Introduction
Regardless of the type of police unit, at all times individuals serving under police units must follow specific set principles or codes of conduct that define their service. Although such ethics exist, reports of police failure to obey their work ethics are always in the media, a fact that makes many mistrusts such police units hence, questioning their credibility in achieving justice to all.
Codes of ethics are moral standards used as the main behavior evaluating mechanism. That is, regardless of the profession, they are a set of a universally accepted set of rules that guide work performance hence, primary determinants of the nature of relationships, which may exist among different groups in the society. Although in policing the common universal ethics apply, it is important to note that, there is more scrutiny and emphasis on adherence to such ethics; police officers being agents of the peace who serve the entire community (Holden, (n.d.), p.1-2).
Although societal values and rules change constantly, at all times the society expects law-enforcing agents to apply the set professional ethics. That is, regardless of the prevailing conditions, there should be no expression of individual ideas and emotions. This should be the case primarily because, to law-enforcing agents, public well-being and interest take precedence; a fact that sometimes depicts how much the country and its ruling elite value democracy. Treating all individuals in a humane manner is one aspect of conduct, which all police officers must embrace. This goes hand in hand with performing duties correctly without any supervision; a fact that many law-enforcing agents have taken advantage of and misused the opportunity for their own good (Holden, (n.d.), pp. 4-7)
Role of the Code of Ethics
One primary role of the policing code of ethics is defining the acceptable standards under which police should perform their duties. Considering this, the code of ethics is an important tool during the qualifying of law-enforcing agents from training camps as a tool to usher them into their duties. Acceptance of the pledge is a clear indication that the law-enforcing agents are ready to perform their duties with dedication and sacrifice hence, the oath defines their terms of service.
According to the police code of ethics, at all times the state expects any law-enforcing agent to offer their service to all community members with no business; offer the required security to both personal and corporate property; ensure that there is peace and respect of all individual rights in the society, and maintain justice and respect in the society. In addition, according to the police code of ethics, at all times law-enforcing agents must ensure that their private lives never interfere with their service because their badges represent the nature of trust and faith the entire society bestows on them. Closely related to the code of ethics is the code of conduct whose primary role is to ensure police officers enforce the law to their uttermost potentials (Napa Valley Criminal Justice Training Center, 2009, p.1).
In addition to being an oath tool, the codes of ethics give specifications and procedures, which police officers should use as they deliver their service. This includes guidelines for arrest, investigation, and presentation of evidence in prosecutions; guidelines aimed at ensuring that the officers minimize likelihoods of deviant behavior occurring (Rand, 2006, p.1). Examples of common deviant behaviors that result because of abuse of the policy terms of service and power include corruption, overuse of cohesion, and police misconduct.
Police Deviant Behaviors
Corruption is one of the most common police deviant behaviors, a fact that has tainted the image of the police in society. Such a tainted image has made the public lose trust in the police hence, an impediment to the development of desired relationships between the police and the public. Corruption mostly involves the misuse of power for private gain. Common forms of corruption that most police officers are involved in include receiving bribes, involvement with criminal gangs, giving out confidential information on police activities, and soliciting sexual favors from criminals, coworkers or citizens. Depending on the involved police officers, corruption can be departmental (organizational), individual, or environmental (involving the political class or the affluent influences). This has greatly contributed to the increasing crime in society because many criminal offenses go unnoticed and unpunished (Worrall, 1999, pp. 47-66 and Crank & Caldero, 2000, pp. 23-53)
Police brutality is another major deviant behavior common among law enforcement agents. Most reported police brutality cases occur during arrest, gathering of evidence from suspects or dispersing gatherings considered unlawful, for example, protestors. Closely related to this is police misconduct. To some extent, brutality is a form of police misconduct, although misconduct includes police acts, for example, sexual deviance, mistreatment, and misuse of power. Such acts are major contributors of the increasing public mistrust on police (Riccardi, 2010, p.1).
Conclusion
In conclusion, due to the increasing rates of police deviance behaviors, there is need for the federal government to formulate workable policies to alleviate such occurrences; remembering police officers are human hence, individuals must try to understand them too. In addition, police officers must always bear in mind that they are agents of peace in the societies hence, must always learn to respect their oaths.
Reference List
Crank, J. & Caldero, M. (2000). Police Ethics: The Corruption of Noble Cause. Cincinnati: LexisNexis.
Holden, R. H. (n.d.). Ethics in Policing. Central Missouri State University. Web.
Napa Valley Criminal Justice Training Center. (2009). Napa Valley Criminal Justice Training Center: Law Enforcement Code of Ethics. NVCCJTC. Web.
Rand, A. (2006). Topics on Police Ethics. Web.
Riccardi, N. (2010). Grand jury investigating sheriff Arpaio of Arizona. LA Times. Web.
Worrall, J. L. (1999). Public Perceptions of Police Efficacy and Image: The “Fuzziness” of Support for the Police. American Journal of Criminal Justice 24, 47-66.