Developing Ethical Leaders in Law Enforcement Term Paper

Developing Ethical Leaders in Law Enforcement

At any point in time but especially during periods of social and political unrest, American citizens look to law enforcement authorities to provide them with the informed guidance and support they need to navigate their ways through these challenging times successfully. It is therefore incumbent upon law enforcement agencies at every level to create an organizational culture that places a high priority of ethical policing practices and to develop ethical leaders that can model the way for their subordinates. To this end, the purpose of this paper is to provide a review of the relevant literature to explicate the importance of ethical leadership and to identify strategies for developing ethical leaders in law enforcement today. A summary of the research and key findings concerning these issues are presented in the paper’s conclusion.

Review and Discussion

Importance of Ethical Leadership in Law Enforcement

One of the major sacrifices that all law enforcement authorities make when they accept a badge is a career-long commitment to place the health and welfare of others above one’s own life. Indeed, law enforcement is an especially dangerous profession, and more than one hundred police officers were killed in the line of duty in 2018 alone, representing a 13% increase compared to 2017 (McCarthy, 2020). Despite the significant risks that are involved, thousands of new police cadets successfully complete a rigorous course of training and eagerly join the ranks of the 800,000 police officers already serving the citizens of the United States each year (Law enforcement facts, 2020).

Moreover, police officers are also expected to adhere to a higher ethical standard compared to other citizens by virtue of the trust instilled in them by the general public. For example, according to Owens and Pfeifer (2009), “Police are perceived as upholders and exemplars of the law and that such a position affords its holders power, status, and respect. This position, however, results in extraordinary expectations and, as such, police personnel are expected to be above all, ethical” (p. 124). In fact, this expectation even extends to police officers’ off-duty lives. In this regard, the Law Enforcement Code of Ethics published and maintained by the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) clearly stipulates that, “I will keep my private life unsullied as an example to all and will behave in a manner that does not bring discredit…

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…code of silence can be readily discerned by the public’s negative reaction to isolated but high-profile cases of unethical policing practices whenever and wherever they occur.

Conclusion

The research was consistent in underscoring the importance of ethical leadership in general and law enforcement contexts in particular. Indeed, many people view the police as representing the epitome of ethical professionals since they are empowered – and entrusted – to make the split-second life and death decisions that are needed to protect citizens and their property. The research also showed that there is no longer any room for the code of silence that has long characterized many law enforcement agencies. Although the importance of ethical leadership in law enforcement is virtually undisputed, there were some differing views concerning optimal strategies for developing ethical law enforcement leaders. Some of the overarching themes to emerge from the review of the relevant literature, though, included the need for ethical leaders to model the way for others and to create and sustain an organizational culture that places a high priority of ethical law enforcement practices. In the final analysis, it is reasonable to conclude that modern policing methods will continue to change as a result…