Why It Is Hard for Police to Behave in an Ethical Fashion
The gravity of failing to follow the existing ethical principles is typically detailed to the future members of the law enforcement departments, yet the issue of police misconduct remains drastic in the United States, especially as far as the race- and ethnicity-related prejudices are concerned. However, apart from the identified issue, there are also the problems of patronizing, the blue wall of silence, lying as the means of attaining professional and personal goals, etc. the problems mentioned above beg the question whether there are certain obstacles that prevent the members of the law enforcement unit from complying with the traditional ethical standards.
After scrutinizing the subject matter closer, one might discover that to improve the situation, one will have to destroy the entire system that the secret informal police hierarchy is built on. Indeed, the concept of the wall of silence, as well as other elements of the police code, has become an integral part of the system. To change it, one will have to alter the police members’ concept of justice and ethics, compelling them to accept new principles of morality.
Herein lies the reason for the representatives of the police to fail to follow ethical principles. Even if some of them want to mend their ways, the system does not allow them, making them remain true to the blue code. Realizing the scale of the work that they will have to do in order to alter the current principles of their decision-making process, police representatives refuse to take any actions, at best, and conform to the corrupted behavior, at worst. In other words, it is a combination of fear and laziness that makes the members of the modern police refrain from taking any actions. Unless a stimulus for change emerges, the current state of affairs as far as the ethical conduct of the police is concerned is unlikely to change.
Improving Professionalism of Police Officers in the United States: Analysis
Although the process of improving professionalism rates among the police members has been going on for more than half a century, there are still several issues that need to be managed. Specifically, the issue of power, in general, and force, in particular, needs closer attention as the possible problem area. Indeed, the threat of crossing the line between following one’s duties rigidly and abusing one’s power is sometimes very thin and blurred. As a result, the threat of infringing ones’ rights emerged.
It should be borne in mind that significant progress was made in the 1950s in changing the standards that the representatives of police departments follow. However, the evolution of the police seems to have frozen in time since the contemporary members of the law enforcement units follow the principles that were established several decades ago. Thus, there is a pressing need to redesign the modern concept of professionalism among the members of the police.
Considering the issue closer, one must admit that the law enforcement units must focus on the needs of the community members so that the quality of the police services could be improved. For instance, the significance of global coherence as a characteristic feature of the police must be promoted to each representative of the institution. As a result, the image of the police will be improved gradually for the members of the community to view them as helpful and not a threat. Furthermore, the members of police units must understand the gravity of failing to adopt innovations in their work routine. The subject matter concerns not only technological tools but also new interpretations of interpersonal relationships, the role of the police in society, etc. As a result of deploying the strategies mentioned above, the prerequisites for creating a safer and happier community can be built successfully.