Police Gratuity

A gratuity is the receipt of free meals, services, or

discounts. Non-federal police usually do not regard
these forms of corruption. These are considered fringe
benefits of the job, nevertheless, they violate the Code
of ethics because they involve financial reward or gain,
and they are corruption because the officer has been
placed in a compromising position where favors can be
reasonably expected in the future. When there is an
implied favour (a wink and nod), its called “mooching”.
When the officer is quiet blatant about demanding
free service, it’s called “chiseling”.
Police Perjury

This is usually a means to affect an act of corruption,

leaving out certain pertinent pieces of information in
order to “fix” a criminal prosecution. “Dropsy” evidence is
typical, where the officer testifies untruthfully that he/she
saw the offender drop some narcotics or contraband. Lies
that Miranda warnings have been given, when they
haven’t, are also typical. Lying in court is called
“testifying”, and police can do it colly; they’re trained
witnesses.
 Police Perjury
Brutality has been defined as excessive force, name calling,
sarcasm, ridicule, and disrespect. Other commissions have
simply used a vague definition as “any violation of due
process”.

When a citizen charges police brutality, they may be

referring to a number of things, include:

Profane or abusive language

Commands to move or go home
Field stops and searches
Threats implied violence
Prodding with a nightstick or approaching with a pistol
The actual use of physical force
 The reasons why an officer might engage in this kind of
conduct are many:
1. A small percentage may have been attracted to police
work for the opportunity to enjoy physically abusing
and hurting somebody.
2. An officer may come to believe “it’s a jungle out
there”.
3. An officer may be provoked and pushed beyond their
endurance.
Police Profanity
There are many why a police officer would use obscene
and profane language. Effective use of verbal
communication is one of the skills expected in police
work. The following typology exists:
1. Words having religious connotations (e.g., hell, goddam)
2. Words indicating excretory functions (e.g., shit, piss)
3. Words connected with sexual functions (e.g., fuck,
prick)

4. Generally, words with religious connotations are

considered the least offensive and words connected
with sexual functions are considered the most offensive.
It’s commonly the case, however, that use of such
language by police officers is purposive and not loss of
control or catharsis.
1. To gain the attention of citizens who may be less than
cooperative
2. To discredit somebody or something, like an alibi defense
3. To establish a dominant-submissive relationship
4. To identify with an in-group, the offender or police
subculture
5. To label or degrade an out-group

Of these, the last is the most concern, since it may reflect

the transition of prejudice to discrimination, especially if
racial insults or descriptions are involved. On the other hand,
profanity for innocent purposes may very well be something
that it is unrealistic to expect will go away in policing or
many other contexts.
Sex on Duty or Duty – Related

Contacts with promiscuous females and minimal supervision

are part of the job. Sooner or later, every police officer will be
propositioned. There are a number of women aho are
attracted to the uniform or the aura of the occupation. Every
police officer will be able to you stories about police
“groupies”. These are women who make the rounds by
waving at officers, getting them to stop or pull over, and then
set up meetings to have sex with them, or sometimes right
then and there. A woman such this typically has sex with the
whole departments and hundreds of police officers. Other
situations involve:
1. Traffic stops – to get a closer look at the female or
information about her
2. Fox hunting – stopping college girls to get the I’ll do
anything routine
3. Voyeurism – window peeping or interrupting lover’s lane
couples
4. Victim re-contacts – consoling victims who have
psychological needs
5. Opposite sex strip searches – touching and /or sex with
jail inmates
6. Sexual shakedowns – letting prostitutes go if they
perform sex acts
Sleeping on Duty

On the night shift, the police car is sometimes referred to as

“travelling bedroom”. In police argot, a “hole” or “coop” is
where sleeping takes place, typically the back room of
someplace the officer has a key to and can engage in safe
“cooping”.
Sleeping on duty, of course, is just an extreme example
of goldbricking, the avoidance of work or performing only
the amount minimally necessary to satisfy superiors.
Goldbricking can take many forms: from ignoring or passing
on calls for service to someone else; overlooking suspicious
behaviour; or engaging in personal business while on duty.
Drinking and Abusing Drugs on or off duty

