Every type of business comprises not only economic affairs but also ethical. The modern world is considered to be amoral and hostile, so to work better and without extra conflicts, colleagues should follow simple rules which are gathered in the Business Ethics Documents. Business ethics is a mode of behavior; it controls the ethical behavior of members of the company and other business partners. Business ethics plays two main roles that are, observance of regulations and rules of the company members and partners and providing the control under them. There are professions where working ethics is very important as it reflects the norms of behavior, which are the basis for this kind of work.
Focusing on the professions where working ethics is very important, the most valuable example is the police department. Working as a law enforcement officer, it is crucial to follow working ethics as these are the main rules, and the failure to implement these rules may lead to discharge. A great responsibility is set on the enforcement officers who are aimed to maintain order in the society and protect people.
Identifying sources of change in personal and organizational ground rules using a current ethical issue, it is possible to mention that the police officers’ ethics are strict, and this makes them always be ready for anything. The rules which are identified in their behavioral policy are aimed to organize the person, to make him/her more strict and precise in his/her actions. This ethics teaches police officers to be stronger in order to survive in the extreme conditions where they usually appear.
Considering the law enforcement code of ethics, it could be noticed that policemen are always under pressure. It is important for them always be attentive and ready to react to any danger, but people’s organism cannot cope with all the requirements which are demanded, some rest should be taken from time to time in order to release from that tense. Newcomers to the police may be depressed by the tension which is maintained on them, so some time for relaxation, physical and, what is more important, moral should occur in the professions like police officers.
There is always a basic skeleton that is impossible to change in the ethics of the enforcement code, but there is also always a field for improvement in this sphere. The world develops, and more and more new aspects appear every day which should be taken into consideration. To be specific, examples of racial discrimination can be mentioned. The periods when Afro-Americans were considered slaves have passed, and the code of ethics of every policeman announces that there is no discrimination between people’s racial belonging: policeman should offer his/her help to everybody without exception. People should do away with vestiges of the past, and the police officers should be the first to show the example to society.
Every policeman during his work should come through the courses where he/she is introduced with the innovations in the sphere of law and criminal catching methodic. During these courses, the policemen also revise and get to know new information about the code of behavior. These innovations, if they occur, are very important to know as to follow the code of behavior is the main policemen’s obligation. The sphere of law is fulfilled with the rules, the ignoring of which may lead to serious consequences both for this very police officer, who dared to disobey and for his/her authorities.
Following the ethical rules in the police department is very important as these people are exemplary in obeying the laws, and people watch them and comprise their own mode of behavior. Police officers should obey the law, as they are the guarantees of its implementation, they should be honest, both during their work and in private life. Police officers are the example for citizens of the country which they serve, and they should correspond to the position which is occupied.
The law enforcement code of ethics was not implemented for free. These rules were composed, improved, and still continue to develop; as the people’s understanding of the world changes, the unstable situation in the world dictates its rules, and relations between the nations become peculiar because of political affairs. The examples of Afro-American treatment and the racial prejudices in general, the international friction with some countries influence the police officers’ code of behavior greatly. The increased cases of acts of terror demand advanced discretion and vigilance in the airports and in the places of people gatherings.
The education and raised attention to the upbringing also provide its correction in the police officers’ code of behavior. People became more educated, and they demanded corresponding treatment. Accused are also people, and they should be treated according to their status as human beings. Extra power implementation while arrest may turn to be a problem for the policeman if he/she allowed imparting too much power or going beyond his/her commission. People’s rights are on the highest level of consideration. Even those who are convinced are not going to endure the violence or beating from the police side. It is important to remind those police officers do not to permit such behavior even if it is directed to the criminal, as it is written in the law enforcement code of ethics.
The law enforcement code of ethics is rather easy to follow as it mainly reflects the mode of behavior for every person, with the only distinguishing feature that it is the policeman’s duty and he/she must follow it, while the simple person may just ignore it. One of the main indicators of good work of the police officer is his/her following the mode of behavior which is written in their ethics.
As it was mentioned above, the moral rules of modern life were not so significant in the past, so it is important to follow the new comings and the main changes which occur in the moral field of people’s life. Years ago, the police departments were different; people, who worked there, were different, their duties and obligations were also different. But the unchangeable remained the aim of the police officers, to maintain order in the society and to protect people from criminals and violence which they may occur.
The main change is the innovative progress that also entered police life. Computers and Internet have lightened the process of criminal identification and catch. Different kinds of bugs and other devices for shadowing make police work more effective. The mass media also helps by announcing the information about criminal escape or person missing with the photo. The telephone invention allows cooperating quickly during the operations or to announce about the danger in this or that region.
