Argumentative Essay About Police Subculture

You succinctly described police subculture and its effects on the blue wall of silence. As you note, police departments are required to have ethics training that should prevent whistleblowers from being ostracized. However, recurrent training sometimes becomes ineffective when it is not taken seriously and there is no accountability by leaders. “The emphasis on ethical dilemmas and theoretical perspectives in training misses the mark because character development is neglected” (Wyatt-Nichol & Franks, 2009, p. 43). Detective Serpico’s life experience proves how quickly police departments can become complacent to criminality within its ranks. It is not so much as turning a blind eye to those police officers that are seen as rotten apples, rather
it is a protection of the overall image that makes leaders push subordinates to put aside their individual values for the greater good. Leaders begin to indoctrinate subordinates and develop a work value system. The irony that arises is that the unethical subculture is strengthened by the camaraderie built to bring people with different value systems together. “May integrity and uprightness preserve me, for I wait for you” (Psalm 25:21, English Standard Version). Taking on a Biblical Worldview, the current state of police departments across the nation are in desperate need of people that are filled with integrity and righteousness. As strains between communities and their police departments increase, it seems like a complete overhaul of the police subculture is needed with the help of champions for Christ in leadership positions and within the ranks.