Synopses & Reviews
Police officers make thousands of important, life-changing decisions everyday. In order to promote and ensure justice, these decisions must be fair and even-handed. Police officers cannot think or act as if they are free to define what is legal and what is illegal or to decide who is inherently good and who is inherently bad. They must act in an ethical manner. Yet, police officers are given a limited amount of training in police ethics. Often times, it consists solely of a list of do's and don'ts. This book was written to emphasize the importance of police ethics. The authors seek to treat police officers as the intelligent and knowledgeable people that they are, instead of discussing what to do and what not to do. This book discusses various schools of ethical thought in a way that works from the ground up, moving from a general understanding toward practical applications. Readers will gain a workable understanding of ethics that can be applied to the entire gamut of situations they encounter on the street every day.
Review
"Clear and concise presentation of what every law enforcement instructor and executive has been trying to say about police ethics. This book simplifies a very complex subject ..... It's to the point and realistic with appropriate solutions. No other police ethics book gets it like this one."Mary Beth Robbins Finn, Herzing University, Homewood, AL
Review
": I feel this author has an ability to explain difficult matter with ease. Any school that incorporates ethics into their criminal justice program (policing courses) would benefit from this text. I would [also] recommend it be required reading and part of the [police] academy curriculum. .. It would be a terrific reference guide for police officers who want to hone in on their problem-solving skills and people skills. It will help guide officers to a higher level of understanding."Christine L. Stymus, Bryant and Stratton College, Rochester, NY
Synopsis
POLICE ETHICS, 2nd Edition complements traditional police training by illustrating the importance of and techniques for employing ethics in law enforcement. Ethical clarity is especially critical for the police professional - perhaps uniquely so - because the ethical point of view determines the way "police competence" is understood. In addition to the Law Enforcement Code of Ethics, the book promotes an "ethic to live by" for officers, and applies various schools of ethical thought to practical examples in policing. The authors avoid dictating rules and labeling behaviors as inherently good or bad, instead providing the tools necessary for making intelligent, impartial decisions from a positive perspective. Expanded to include philosophical background, practical applications, and more examples of ethics in action, POLICE ETHICS, 2nd Edition is an ideal resource for officers in training and experienced professionals alike.
About the Author
Perez teaches courses in criminal justice, focusing on the police, law and society, the drug war, and introductory courses. After serving as both a police and correctional officer, he began teaching at the college level on a dozen campuses around the nation. In addition to consulting for numerous police departments and the federal government, he has published Common Sense About Police Review and Police Ethics: A Matter of Character (with J. Alan Moore). J. Alan Moore is a Professor of Philosophy teaching undergraduate philosophy and humanities courses at Lyndon State College, where his writing has centered on ethics with specific attention to the Holocaust and criminal justice. He has also taught history in Israel, and studied extensively in Germany. Dr. Moore received his Ph.D. from Tulane University following study at the University of Munich on a Fulbright Grant. Prior to graduate study, he was commissioned in the army at OCS and sent to Ranger School and Recondo School in Viet Nam, and served on a LRRP team.
Table of Contents
PART I: The Setting. 1. The New Police Professionalism. 2. Why Be Ethical? PART II: Ethical Frameworks. 3. What is Character? 4. The Development of Character. 5. Ethical Formalism. 6. Utilitarianism. 7. An Ethic to Live By. 8. Judgment Calls. PART III: Applications. 9. Types of Police Misconduct. 10. Corruption of Authority and Police Crime. 11. Noble Cause Corruption: Confronting Dirty Harry. 12. Ineptitude and Personal Misconduct. PART IV: Implications. 13. The Law Enforcement Code of Ethics. 14. On Becoming a Good Officer. Bibliographical Essay.