
43. Clean or limited criminal record
44. Good work history; lack of or limited history of drug abuse; at least some college
education or military experience
45. Extensive background investigation
46. Polygraph test, oral review board, psychological examination, physical examination
47. Police academy, field training, in-service training
48. Increase pay
49. Eliminate unenforceable laws, establish civilian review boards, improve leadership, set
realistic goals and objectives, provide a written code of ethics, provide a whistleblowing
procedure that ensures fair treatment for all parties, rotate assignments
50. Internal Affairs
 An internal discipline system where police investigate themselves
 This may be a separate division within the department, or cases may be given to
supervisors to investigate as complaints arise
 The assigned investigators follow up on reports by citizens and other officers
about other officers’ misbehavior or unethical choices
 Sometimes a committee is formed that will make a recommendation to the chief on
what the punishment should be for the officer found guilty of unethical behavior
Civilian Review/Complaint Model Discipline Approach
 An independent civilian agency audits complaints and investigations
 Police still investigate and conduct the discipline proceeding
 More transparency and trust with the department and the public
19
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Name_______________________________________
Date_______________________________
Discussion Rubric
Objectives
4 pts.
Excellent
3 pts.
Good
2 pts. Needs Some
Improvement
1 pt. Needs Much
Improvement
N/A
Pts.
Participates in group discussion
Encourages others to join the
conversation
Keeps the discussion progressing
to achieve goals
Shares thoughts actively while
offering helpful recommendations to
others
Gives credit to others for their ideas
Respects the opinions of others
Involves others by asking questions
or requesting input
Expresses thoughts and ideas
clearly and effectively
Total Points (32 pts.)
Comments:
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Name______________________________________
Date_______________________________________
Research Rubric
4 pts.
Excellent
Objectives
3 pts.
Good
2 pts. Needs Some
Improvement
1 pt. Needs Much
Improvement
N/A
Pts.
Question/goal
Student identified and communicated a question
or goal of the research
Research/Gathering information (if relevant)
Student used a variety of methods and sources
to gather information. Student took notes while
gathering information
Conclusion/Summary
Student drew insightful conclusions and
observations from the information gathered.
Information is organized in a logical manner
Communication
Student communicated the information gathered
and summary or conclusions persuasively.
Student demonstrated skill in the use of media
used to communicate the results of research
Reflection
Student reflected on the importance of the
research and its potential application
Total Points (20 pts.)
Comments:
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Name:____________________________________
Date:_____________________________
Role Play Rubric
Objectives
4 pts.
Excellent
3 pts.
Good
2 pts. Needs Some
Improvement
1 pt. Needs Much
Improvement
N/A
Pts.
Relates to the audience
Provides fluent rendition of the
scenario
All required content is included
Acts with feeling and expression
Varies intonation
Presents characters appropriately
Gives the scenario its full range
Breaches are easily identified
Total Points (32 pts.)
Comments:
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Name:____________________________________
Date:_____________________________
Writing Rubric
4 pts.
Excellent
Objectives
3 pts.
Good
2 pts. Needs Some
Improvement
1 pt. Needs Much
Improvement
N/A
Pts.
The writing has all required parts from
introduction to conclusion in smooth
transition.
The writing is interesting, supportive,
and complete.
The writing demonstrates that the
writer comprehends the writing
process.
Accurate spelling, grammar, and
punctuation
The content of paragraphs
emphasizes appropriate points.
The writer shows an understanding of
sentence structure, paragraphing, and
punctuation.
All sources and references are clearly
and accurately documented.
Total Points (28 pts.)
Comments:
23
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