In an article, Ethics
in Law Enforcement, it states “The oath of office lays the groundwork for instilling ethical behavior, but it doesn't stop there. To help guide officers toward ethical decision making, most agencies codify those practices that they hope to promote and those they expect officers to avoid. Within an agency's code of ethics are specific provisions promoting the safeguarding of lives and property, the importance of avoiding bias and the understanding that the badge is a symbol of the public trust. In short, the code of ethics requires that officers are not only prepared to enforce the law, but to follow it. They are called to be examples to the public and to demonstrate the right way to behave, rather than the entitlement mentality they are so often accused of exhibiting.” From my perspective, when an law enforcement professional breaks the law, they destroy the public trust and degrade the general mission of of the law enforcement in local communities. Every agency executives, chief, or leader set the tone for what constitutes acceptable behavior, however, who cross the ethical lines face appropriate consequences. One way to identify ethical issues is to educate law enforcement professionals on the issues and understand the consequences. Each law enforcement professionals take an oath to be honest, upstanding citizen and promised to be part of the solution, not part of the problem..Also they promise to follow the rules, whether they agree with them or not.