The role of ethics in law enforcement is critical. The public trusts law enforcement agencies to carry out their duties competent, ethical, and efficient. This way is vital for successful crime reduction and community policing. Law enforcement agencies are more efficient and establish mutual appreciation between police officers and civilians in the community. Front-line officers must preserve their credibility both on and off duty to develop a solid moral code (Miller, 2013). Officers must possess this trait before being hired, and they should be willing to allow the police school to restore and improve them. Law enforcement necessitates a strong sense of self-worth and ethical and moral convictions.
Under the Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution, an arrest is a conquest. The processes through which law enforcers apprehend a person must abide by the protection laws guaranteed by the Fourth Amendment, or the arrest will be invalid. The Supreme Court of the United States has determined that arrests committed without a proper arrest warrant for Probable Cause are presumptively illegal under the Fourth Amendment (West’s Encyclopedia of American Law, 2008). Also, arrests performed according to a warrant that officers later found to be flawed might be considered illegal except if the officer acted in good faith in obtaining the warrant and effecting the arrest.
One of the ethical concerns that law enforcement officials face is the obligation to act honestly. Acting honestly is not regularly achievable. An example is when an officer is bound to follow law enforcement ethics while still being constrained in their capacity to enforce the law by adopting particular processes. Off-duty conduct, upholding the law and personal rights, employing reasonable force, acting equitably, and stereotyping are all ethical issues that law enforcers face daily (Miller, 2013). Officers must lead lives held to higher standards than the public at large. Individuals must understand the ethical challenges that police officers face in today’s world to aim for a better future.
The Fourth Amendment bans police officers from arresting pedestrians and searching them without first having a rational and verifiable allegation that they are involved in criminal behavior. A pedestrian may not have to present identification unless they first achieve this requirement. Similarly, police officers cannot stop drivers unless they have reasonable and irrefutable suspicions of breaking a traffic law. Courts have reinforced the rights guaranteed by this Amendment over time (Fisher, 2016). Through the Church, God supports his people in leading a decent and ethical life as Jesus stressed whoever listens to the apostles listens to him (Lk 10:16). The Church has obtained from the prophets the sacred command of Christ to proclaim the redeeming truth as the foundation of truth. The Church has the authority to declare moral principles and make judgments on people’s concerns to the level necessary to people’s basic rights or the redemption of souls at any time and place.
If appropriate, all law enforcement agents have the authority to use violence to enforce the law. The ethical challenge they encounter when facing disobedient persons can jeopardize their lives. In most instances, an officer must decide how much force is appropriate, and a mistake could result in the officer’s injury or death. Officers and individuals in law enforcement can effectively encourage good ethical behavior. To earn approval, they desire to conform to other people’s behaviors, attitudes, and ideals.
References
Fisher, E. (2016). Summary of the Fourth Amendment. Retrieved from https://www.findlaw.com/criminal/criminal-rights/text-of-the-fourth-amendment.html
Miller, S. (2013). Police ethics. International Encyclopedia of Ethics, 1-8.
West’s Encyclopedia of American Law, edition 2. (2008). “Arrest.” Retrieved May 29, 2022, from https://legal-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/arrest
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