Ethics involves moral conduct. That is, sound principles that govern an individual or a group’s behavior. Police professionals decide and act frequently with inaccurate or incomplete information and often in highly dynamic and emotional circumstances and typically under pressure, therefore, they are expected to act professionally according to professional codes of ethics.
The police as professionals must think and act ethically. Importance of ethics in police work is that ethics training provides tools for addressing ethical problems and also motivation for action. Ethics helps the police professionals to be able to identify a problem or a dilemma. This will help the individual decide on how best to deal with a certain situation. In addition, it helps one to identify possible solutions to solve the particular ethical issue. With this ability, he or she is capable to list all possible solutions and get a proper guideline. This ensures that there is no bias within the police force.
Without proper guidelines on how delicate issues are to handle individuals will end up using solutions that serve their own selfish motives. They enable one to make rational and ethically sound choice on which possible solutions to choose. Having proper guidelines that serve interests of the nation at large, officers are able to make sound decisions that promote peace and order. Ethics also enables the police decide on what solutions to take in case of disorder in the society.
However, ethics implies that a police officer must be ready and willing to take responsibility of the outcome of the action he or she undertakes. Since they are aware of the actions they take, they should be ready to take responsibility because the law focuses on the action and so long as the act is in line with the law, the reason for it is deemed irrelevant.
In conclusion, ethics considers both the action and motivation for action; therefore, thinking and acting ethically should be part of each police professional and police’s organizational culture.
Reference
Carter, L. (2006, August 8). Measuring Professionalism of Police Officers. Retrieved April 28, 2012, from www.policechiefmagazine.org: http://www.policechiefmagazine.org/magazine/index.cfm?fuseaction=display&article_id=971&issue_id=82006
