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cjustice
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Posted: Sun Jan 4th, 2009 08:13 am | 1st Post |
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This is participation number two for students in the following courses:
All Union Institute and University Winter 2009
(Includes Session I, Session II and Semester Learners)
You must make two posts to receive full credit.
Center for the Study of Ethics in the Professions at IIT remarked, “Codes of ethics are controversial documents. Some writers have suggested that codes of professional ethics are pointless and unnecessary. Many others believe that codes are useful and important, but disagree about why.” The Center for Ethics Continues, “At one end of the spectrum, John Ladd has argued that codes of ethics serve no good purpose whatever. Ladd argues that ethics should be open-ended and reflective, and that relying on a code of ethics is to confuse ethics with law. He further asserts that it is mistaken to assume that there is a special ethics for professionals which is separate from the ethics of ordinary human beings within a moral society. Professionals, he suggests, have no special rights or duties separate from their rights and duties as moral persons, and therefore codes of ethics are pointless and possibly pernicious.”
Go here and look at the IACP Ethics Toolkit:
http://www.theiacp.org/PoliceServices/ExecutiveServices/ProfessionalAssistance/Ethics/ModelPolicyonStandardsofConduct/tabid/196/Default.aspx#ModelPolicy
What is in the IACP Ethics Toolkit that might support Ladd’s proposition that a code ethics might lead us to “confuse ethics with law?” Simply, what does he mean?
Also, consider:
In Educating Critical Thinkers for a Democratic Society, Awbrey and Scott write, “According to Dewey (1908/1980), human beings have a choice about moral method. They can adhere to "customary morality" following tradition or they can employ a form of "reflective" ethics. He notes that there is an "intimate organic connection between the methods and materials of knowledge and moral growth" and when this connection is overlooked, as in much customary morality, "knowledge is not integrated into the usual springs of action and the outlook on life, [and] morals become moralistic--a scheme of separate virtues" (p. 359). Reflective morality, as held by Dewey, operates from the principle "be this" not "do this". He speaks of the "hollowness of outer conformity" and asserts that "conduct is not truly conduct unless it springs from the heart" (p. 3). Our actions, then, are the continuous manifestations of personality and character, not isolated incidents”
Here’s the question – Do codes of ethics simply tell us what and what not to do?
Last edited on Mon Jan 19th, 2009 01:01 am by cjustice
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rhayden
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Posted: Mon Jan 19th, 2009 02:56 am | 2nd Post |
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Do codes of ethics simply tell us what and what not to do?
Well, I think for some there has to be a written rule. Some people need to be told how and what to do. In some cases they have to see on a written document so they understand what good behavior is. For others, ethics come easy, they understand what correct behavior is. I believe ethics are a learned behavior, in most cases taught from birth. Simply put, some parents teach them and some don't.
John Ladd makes a very good point. I agree with him, I don't think law enforcement should put the pressure on it's community that it does. All professions/human beings rather you work as a doctor, law enforcement officer or a person who builds houses, should carry with them the ability to do the right thing in all aspects of your life.
In conclusion, I do think ethic are confused with law. What's the difference if a law enforcement officer commits a crime while on duty or a doctor uses the drugs is suppose to give to his patient. Ethic apply to everyone.
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tkargunion
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Posted: Tue Feb 3rd, 2009 02:33 am | 3rd Post |
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Do codes of ethics simply tell us what and what not to do?
No. The L.E Code of Ethics are fundamental ways of living that a police officer should look at and attempt to follow some aspects of it. However, knowing that no one is perfect, I think it is a guide for officers to follow and to do make ethical decisions. Everyday there are choices one makes whether to do the right thing or not.
How you live your life off-duty is not the department's business. With that knowledge, a police officer is held at a higher standard. You are going to have good morals or not.
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tkargunion
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Posted: Tue Feb 3rd, 2009 02:38 am | 4th Post |
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Law Enforcement Code of ethics is necessary, unlike some people's opinion. As a police officer, when you receive your badge and have taken the oath of ethics, there is meaning in it. What you are doing in this profession is protecting the weak, those who cannot do it for themselves.
People also need to understand that police work isn't pretty!! We take people to jail and sometimes use force. Just becasue it looks ugly doesn't mean there was anything wrong with the way we did it.
