Training Day - Police Corruption & Misconduct

In dealing largely with disorderly elements of the society, some people working in law enforcement may gradually develop an attitude or sense of authority over society, particularly under traditional reaction-based policing models; in some cases the police believe that they are above the law. In other cases, police corruption and misconduct may be explained by individuals and individual faults- behavioral, psychological, background factors, and so on.

The composition by recruiting officers is to manufacture loyalty and conformity by implying the craving to seek approval during training and later by experienced officers during their career. Leading officers frequently influence new recruits by their unethical behavior and poor decisions making. Many officers are aware of the wrong behaviors, while others justify their actions by the principles “us versus evil” that “justifies all that police do to control their turf, including righteous abuse of suspects and malcontents” (Crank, 1998). Most officers will follow their footsteps out of fear, rejection, and becoming cut off from the organization.

The criminal justice system is one of the most important components in the public service system. Since it is a system that citizens encounter daily it would be most beneficial for those who are employed to behave as ethical leaders. Leadership skills and ethical behavior are both parts of the duties of any officer serving the law. Often employees are placed in quick decision situations that can have fatal outcomes if not handled properly. By ensuring that all officers of the law have a set of functioning ethical leadership skills can not only develop a well-rounded individual, but also builds the relationship between the community they serve to protect. The police and other officers of the law have great discretion and power over an individual which makes having responsible, ethically behaving persons on the front lines even more important. With the right training and education, ethical officers can set the bar and improve the quality of life of the community they serve as well as other officers.

Each year citizens die in encounters with law enforcement officers. It is reported that “Americans are eight times more likely to be killed by a police officer than by a terrorist” (Rucke, 2013). Although there is no official data base tracking these occurrences it is estimated that between 500 and a 1,000 people are killed by police officers each year. To put this in greater perspective this number equals approximately 5,000 since the 9/11 terror attack which is roughly the same number as U.S. soldiers who have been killed in the line of duty in Iraq (Rucke, 2013). This statistic is justifiably concerning. The cause of police related killings are multifold and cannot be attributed to only one factor. Many deaths may be unavoidable and perhaps, dependent on the situation, necessary. I contend, however, that many of these deaths may very well be preventable.

In order to impose control on their employees, “ administrators are socialized by the organizations they work in and adopt behaviors and preferences that are consistent with organizational goals, thereby minimizing the influence of their own personal values on bureaucratic behavior” (656 Wilkins & williams). According to Wilkins and Williams, police are an oddity, in that they have an innate culture that pushes them away from the social norms they are used to. This article for example, is all about how African American police officers are socialized from “Black to Blue”. What this means is that the socialization of most police departments is so strong, that police officers can lose their prior identity. The overarching and powerful socialization begins as cadets, and continues over the course of their career. It becomes strong enough that it essentially replaces their existing set of norm, and replace them with the police’s.

For years, we have considered any discussions of police misconduct as taboo. After all, these are the men and woman in which we, as citizens, give the responsibility of keeping us out of harms way. We all know it is present within law enforcement in some shape or form, but we ignore its relevance in the way our criminal justice system works. Assumptions of police misconduct and corruption have long been suppressed and silenced through false litigation and system betrayal. The silencing or ignorance of police misconduct acts a strengthening mechanism which those, who engage in this type of behaviour, use as a motivational tool. It is becoming a popular belief that

Charles Tittle upholds the notion that an act of deviance is the result of “control balancing” (Tittle, 2004: 404). One important variable that Tittle discusses is the control ratio variable. This variable refers to “the total amount of control [an officer] can exercise, relative to the control to which [the offcer is] subject” (Tittle 2004:397). Thus, one can hypothesize that when this control balance ratio is unbalanced, the likelihood that an officer could engage in a deviant act is increased. On the contrary, when this ratio is balanced, the likelihood that an officer will act in accordance with the law and department policy is increased. The previous theories have a strong focus with regards to the socioeconomic and political variables that exist within society, which is where Control Balance Theory differs because it incorporates the concept of “control balance desirability” which Tittle

Civilian oversight of law enforcement is a vital element of the democratic society. Effective civilian oversight of police is crucial to guarantee that the police use its power of authority in a way that exhibits respect for the law and individual rights and freedoms. The committee’s responsibility is to maintain a balance between police independence and to complete investigations and maintain order without undue political influence, or influence from any other source while remaining accountable to the public. The belief that civilians do not understand what a police officer faces on a daily basis becomes the crux of most complaints made by

