POLICE ETHICS

AND
POLICE-COMMUNITY
RELATIONS
I. The PNP Code of Professional
Conduct and Ethical Standards
Significance of Ethics
• Ethics is Indispensable
• Without moral perception, man is no different from
animals
• Without moral, man is a failure as human being
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Importance of Ethics and Values
•Ethics is an indispensable knowledge. Without ethical
perception, man is only an animal. Without values, man as
a rational being is a failure.
•Moral values are the only true measure of what man
ought to be.
•Moral values are the foundation of every human society.
Morality is the foundation of every human society.
without civic morality, community perish and
survival has no value. All cultures admit the
importance of morality as standard behavior. When
the moral foundations of nation are threatened, the
society itself is threatened.
Morality is the foundation of every human society.
without civic morality, community perish and
survival has no value. All cultures admit the
importance of morality as standard behavior. When
the moral foundations of nation are threatened, the
society itself is threatened.
HUMAN ACT
* An act that is performed only by a human being
and thus it is proper to man. It is voluntary in
character.
KINDS OF HUMAN ACTS
Elicited Acts - these are those performed by the will
and are not bodily externalized.
a. Wish is the tendency of will towards something,
whether this be realizable or not.
KINDS OF HUMAN ACTS
b. Intention is the tendency of the will towards
something attainable but without necessarily
committing oneself to attain it.
c. Consent is the acceptance of the will of those
needed to carry out the intention.
KINDS OF HUMAN ACTS
d. Election is the selection of the will of those effective
enough to carry out the intention.
e. Use is the command of the will to make use of those
means elected to carry out the intention.
f. Fruition is the enjoyment of the will derived from the
attainment of the things he had desired earlier.
Commanded Acts - are those done either by man's mental
or bodily powers under the command of the will.
a. Internal actions
• Example: conscious reasoning, recalling somethings,
encouraging oneself, and controlling aroused emotions.
b. External actions
• Example: walking, eating, dancing, laughing, listening,
and reading
c. Combinations of internal and external movements
• Example: studying, driving a car, writing a letter, and
playing chess.
MORAL DISTINCTIONS
Classification of Actions According to the norms of
morality
• Moral (Good) - These are actions which are in
conformity with the norm of morality.
• Immoral (Bad) - These are actions which are not
in conformity with the norm of morality.
.
MORAL DISTINCTIONS
• Amoral (Indifferent) - These are actions which
stand neutral in relation to the norm of morality.
They are neither good nor bad in themselves. But
certain amoral actions may become good or bad
because of the circumstances attendant to them.
THE MODIFIERS OF HUMAN ACTS
a. Ignorance - absence of knowledge which a
person ought to possess.
b. Passions - either tendencies towards desirable
objects, or tendencies away from undesirable or
harmful things.
THE MODIFIERS OF HUMAN ACTS
c. Fear - disturbance of the mind of a person who is
confronted by an impending danger or harm to
himself or loved ones.
d. Violence - It refers to any physical force exerted
on a person by another free agent for the purpose of
compelling said person to act against his will.
THE MODIFIERS OF HUMAN ACTS
e. Habits - It is a lasting readiness and facility, born
of frequently repeated acts, for acting a certain
manner. They are acquired inclinations towards
something to be done. They assume the role of a
second nature, moving one who has them to perform
certain acts with relative ease.
History of Ethics
The English word “ETHICS” is derived from the
Ancient Greek word, ETHIKOS, which means
“relating to one’s character”. The Ancient Greek
adjective ETHIKOS is itself derive from another
Greek word, the noun ETHOS meaning “character,
disposition.
 Basic Police Values
History of Ethics
It comes from the Latin Word “ETHOS” means
customary, behavior, moral. The two words Latin –
ETHICUS and Greek ETHIKOS have the same
meaning which is customary.
 Basic Police Values
History of Ethics
ETHICS is the branch of philosophy that examines
right and wrong moral behavior, moral concepts
(such as justice, virtue, duty) and moral language.