This is a chosen profession, as in the last paragraph of the code of ethics....you either belong and do good work or you do not, there is no in between.
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rhayden
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Posted: Tue Feb 3rd, 2009 04:29 am | 5th Post |
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Every Person should come into the job of police work with strong ethics, but not all persons who enter this line of work, have strong enough ethics to sustain a 30 year career.
As far as what you do off duty, you are right, it should not be the departments business, but to a point it is. Most departments have policies that govern your behavior, which includes ethical behavior. Police Officers are their worst enemy and always will be, new policies always seem to come from some type of unethical behavior. Example, one agency had over 60 officers arrested for alcohol related incidents in 2008. Now top management wants to take the privilege of carrying a concealed weapon away when you drink any amount.
In a way, I can't say that I blame the department with that number of officers arrested.
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cjustice
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Posted: Tue Feb 3rd, 2009 04:34 am | 6th Post |
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| Okay, we need rules. Don't lie, don't cheat, etc. But, police work is about discretion in a fluid environment. How are rules helpful when you encounter situations wherein there is no rule? Is ethics simply what and what not to do? Is it rules? Should it be more about how to think? rather than what to think?
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rdavisunion
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Posted: Sat Feb 7th, 2009 02:47 am | 7th Post |
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| ethics are founded on standards of values, integrity, morals, and beliefs. these standards are honesty, courage, principles, character and honor. they are the basis of right and good decisions and behavior. having good ehtics is what makes the difference between possibly having a long career or not. I think everyone can agree when I say that ethics are at the core of providing proper police service.
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rdavisunion
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Posted: Sat Feb 7th, 2009 02:55 am | 8th Post |
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| hello, you know you are right in a sense that the department can not control your private life, however police officers are held to a higher standard and when something bad happens even off duty it directly reflects to the agency and and the profession. especially as asupervisor or higher, the example set in one's private life affects one's ability to retain trust and respect of their personnel
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amannunion
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Posted: Tue Feb 10th, 2009 09:02 pm | 9th Post |
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| A code of ethics is important to police officers as well as in other occupations. Particularly in Police work, there needs to be basic standards from which to follow. There are always going to be human situations where one needs to dig deep or for some on the surface to be able to evaluate circumstances and do the right thing. It is not always easy to discern one's gut from ethics and the responsibility, Ethics allows for an agreement, a starting point if you will to bear in mind while carrying out one's dutiese. It is a structure that must be met in order to stay on the square. Last edited on Tue Feb 10th, 2009 09:03 pm by amannunion
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amannunion
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Posted: Tue Feb 10th, 2009 09:02 pm | 10th Post |
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| A code of ethics is important to police officers as well as in other occupations. Particularly in Police work, there need to be basic standards from which to follow. There are always going to be human situations where one needs to dig deep or for some on the surface to be able to evaluate circumstances and do the right thing. It is not always easy to discern one's gut from ethics and the responsibility, Ethics allows for an agreement, a starting point if you will to bear in mind while carrying out one's dutiese. It is a structure that must be met in order to stay on the square.
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ccurrytwintowers410
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Posted: Wed Mar 11th, 2009 12:20 pm | 11th Post |
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It is unfortunate that some people need written reminders of their human obligations to act appropriately but that is the case. The written code of ethics will not make these people act correctly but they do make them stop and think. They either have ethics or they don't. It falls along the lines of the saying that locks keeps honest peole honest. A wriiten code of ethics serves the purpose of keeping people from straying when they may become frustrated or have a moment of weakness in a situation that they encounter.
The written code also helps an organization set a tone and atmosphere about the top levels commitment and expectations when it comes to ethics as a whole.
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5verrigo5
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Posted: Thu Mar 12th, 2009 03:54 pm | 12th Post |
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| A code of ethics is a form of respect. This code is a way of living on a daily basis in which we need to place our own personal feelings and emotions to the side and get the job done. For example, child molesters are very disliked and presented with type of criminal I have to put the dislike that I have towards these people within me. I have to remind myself that I am not their to be judgemental and that judgement will be decided by our judicial system.
