Unit 4
Ethics: So What!

Overview

Unit 4 discusses the ethical dimensions of policing. More specifically, it addresses the role of supervisors as the purveyors of a code of ethics. Police managers can no longer merely react to ethical problems; instead, they must be proactive problem solvers. Police managers must establish ethical standards and develop ways of ensuring that officers act in accord with these standards. While ethics is taught at the recruit level, it becomes diluted over time as officers are socialized into the day-to-day routines and activities of police work. For this reason, managers must remain proactive and must frequently reaffirm the concept of ethical behaviour. This responsibility poses particular challenges for police supervisors.

Learning Objectives

When you have completed Unit 4, you should be able to achieve the following learning objectives.

1. Recognize the ethical dimensions of policing.
2. Critically assess the need for proactive responses by police managers.
3. Describe effective techniques for developing a code of ethics.
4. Analyse the interrelations between managers and front-line officers as a process of ethics training.