Community Policing Corruption

In order for a Police agency to prevent and deter Police misconduct, there must be a definition to what actions and behaviors that the term will encompass. The term ‘police corruption’ has been used to describe many activities: bribery; violence and brutality; fabrication and destruction of evidence; racism; favoritism or nepotism. Many different scholars differ in their own examples of the definition. Before attempting to the question of whether a precise definition is possible, it is worth examining the range of activities that might be included within a broad discussion of corruption. In (Bayley and Perito, 2011), it is defined as police corruption is a contested phrase with narrow and broad meanings. Narrowly

Kappeler, Sluder, and Alpert (2009) discussed a series of opportunity and organizational aspects of policing that contribute to deviance. These aspects are identified as legitimizing police deviance through the authority of law, public perception, isolating police/citizen encounters, and limiting and subverting police supervision (p.61). The police enjoy a legal authority and operational justification to operate in a way that would be seen as criminal behavior if any normal citizen would engage in

In the last half century with our highly technological and multicultural society, police officers’ actions have been highly scrutinized and publicized, weakening society’s belief in the justice system. The paradox of law enforcement is that officers are charged with enforcing the law and preventing crime,

Corruption has always been a danger to law enforcement, just as it has been a danger to all of mankind since the beginning of time. Since the very first police agency was formed in the 1800s, corruption has been widespread. The 19th century was an era in which politics played a very large role in police forces. Various political parties essentially had some police departments in their pockets, and as long as officers served to further those political parties’ agendas, the officers’ continued employment was guaranteed. Since politicians have not always been known for being straight-laced, one can easily see how corruption within police departments became prevalent. Since officers were not serving the people, but rather the political elite, their motives were constantly in question. It was not long before politicians began employing police officers to overlook and even protect their illicit activities. Through this practice, officers began to see the potential monetary and political benefits of allowing and participating in certain illegal actions. Even after the establishment of countermeasures such as police commissions, civil service exams, and legislative changes, corruption remained rampant. This corruption was perhaps best exemplified by none other than the actions of many officers within the Rampart Division of the Los Angeles Police Department.

When it comes to police corruption there are so much police misuse being conducted as police being officers they take their a police authority that they have a police officer and just misuse the power that they have. When it comes to police corruption the actions that the officers have they use it inappropriately as not as they should but as personal gain. When police officers uses their power as personal gain the actions good and bad behavior when it comes to the officers. Just thinking about police corruption and how they use and mistreat but that is one of the misconducts for a law enforcement officer. There are two kinds of abuses and they are abuse of authority and occupational deviance. Where occupational deviance is the deviant behavior

Police corruption has been an issue that has left a lasting blemish on communities and society. Police corruption usually derives a lack of respect officer(s) feel that either the city does not care about them or they are not paid enough for their duties. Throughout this essay I will give you a better understanding on the issue that is police corruption by using terminology from the book such as the “rotten apple theory”, “blue wall of silence” and “deviant subculture”. With corruption this affects the view we have on police and it is up to us not fall into the trap of negativity and create a better society for the future.

One of the issues that are affecting the future of policing is corruption. Corruption is generally defined as fraudulent and dishonest actions by public officials with power. This is the same for law enforcement as their corruption is an abuse of their authority for private gain while under duty. This improper conduct usually begins as police deviance. Law enforcement officers with such behaviors are not socially accepted yet has led other officers, especially rookies, into engaging in criminal activities.

Corruption in law enforcement has been active since the beginning of this occupation. Certain characteristics of policing have changed throughout its years, but corruption is not one of them. In actuality, this phenomenon has increased significantly throughout its years. We are seeing more and more officers being arrested now. These arrests do not include the hundreds of officers that have not been caught. Police corruption can generally be defined as using one’s authority and power as a police to gain and benefit illicitly (Wilson et. al, 1977). Some officers become corrupted as early as the academy or as late as years into their career. Many are not even aware that the acts they are involved in are forms of corruption. Some acts may

We have many concerns about having one entity providing all law enforcement in the United States. The separation of power throughout the task force could cause corruption. A single Chief of police could potentially have more power than the President of the United States. They can look over certain crimes, hire biasedly, and be politically active which, can cause even more corruption. If we had a national police force, our taxes would go to other counties with higher crime rates such as Detroit or Memphis instead of going to our own country. This new police force would change the way our country handles crime, the local police now, know what areas to patrol and have a chance to stop potential crimes but with a national force wherever the crime

Many details have been examined in this paper that is extremely concerning to society. The corruptions that exist within the police departments are harming to the communities they lack to serve. There are numerous reasons why police reform is needed across all departments of the United States. The system we currently have in place has fallen so deep that respect the public one had for police has vanished. The information gathered concludes there is a lot of corruption that has gone unresolved. This corruption has come to light due to current technology making it easier to record in the moment. Corruption that has been accepted by authoritative organizations and has made this behavior seem norm within the code of silence.

Police corruption is a form of police malfeasance in which law enforcement officers end up abusing their authority for personal or departmental gain. This type of corruption can involve only one officer, or it can involve a group of officers in a coordinated effort. Police corruption, within the department, is a challenge to public trust, cohesion of departmental policies, human rights and licit breaches involving solemn consequences. Police corruption can take many forms.

The recording of police officers in public places is something that has recently been under speculation. Many people have differing opinions on the legality of this. For the most part, recording police officers in public places is legal, and nothing has been done to make it illegal. However, many states differ in whether the video recordings can be used to go against a police officer and show that they are not fulfilling their police duties.

The cases that are mostly seen worldwide with police corruption are due to drugs and drug trafficking. Police officers get involved with the “easy money” and believe the theory of “I will not get caught”; it is miserable and emotional to see the United States law enforcement get caught up in these cases. “In 2012, two corrupt cops joined forces with drug dealers and are now facing jail time; they put dozens of criminal cases in jeopardy. Officers Diaz and Patrick Mara admitted to ripping off drug dealers of their methamphetamine during traffic stops. This was the beginning to police corruption in Kern County.”(Richard Winton) The two police officers were corrupt since a while back. “They both pleaded guilty to their charge and got punished for it. Officer Diaz would not fully report the drugs they would find and instead would keep more than half. Officer Mara was caught selling methamphetamine to other individuals.” (Diaz and Mara admitted) Other cases they were involved in are now put under jeopardy and could possibly be missed charged. Cops should not allow such horrific thing to occur. If they know about a corrupt cop they should immediately report it. People and younger

Police have been linked to citizens since the reform era redefined the nature of the relationship between police and citizens (Kelling, & Moore, 1988). The new model demanded an impartial law officer who related professionally, neutrally, and in distant terms to citizens. Weaknesses in the model were displayed through a decentralized organizational structure which failed to provide supervision to patrol officers, resulting in a rise in police corruption (Kelling, & Moore, 1988). Continuing reformations put officers in automobiles reasoning that the automobile would increase the extent of the patrol and give the officers a greater advantage over criminals (Kelling, & Moore, 1988).

Within our police system in America, there are gaps and loopholes that give leeway to police officials who either abuse the authority given to them or do not represent the ethical standards that they are expected to live up to. Because of the nature of police work, there is a potential for deterioration of these ethical and moral standards through deviance, misconduct, corruption, and favoritism. Although these standards are set in place, many police are not held accountable for their actions and can easily get by with the mistreatment of others. While not every police abuses his or her power, the increasingly large percentage that do present a problem that must be recognized by the public as well as those in charge of police departments