The law enforcement role has authority and power in any society, and often that power is combined with the ability to make discretionary decisions that may profoundly affect the lives of the people in the community. With abundant power and authority, the temptation for corruption occurs. Police corruption is one major type of police misconduct, and has been known throughout history. According to Pollock (2012), “police corruption does not occur just in the United States (p. 175). It is well known that in Mexico many officers are corrupt. In Mexico, police officers are induced and even coerced to collaborate with different drug dealers throughout the country (Pollock, 2012). This paper

Law enforcement officials are in a position of authority and power that allows them a great amount of discretion. With this power there is a need for the individual to uphold the high ethical standards and accountability to the local community that the individual has sworn to serve and protect. When an officer does not follow the ethical standards that are placed upon him or her, the reputation of the department and profession is placed in jeopardy. Having on officer to breach the ethical standards presented with the position can have a negative impact on the communities’ opinion of all officers. It is important that individuals in upper management consistently maintain an environment that consist of integrity and maintain the trust of the

Paramount among the disadvantages is the way the militarized structure cultivates ethical abuses through protecting mediocre poor performance and rejects accountability (Stamper, 2005). It is readily clear law enforcement is not eradicating crime and solving all societal ills through enforcement. In this regard, society must hold law enforcement accountable for its poor performance. A new way of doing business must focus on humanized law enforcement that is accountable to its citizenry. Additionally, agencies must commit to a new model and support change by redeveloping first line supervision through promoting those who show sincere understanding and commitment the new model reinforcing positive interactions with employees while continuing to work and develop those who struggle with the new concept (Stojkovic, 2015).

According to the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), supervisor styles largely impact on the behaviors of patrol officers. The publication How Police Supervisory Styles Influence Patrol Officer Behavior, explores the four-different active types of supervisor styles and how each one impacts the performance of patrol officers. The four supervisory styles identified in this study are innovative, supportive, traditional, and active. Innovative supervisors tend to more open to forming relationships with their officers. Supervisors who use an innovative approach have a more positive view of subordinates, have low level of task orientation, and often inspire officer to embrace new philosophies.

One of the issues that exist today is police corruption and the effect it has on the public's image of the law enforcement. Acts involving misuse of authority by a police officer in a manner designed to produce personal gain for the officers. Corruption in law enforcement has been a problem and it dates back since policing began. Part of the issue is ethics has never been an important part of the police academy curriculum. Ethical dilemmas are often rooted in the ends-versus-means controversy. This lack of education, corruption may creep into a department, beginning with justification for accepting small gratuities such as a free coffee. Ultimately, such justifications can escalate with loyalty overcoming integrity and then entitlement overcoming

As S. Herbert (1998) has observed, “Most comprehensive discussions of the police include some mention of subculture. The police are typically viewed as a distinct group with a particular ethos that strongly influences their daily practices.” While the police subculture often provides a sense of strength and solidarity for many officers, there is also a dark side to this aspect of policing. As with the formation of any subculture, “in-group” members can quickly develop a sense of “us versus them,” and also develop an alternative group morality that is out of line with the morality of the mainstream culture. In fact, many discussions of police misconduct and corruption have focused on the development of a police subculture that, in essence, makes unethical behaviors normative within the “in-group.”

In every police department, beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors are strongly influenced by its culture. This culture is primarily developed through a process of socialization, or beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors learned in interactions with peers and on the job experiences. Socialization has led to both an executive and police officer culture, each with its own perspective of the dilemma of means and ends. Police executives must, by necessity, be as concerned with the means of getting the job done as with the end results; police officers by contrast, tend to be more concerned with reality of the streets and the ends. Therefore, police executives must heed organizational priorities, policies, and procedures; that is doing the right thing in accordance with the rules. On the other hand, police officers may do the job according to the wisdom of the street, often acquired not from the organization 's view of reality but experiences and survival. Through this wisdom of the street, vocational subcultures and major characteristics evolve. A.B. Hollingshead provided the basic definition of a vocational subculture; "a group of specialists recognized by society, as well as by themselves, who possess an identifiable complex common culture, values, communication devices, techniques, and appropriate behavior patterns (Thibault, Lynch, & McBride, p.19, 2011). The major aspects of the police subculture are the three S 's; secrecy, solidarity, and social isolation. Characteristics