 Basic Police Values
Origin of Ethics
•many world literatures, such as the Mesopotamian
Epic of Gilgamesh, portray a set of values that suit
the strong leader of a small tribe
•valor and success are the principal qualities of a
hero
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•in the literature of ancient civilizations, advise
farmers to leave some grain for poor gleaners, and
promise favors’ from the gods for doing so
•ancient religions and ethical thinkers put forward
version of the golden rule: do not do to others what
you do not want done to yourself
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•Orlando (O.W.) Wilson - perhaps best known as
the author of the Police Code of Ethics
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Concept of Ethics and Values Formation
Ethics
• is the science of the morality of human acts and
rational human behavior
• ethics is the capacity to determine right conduct
and the knowledge of what is right from wrong
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Values
• is qualitatively determined behavior which has a
normative obligatory character and presupposes the
liberty of possible decision
• are the application of ethics
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Core Moral Values
1. Love of God – give God what is due Him
2. Respect of Authority – treat freedom with a sense of
self determination and exercise intelligently obedience.
3. Selfless Love of People – respect human life and to
love
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Core Moral Values
4. Chastity – respect the dignity of human sexuality
5. Responsible Dominion Over Material Things –
should share it with his fellow men bearing in mind that
the material world is limited
6. Truthfulness – never telling what is not
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Core Work Values
1. Industriousness – what a person wants to, looks
for, keeps busy, and strives to work well
2. Sense of Responsibility – what a person does is
dependent on him and he puts his will and intellect
to his job (creativity/initiative)
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Core Work Values
3. Order (Sense of Time) – prioritizes the use of
time, values his time, “first things first”
4. Collaboration – fosters teamwork and solidarity
for unity
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Possible Causes of Public Mistrust for Police Ethics
1. police subculture exists that either turns good
officers bad or tolerates evil in the midst of policing
2. most of policing is just a front for racial
discrimination
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Types of Misconduct
1. Malfeasance - intentional commission of a
prohibited act or intentional unjust performance of
some act (e.g., gratuity, perjury, use of police
resources for personal use)
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Types of Misconduct
2. Misfeasance - performance of a duty or act in a
manner which is improper, sloppy, or negligent (e.g.,
report writing, unsafe operation of motor vehicle,
aggressively "reprimanding" a citizen, improper
searching of arrestees)
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Types of Misconduct
3. Nonfeasance - failure to perform an act (e.g.,
failure to file report, improper stop & frisk, security
breach)
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Legitimacy and Trust
• Legitimacy refers to how fair or just the
outcomes of policing are, and trust refers to a faith
in the procedural justice of policing.
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Legitimacy and Trust
• indicators:
o Priorities (do the police share the same priorities as
the public?)
o Competency (do the police accomplish the
requirements of their job?)
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Legitimacy and Trust
• indicators:
o Dependability (are the police dependable?)
o Respect (do the police treat people with respect?)
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Uses of Police Codes of Ethics
1. can establish special standards of conduct -
most important
2. can help those new to the practice learn how
they should act
 Basic Police Values
Uses of Police Codes of Ethics
3. can remind those with even considerable
experience of what they might otherwise forget
4. can provide a framework for settling disputes
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Uses of Police Codes of Ethics
5. can help those outside the group (”the public”)
understand what may reasonably be expected of
those in the group
6. can justify discipline
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The Law Enforcement Code of Ethics
• As a law enforcement officer, my fundamental duty is
to serve mankind; to safeguard lives and property; to
protect the innocent against deception; the weak against
oppression or intimidation; and the peaceful against
violence or disorder; and to respect the Constitutional
rights of all men to liberty, equality, and justice.
 Basic Police Values
The Law Enforcement Code of Ethics
• I will keep my private life unsullied as an example to all; maintain
courageous calm in the face of danger, scorn, or ridicule; develop self-
restraint; and be constantly mindful of the welfare of others. Honest in my
thought and deed in both personal and official life, I will be exemplary in
obeying the laws of the land and the regulations of my department.
Whatever I see or hear of a confidential nature or that is confided to me in
my official capacity will be kept ever secret unless revelation is necessary
in the performance of my duties.
 Basic Police Values
The Law Enforcement Code of Ethics
• I will never act officiously or permit personal feelings,
prejudices, animosities, or friendships to influence my
decisions. With no compromise for crime and with relentless
prosecution of criminals, I will enforce the law courteously
and appropriately without fear or favor, malice or ill-will,
never employing unnecessary force or violence, and never
accepting gratuities.
 Basic Police Values
The Law Enforcement Code of Ethics
• I recognize the badge of my office as a symbol of
public faith, and I accept it as a public trust to be held so
long as I am true to the ethics of police service. I will
constantly strive to achieve these objectives and ideals,
dedicating myself before God to my chosen profession -
law enforcement.