Police Dishonesty: The Importance Of Police Honesty

Police Officers are a symbol of justice in the public eye. They represent a long storied tradition of courage and sacrifice to uphold and protect the law. Officers are expected to maintain the highest degree of ethics and personal behavior throughout their careers. Great lengths and expense go into each and every recruit. All of this hard work and dedication is to help form and shape the best men and woman within America’s police force. However, what happens when the trust has been broken and the dependability of one of these men and women officers can no longer be counted on? Unfortunately there have been failures in ranks by a few “bad apple” cops who have had a negative impact within the criminal justice system. There have been many cases and complaints of police corruption and abuse but for this paper will be researching the impact and importance of police honesty and integrity.

Officer Dilemma
For this discussion we are using the following example. It has been brought to the attention of the Chief of
It is surrounded in secrecy but the “blue wall” of police silence feeds the sub-culture of police dishonesty and corruption. It deteriorates personal ethics and is cemented in the “us against them” mind set of some police officers who are willing to break the rules to satisfy personal achievement and career advancement. The real problem is that an embarrassingly large number of police officers violate citizens’ rights, engage in corruption and commit crimes while escaping detection and avoiding discipline or prosecution for many years” (Flood). Dishonesty thrives in departments across the country because honest officers fear retaliation and career ending labels of “rat and snitch” by reporting police abuse and corruption. We see the effects of police dishonesty and the realization of its presence, now what steps have been taken to limit its