Kohlberg constructed three levels and six stages of moral reasoning. The levels are (1) pre-conventional morality, (2) Conventional morality, and (3) post-conventional morality. It is possible both to agree and to disagree with the stages, dealing with the code of behavior of the policemen. The first stage of Kohlberg’s moral reasoning says that every person provides moral actions only if this action fits him/her. The code of behavior for police officers does not allow such understanding of ethics, as it is their duty to do all possible for people to feel safe without thinking about themselves. (Kohlberg)
The second stage is the understanding that other people also have needs, but people are eager to satisfy these needs only when they meet their own. The police officer also cannot follow this stage as his/her duty is to meet all people’s requirements (in the law measures, of course) and to satisfy their needs according to their obligations. Police officers cannot think about themselves while catching dangerous criminals, as the whole society is under threat. Police officers shall not forget about their own security, but the state interests should be their first consideration.
The third stage clearly underlines the police workers’ responsibilities. They should distinguish “bad” persons from “good” ones and provide punishment for those who belong to “bad”. They also should ‘consider someone’s intentions in determining innocence or guilt” (Kohlberg). The fourth stage also purely reflect the law enforcement code of ethics, saying that “individuals look to society as a whole for guidelines concerning what is right or wrong. They perceive rules to be inflexible and believe that it is their “duty” to obey them” (Kohlberg). It must be noticed that the second level (third and fourth stages of moral reasoning) greatly underline the obligations of the police officers, which are written in their code of ethical behavior, which they should follow.
The fifth stage faces the state governors’ obligations, as their duty is to change the rules and law articles if they do not correspond anymore to the needs of the society. The universal ethical principle is the last principle of Kohlberg’s classification. It is the main rule for everybody as if the ethical principles of the company do not correspond to the personal moral principles, and a person may break these rules in order to save his/her dignity and reputation.
The problem with the ethics in the American police appeared with the wrong understanding of the fighting with the criminality several years ago. The criminal was usually considered as an enemy who should be fought with. In real life, such ideology leads to the necessity to identify oneself with the person who appears in the conditions of armed conflict, in the state of constant defense. Such a role position demands quick, resolute, and uncompromising actions, the only aim of which is to win the enemy and to stay alive.
Police departments, who emphasize the fight with criminality as the essential part and style of their activity, rather quickly turn to repressive forms of social control and focus their intentions not on the means of maintenance of the struggle but on reaching the result – victory. Such action may often lead to illegal compulsion and to cases of violence under the criminals.
The situation has its solutions, and there are several ways of going out of it. First of all, the ideology should be reviewed. As the main function of the police is offering service to society and the maintenance of social security but not fighting with criminality. The refusal from the aggressive politics and perception of the criminal as the person with deformed behavior which needs correction, but not as the enemies of the society should be provided.
It is impossible to name the work of the police effective if this work is directed only to dealing with the outer manifestation of the criminality, not to the removal of the causes of this criminality. It is very important to work in a team, to cooperate with society, and to strengthen the democratic positions of society. The mentioned problem may be quickly removed if to insert in the work of the police such basic and fundamental principles as respect to other personalities, benevolence, effectiveness and professionalism, observance of the principles of legality and leadership of the law, responsibility, care about surrounding people, honesty, selfless service to the society.
When the problem occurred, it was the 1990s, the police overlooked the principles of the force powers and designed the other code of ethics, which allowed following other rules and constructing other imagination about the work and the duties of the police officer. The problem of distrust of the police workers occurred, and it was difficult to overcome it. But the problem was solved thanks to the cooperation of the police and the citizens of the country. The rights of the criminals are observed during the arrest, and the person has the opportunity to protect him/herself during the court procedure. There is no place for rude attitudes to people in a democratic society.
The Law Enforcement Code of Ethics is the main rule which should be followed. Some people may see there some disadvantages or defects, but it is natural. There always should be criticism and the opposite point of view in order to stimulate some desire for improvement. The world is developing, people also develop their opinions and views, and the work of police structures should also follow these developmental changes and react to them, as the work of the police is the face of the society and effective work shows the high developmental level of the state.
In conclusion, the police Law Enforcement Code of Ethics is the main principle of work that police officers should follow. These rules of ethics show the police officers’ fundamental duty that is to serve society, to maintain people’s security, and to guarantee the constitutional rights of people such as liberty, equality, and justice. Ethics in the police departments is the most strict and severe as the order may be provided only in a society where police are strongly organized and can protect the citizens of their country. Police have always been different, and they developed with the development of society. The innovative technologies help police to catch the criminals, and people’s understanding of ethics is followed. Police have access to a huge amount of personal information thanks to computers and the Internet. Privacy is one of the main rules which are followed by the police.
Reference List
Kohlberg. Three Levels and Six Stages of Moral Reasoning. Online.