Police corruption can be described as a form of misconduct in which the officers charged with law enforcement abuse their power and end up breaking their contract for either departmental or personal gains (Hope, 2015). While many police officers try to operate and act within the stipulated rules, corruption in police service persists. Widespread of police corruption in many countries undermine the rule of law and the general rights of citizens hence making development a heavy task in the face of its citizens. Ethical behavior, on the other hand, can be defined as a behavior which is accepted morally as either right or good in the face of the society. When looking at police corruption, ethics play a major role in ensuring that the law enforcement officers observe their code of conduct as well as personal morals when executing their duties (Hope, 2015).
Situation A
One form of police corruption which is widespread is the shakedown, in which the officers steal items from a crime scene or an arrest for personal use. In most occasions, the officers involved in a theft from a crime scene usually fix the theft crime on to the suspect. After arresting the suspects, the officers charge them with additional crimes which sometimes include theft done by the officers themselves. What makes this category of corruption challenging to deal with is the fact that the officers in authority are the ones doing the charges on the suspects and therefore they are in a position of manipulating the whole scenario to favor them and work against the suspects.
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Concerning the first situation in the interview in which an officer is involved in stealing a candy bar at a crime scene, I would not make instant confrontation with the officer involved. I would instead take note and secret pictures of the whole scenario of the officer taking liquor and together with the officer continue with the operations. After the operations, I would request to have a discussion with the officer involved in which I would remind and emphasize the code of conduct guiding the organization. I would also remind him of the need to play a good role model for new employees like myself and that he should do what he would be comfortable seeing new employees emulate.
I would be as objective as possible in the discussion while paying keen interest in staying positive with him. I would also give my stand in as far as police corruption is concerned so that he avoids associating with such acts around me. I would make it clear to him that I would not tolerate a repeat of the same and that should there be a repeat of it then I would report him to the authority.
Situation B
In my view, leaders are supposed to serve as role models for their followers and highly demonstrate boundaries set in their code of conduct (Lee et al., 2013). Common citizens learn about their actions by observing the police officers and how they carry out themselves in different scenarios. In a case where the officers are the ones involved in the burglary, then they lose the moral authority to enforce the law or carry out any duty accorded to them as this portrays them as being similar with the criminals. Police officers should, therefore, desist from carrying out themselves in a manner that would undermine their work and put their character into question. The officers should look into ways of building trust with the ordinary citizens and even amongst themselves, by avoiding mixing themselves in the crimes that can make citizens question their morals.
Regarding the second situation in the interview in which an officer takes liquor, and the knowledge of the same is before me, I would ask more on why the officer takes liquor regularly. It may turn out that the officer is facing a lot of stress out of an issue that I can help in finding a solution. I would, therefore, give a listening ear first before jumping into judgment. If it turns out that his drinking is just for fun, then I would remind the officer of the consequences of his actions. I would tell him a related story of an officer in another station known to me who was a drug addict who ended losing his job just for taking a few bottles. I would suggest t him ways in which he would gradually reduce the drinking and which would finally make him quit it completely. I would continue monitoring the situation, and if do not notice any change then I would talk to a few friends of his to try helping him on the same.
Situation C
Finally, on the last situation in which I am required to pretend to be the new chief of police aware of corruption cases involving many of my officers, I would bring to their attention the fact that I am aware of all the corruption deeds happening amongst them. I would then issue a stern warning to the officers involved reminding them of their code of conduct and that they should be keen in observing discipline while executing their duties. I would not stop there. Instead, I would reshuffle some of the officers especially the ones who are steering corruption to other stations and bring new ones from other stations. I would also reward police officers who exhibit professionalism while undertaking their duties with promotions to higher posts within the same station. As the chief police officer, I would organize for seminars to discuss more effective ways in which officers can execute their duties without getting corrupt.
Another way in which police corruption is manifested is through extortion. This is whereby the law enforcement officers demand or receive payment from criminals to overlook an already committed crime or a possible future offence. In this category of corruption, police officers receive payment to protect criminals, to alter testimonies of existing cases, to alter or destroy evidence and sometimes to share private information with the criminals. In this case, ethics is about playing fair and thinking of possible consequences of actions taken by the officers.
However, even when one is raised with a high sense of judgment, other people’s bad behavior in the same environment can negatively influence one’s ethical sense as well (Ponsaers, 2001). In my view, leaders who observe ethics think about long-term consequences of their decisions and how their actions can impact on the society. In this case, therefore, the officers should stay true to their values and understand that they are dealing with a different marketplace where the only solution to every problem is to do what is right (Hope, 2015). Payment done by a criminal to overlook a committed crime or a future planned crime can lead the whole country or even the whole generation into deeply rooted problems which might not be solved for a long period. Sweeping these crimes under the carpet may yield huge crimes which may fix the whole country into bigger problems. The right thing to do, therefore, is to professionally carry out investigations on any case presented to the officers and to charge criminals as due.
Another form of police corruption is perjury. In this case, the officers lie to protect their colleagues or even themselves in a court of law when an investigation is being carried out. Most police officers tend to protect their fellow officers who may be involved in committing several crimes which are known to them (Punch, 2000). This is majorly done after receiving bribes from the colleagues, or sometimes they do cover up to maintain the relationships existing amongst themselves at the expense of the victims of crimes.
This form of corruption is majorly carried out by investigative officers who bear comprehensive knowledge of crimes committed, and yet they go ahead and lie, or twist the crime story to favor their colleagues or themselves when an investigation is being done (Miller, 2001). Sometimes, these officers even present false information to the law court. In my view, the character of a leader greatly influences the ethical performance. A strong character, therefore, plays an important role in personal leadership and the general process of leading other people (Punch, 2000).
Research done by Jones suggests that ethical conduct is usually as a result of one’s character and dispositions and not as a result of experience (Hope, 2015). This, therefore, means that a true leader is an ascetic construct, whereby ascetic defines the ability to control ones’ self and to possess personal discipline that would guide when making important decisions. A true leader, therefore, lives from within. In this case, the officers should have a personal conviction that perjury or presenting false information in favor of their colleagues or even themselves would not only damage their peace but also undermine justice to the victims of crimes.
In conclusion, the relationship between the police and the ordinary citizens can only be built when the officers efficiently communicate ethical standards and consistently lead by real example. This way, the citizens will build their trust in them. Writing of code of conduct is not sufficient enough if the ethics are not observed. Morals should be ingrained in every pore of an organization. Police officers should not entertain any ethical lapses either from within themselves or from the ordinary citizens.
References
Hope Sr, K. R. (Ed.). (2015). Police corruption and police reforms in developing societies . CRC Press.
Lee, H., Lim, H., Moore, D. D., & Kim, J. (2013). How police organizational structure correlates with frontline officers’ attitudes toward corruption: A multilevel model. Police Practice and Research , 14 (5), 386-401.
Miller, W. L., Grødeland, Å. B., & Koshechkina, T. Y. (2001). A culture of corruption?: coping with government in post-communist Europe . Central European University Press.
Ponsaers, P. (2001). Reading about “community (oriented) policing” and police models. Policing: An International Journal of Police Strategies & Management , 24 (4), 470-497.
Punch, M. (2000). Police corruption and its prevention. European Journal on Criminal Policy and Research , 8 (3), 301-324.
