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Law Enforcement
The Rampart incident illustrates the ethical conflicts that can and do arise in law enforcement. Formal codes of ethics are often set aside for street codes, or "cop codes." These cop codes engender corruption in cases like Rampart in which evidence planting and unjustified shootings were kept silent by a cadre of officers. Loyalty to fellow officers is one thing; covering up unethical or even criminal behavior is yet another. Moreover, the unethical behavior exhibited by a relative few taints the reputation of the entire department and leads to a lack of public trust in law enforcement. An absence of strong civilian oversight exacerbates the problem.
As the review panel's report shows, the current generation of officers are "more likely to challenge authority, and less likely to remain at LAPD throughout their careers," (6). Younger officers with a lack of commitment to the force and the lack of respect for systematic regulations are less likely to take formal codes of ethics seriously. A lack of response to the changing demographics of the LAPD is partly to blame for the ethical conflicts that arise in situations like Rampart. For example, the hierarchical system of management may not be the most effective method and more collaborative practices might prove more effective in eliminating corruption. The "haphazard," "limited" and "marginally effective" training in ethics must also be improved and targeted toward the current generation of officers (6). The review panel also notes a startling lack of ethics education during police officer training programs (7).
The lack of coherence between the formal ethical codes and the street "cop codes" has downgraded public confidence in law enforcement officers and in the ability of the department to meet the needs of the community. Low confidence in law enforcement is especially prevalent in minority communities. The ethical responsibilities of the police force must be revamped to include a greater awareness of the issues affecting minority communities. Unfortunately, the lack of confidence in the LAPD has meant that local residents are less than enthusiastic and highly cynical about participating in community meetings.
Reference
Report of the Rampart Independent Review Panel (2000)
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