Ethical Dilemmas in Police Work

Policing Dilemmas

Ethical Dilemmas in Police Work

For ethical training to be effective in a police profession then there must be continuous education and practice. Officers work in a rapidly evolving field that is in a dynamic environment and therefore will most likely encounter new challenges frequently. These challenges can be further complicated by the fact that officers must often make quick decisions in situations in which their physical safety is on the line. Without proper training there is an increased likelihood that an officer will chose their own self-interest or preservation without regard for the ethical dilemmas that are present in their choices. This analysis will provide some ethical dilemmas that officers might encounter. Such dilemmas can also be used for learning or training purposes so that officers can practice beforehand some of the situations they may face on the job so that they are better prepared.

Ethical Dilemmas on the Job

Denial and refusal to accept the potential for ethical compromise and corruption at "our department" prevents administrators and officers from developing an in-depth understanding and appreciation of the issues; without a clear understanding, adequate information and practical strategies, officers who are exposed to a risk-filled environment are more likely to engage in inappropriate behaviors that can destroy their professional and personal lives . . . As well as the reputation and credibility of their organizations (Gilmartin and Harris). Therefore, it behooves law enforcement professions to consider the types of dilemmas that they will face in their particular environment. Constructing relevant dilemmas that are appropriate for a specific department can make the ethical understanding of officers more relevant to their daily work routines.

One particular issue that is prevalent in a significant proportion of various jurisdictions is the uses of confidential informants. Confidential informants are crucial to many law enforcement investigations and are especially when investigating illegal activities involving illegal drugs. Informants can be a crucial asset to the investigation because they are often able to provide specific information that is difficult to find through any other channels. However, the informants are often criminals themselves; if not properly managed, they can render a law enforcement investigation useless, destroy an agency's credibility, and even endanger officers' lives and therefore to use confidential informants successfully, agencies must develop formal and sound informant control procedures (Lieberman).

The proper approval from the department should always be gathered before using such a channel for information. Furthermore it is important for officers to ensure that informants understand the provisions of their agreement with the agency, emphasizing that informants are not law enforcement officers, have no arrest powers, are not permitted to conduct searches and seizures, and may not carry a weapon. Informants are not to take, and agencies will not condone, any actions that may be considered entrapment (Lieberman). Yet even if all these efforts are made, there are still many issues regarding the use of informants. The most common ethical problems that occur with the use of informants is as follows (Pollock):

Getting too close to the informant

Overestimating the veracity of the information

Being a pawn of the informant who is taking advantage of the system for money or other reasons

Creating crimes by letting the informant entrap people who would not otherwise have committed the crime

Engaging in unethical or illegal behaviors for the informant, such as providing drugs

Letting the informant invade one's personal life