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rrojas410brea
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Posted: Sat Mar 14th, 2009 08:17 am | 13th Post |
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| I think having a code of ethics is a daily reminder of what we swore to when we as law enforcement officers took our oath the day we had our badges pinned on. We are held to a higher standard and when we fall we fall in a more harsh manner that the average citizen. As a new officer these ethics were drilled into my head everyday by my training officer. As with many things in life people often become complacent and I believe that having a code of ethics reminds us that we are not above the law.
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ccurrytwintowers410
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Posted: Sat Mar 14th, 2009 09:36 pm | 14th Post |
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rrojas410brea wrote: I think having a code of ethics is a daily reminder of what we swore to when we as law enforcement officers took our oath the day we had our badges pinned on. We are held to a higher standard and when we fall we fall in a more harsh manner that the average citizen. As a new officer these ethics were drilled into my head everyday by my training officer. As with many things in life people often become complacent and I believe that having a code of ethics reminds us that we are not above the law.
I agree with you. Officers by nature are ethically but they are also humans. They see things that upset them and may have them think about straying by taking the law into their own hands. Have a written set of rules helps keep us grounded and are good reminders
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5verrigo5
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Posted: Sun Mar 15th, 2009 02:38 pm | 15th Post |
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| Ethical Rules and Standards should be written so that the entire department is on the same page. These outlines of our daily duties are written in our Department Policy and Procedures book. Possibly the most important part of this daily outline falls in the hands of management and training officers since they are usually the ones that enforce these guidelines. More importantly and this is where most departments fall short is that since we are all human, each one of us will translate the written Policies and Procedures into our own similar version.
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SteveS410Brea
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Posted: Thu Mar 19th, 2009 09:48 pm | 16th Post |
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| The Code of Ethics is like the Ten Commandments... It is a guide for ethical behavior and by following the guide it will protect you. The Code of Ethics is the value society places on us to be held to a higher standard.
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SteveS410Brea
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Posted: Thu Mar 19th, 2009 09:53 pm | 17th Post |
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| Rojas, do you feel that the Code of Ethics is not being drilled as much as it should be now? Watching and listing to some people conduct business, I wonder if they remember our oath....
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cbakertwintowers410
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Posted: Fri Mar 20th, 2009 01:14 am | 18th Post |
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| Ethics are not something you can read in a book and learn. Ethics are something that is in you. You either have them or you don't. Police Officers are held to a higher standard. The public expect us to obey the laws that we enforce. Unfortunately, like all professions, there are always bad apples. Should those bad apples affect the way law enforcement is viewed? Should their actions/decisions dictate how the rest of us are treated by upper management? I believe in rules to govern law enforcement officers, but I hope that most of us have the ethics and the common sense to make the right decisions and not get caught up in noble cause corruption.
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ktaliankounion
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Posted: Sat Mar 21st, 2009 12:31 am | 19th Post |
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Codes of Ethics pose several questions. Personally, I believe that Codes of Ethics are synonymous to "Rules for Survival." Subsequently, I have asked myself the question: "Is there a requirement, or a necessity, that these things actually have to be in print?" To me, ethics codes are S.O.P., and require neither definition or explanation. They come instinctively. However, after each year of experience, it becomes clearer as to why law enforcement agencies gift their new employees with an updated volume of the Code of Ethics. It's all about ACCOUNTABILITY. If it isn't written down, it is open to individual interpretation. In our business, that is dangerous practice. So yes, in a way, Codes of Ethics tell us what the rules are, in black and white.
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ESanchez410Brea
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Posted: Sat Mar 21st, 2009 04:55 pm | 20th Post |
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Do codes of ethics simply tell us what and what not to do?
No. It is impossible for a code of ethics to include every possible situation an officer, on or off duty, may encounter. As most department policies, a code of ethics is a "guideline" to help identify what constitutes appropriate behavior. "Appropriate behavior," however, is then subject to individual interpretation. I believe a code of ethics is useful and important because it identifies collective expectations for police officers, and reiterates the reality that officers (or deputies) are held to a higher standard by the community, both on and off the job. If a regular citizen injures someone while DUI, it is generally not a news-worthy event. However, if an off-duty police officer injures someone while DUI, it becomes a big news-worthy story. Why? Because most people believe in "do as I do," not "do as I say."
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