Law Enforcement Ethics:More than a Free Cup of CoffeeMore than a Free Cup of Coffee

LT Christopher St. Cyr

Dalton Police Department

Ground Rules

• No Thin Skins

• Be Respectful– Use “Someone I know– No name calling– “Uncle”

• Free discussion for the purpose of learning, not embarrassing!

• QUESTIONS?

Free or Reduced Coffee• While the title of this training implies

there is more to ethics than a free cup of coffee, gratuities are important ethical topics.

• We will spend the next five (not four or six, 5) minutes talking about the pros and cons of accepting or refusing the free or reduced cup of coffee.

Motivator• By Patrick Cronin, April 22, 2009

STRATHAM — Police Chief Michael Daley was arrested in North Hampton on drunken driving charges.

Daley was arrested at the beach parking lot on Ocean Boulevard. According to the North Hampton police log, an officer spotted Daley’s car in the lot after hours. The officer had Daley undergo a field sobriety test and, as a result of his performance, Daley was taken into custody.

The Stratham police chief was subsequently released on $500 personal recognizance bail. Daley is set to appear May 18 in Hampton District Court. Daley was appointed police chief of Stratham in 1992. He was fired in October 1995 but was reinstated a year later after he successfully fought his termination at Rockingham Superior Court.

According to newspaper archives, selectmen at the time accused him of fixing traffic tickets, reducing DWI charges against two relatives (one against his nephew and another on behalf of his wife’s second cousin) and ordering officers to apply for off-duty court fees, while still on duty.

Discussion• How do police actions like this reflect

on all police officers?

• How often did other police officers know of his conduct?

• How do you deal with situations when another officer, especially a supervisor engages in unethical conduct?

• How do you really know what the right thing to do is?

Values• Personal Values• Work Values• Family Values• Community Values

Practical Exercise

Ethical Dilemma• Situations that cause two or more

core values to clash when making a decision.

• Practical Exercise

Mythical PD’s Mission• The primary mission of the police force is crime

prevention and the protection of life and property. The laws and police procedures related to them are promulgated by police agencies for the purpose of maintaining order and continuity. The basis, however, of all police action is the law, and the credibility of the law enforcement profession will be measured by its contribution to the welfare of the people, its concern for excellence, and by the guidance it provides to its members toward a high level of ethical practice.

Law Enforcement Code of Ethics• As a law enforcement officer, my fundamental duty is to

serve mankind; to safeguard lives and property; to protect the innocent against deception, the weak against oppression or intimidation, and the peaceful against violence and disorder; and to respect the Constitutional rights of all men to liberty, equality, and justice.

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• I will keep my private life unsullied as an example to all; maintain courageous calm in the face of danger, scorn or ridicule; develop self-restraint; and be constantly mindful of the welfare of others. Honest in thought and deed in both my personal and official life, I will be exemplary in obeying the laws of the land and the regulations of my department. Whatever I see or hear of a confidential nature or that is confided in me in my official capacity will be kept ever secret unless revelation is necessary in the performance of my duty.

Law Enforcement Code of Ethics (cont.)• I will never act officiously or permit personal feelings,

prejudices, animosities or friendships to influence my decisions. With no compromise for crime and with relentless prosecution of criminals, I will enforce the law courageously and appropriately without fear or favor, malice or ill will, never employing unnecessary force or violence, and never accepting gratuities.

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• I recognize the badge of my office as a symbol of public faith, and I accept it as a public trust to be held so long as I am true to the ethics of the police service. I will constantly strive to achieve those objectives and ideals, dedicating myself before God to my chosen profession - law enforcement.

The Cross-Examination• You are a witness at a trial. Direct

examination has ended. Now it is time for cross...

Cross Examination II• Discuss the results of the cross

examination.

The MissionThe mission of the Mythical Police

Department is the prevention of crime, protection of life and property, and the maintenance of order.

• Still too long?

The Mission• Keeping the peace,

• Preventing crime,

• Protecting lives and property.

• Better?

The Mission* The Mission statement provides guidance about WHY we should be doing, but not how.

Department Goals• The purpose of this manual is to establish the

principles for the management of the Mythical Police Department, and the standards of behavior to which every member of the department shall be held accountable. Its goals are to increase the quality of police service, to elevate the standards of the profession, and to strengthen the public confidence in law enforcement; to encourage officers individually and collectively to fully appreciate the total responsibilities of their office; to earn the support and cooperation of the general public in these endeavors.

• GOT IT?

Department Goals1. Increase quality of police service.

2. Strengthen public confidence in the department.

3. Encourage officers, individually and collectively, to appreciate the responsibilities of their office.

4. Earn the support and cooperation of the community to complete our mission.

BETTER?

Guiding Principals• Duty

• Integrity

• Justice

• Cooperation

• Respect

Mission, Goals, Guiding Principals• Mission is WHY.• Goals are WHAT.• Guiding Principles are HOW.

Ethical Dilemma Part II

• Return to the earlier exercise. • Using the department Mission,

Goals and Guiding Principals, resolve this dilemma.

The Free Coffee

• Your on a traffic post of a bad accident that has one lane of traffic closed. It is dark, rainy and cold. As you run people through, one car stops and the driver rolls down the window. He hands you a cup of coffee and says, “Thank-you.” rolls up the window and drives off.

• Ethical or not?

Review• We learned about values.• We learned the role of Mission

Statements, Goals and Guiding Principals.

• We practiced and discussed how personal values vs. department guiding principals may change decisions when faced with and ethical dilemma.

• We discussed why ethical dilemmas are difficult to resolve.

Questions, Comments, Other Discussion?

For more information...References

– http://www.seacoastonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/ article?AID=/20090422/NEWS/90422037/-1/NEWS19

– IACP Website

– Richard Ayres seminar: Ethical, Character Driven Law Enforcement

Contact LT St. Cyr by email– lt.stcyr.dpd@gmail.com