There are endless opportunities to drink and take drugs

while on duty, and the reasons for it are many: to get
high, addiction, stress, burnout, or alienation from the
job. However, in any cases of recreational usage, the
potential is there for corruption. Alcohol and drugs use
tends to become a systematic problem; others become
involved, either supporting or condemning the user.
Misuse of Confidential Information

This normally involves the jeopardization of on-going

investigations by “leaking” information to friends, relatives,
the public, the press, or in some cases, directly to the criminal
suspects or members of their gang. The officer may be
unaware that they are even engaging in this kind of conduct
which may involve “pillow talk” in some instances. Failed raids
for example, are often due to a leak in the department.
Law enforcer

Law enforcer is one whose primary authority is to enforce the

law and whose constitutional duty is to preserve peace, to
defend and protect the people.

As distinguished from other law enforcers, a police officer is a

general law enforcer who executes and enforces all existing
general, local, special and penal laws other than these
specifically and exclusively assigned to other law enforcement
agencies of the government.
 How to enforce the Law
A law enforcer is presumed to know the law he has
sworn to enforce, one must not be allowed to exercise
and perform the delicate duty as a law enforcer unless he
knows how to enforce and execute the law, including its
boundaries and limitations otherwise, abuses, anarchy
and lawlessness shall prevail

Law enforcers must:

1. Know the ability to learn how they are interpreted by the
courts;
2. Have the ability to learn how they are interpreted by the
courts;
3. Know how to properly execute and enforce such laws;
4. Know how and when to properly effect the arrest of
offenders;
5. Have the technical and legal know-how to protect and
defend the innocent from harassment, and prosecute
offenders who are probably guilty of a felony or a crime

What can be done to restore ethics?

What can be done to restore ethics at your agency, at
your classroom, at your home, or simply in your day-to-day
life, will depend on you.
Recommendations Essentials in Restoring Ethics (by Sam S
Souryal)
1. Talk about ethics. Make it a household term. The power
of ethics is the power of the truth. It will make you a
stronger as a person, as a criminal justice practitioner
and as agent of change.

2. If you search for the truth. You will find it. Stick with
principles, because anything that is not grounded in
principle is meaningless. Transcend opinions, beliefs,
desires, conveniences, and most certainly, political
correctness. Do not suffice with half-truths or
convenient compromises.
3. Demand ethical solutions to common problems. Do not
succumb to social, legal, or organizational clichés. In addition
to laws and regulations, seek out what is right and avoid
what is wrong.

4. Create an environment conducive to civility everywhere

you are. Set the tone for civil thoughts, talks, and
interactions. These can exhilarate your mind and soul. Be
optimistic-it is better to light a candle than to curse the
darkness.

5. Do not laugh at unethical statements, stories, slurs, or

jokes. They are not funny anymore. Remember that little
people laugh at little things, and the civilization of people is
also measured by what they do not laugh at.
6. Reinforce ethical principles by rewarding those who
practice them, regardless of how minute the practice is or
how symbolic the reward maybe.

7. Read philosophical literature and enjoy good books.

They can reinforce your ethical stamina. Refer them to your
subordinates, colleagues and superiors, so that they might
grow along with you.

8. Monitor your commitment to justice, the summum

bonum (highest or ultimate good) of all virtues. Test your
sense of justice by regularly examining your decisions
whom did they favour and whom they did not, and why
9. Keep your soul active, clean, alert, and rejuvenated.
Develop a passion for defending right causes and denouncing
wrong ones-especially if they do not involve you. It is more
ethically rewarding to defend others than to defend yourself.

10. Ethics must be rendered first and foremost by you.

Others would account for their own actions.