Police Corruption

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After skimming over chapter 2 in the textbook, I decided this first discussion post/blog would be about police corruption. The text has four definitions of police corruption, the one I like the best is; “the misuse of authority by a police officer in a way intended to produce personal gain for the officer or officers” (as cited in Banks, 2013).  Police officers have a job which requires respect and admiration from the public, police corruption makes gaining these respects difficult if not impossible.

As mentioned, there are four definitions provided in the textbook, and hundreds to look over online. There are some elements to police corruption which seem a little ‘over the top’ in my option, for example, getting a free cup of coffee from the corner 7-11. Understandably, some feel that taking a cup of coffee from the 7-11 free of charge may result in friendship which ultimately may influence that officer’s judgment in a law breaking situation. I see a visual deterrent from possible crimes and a boost in that officer’s moral which will allow him to work a better shift that day. Either way, there are several guidelines set in place to ensure officers make the right decisions when accepting these type of gratuities.

According to Mr. Feldberg, author of Gratuities, Corruption and the Democratic Ethos of Policing; “When gratuities draw officers to spend more time with persons and businesses that offer gratuities, they risk violating the ethic of democratic policing. This should be the rationale for training officers not to accept gratuities.”  If I understand this article correctly, they are now training newer officers to not take special offers as that can lead to a corrupt officer.

All things are possible even if they seem like no big deal. A study in the textbook explains how a state police department (unknown which state) were so accustom to receiving a discount on their food at a local restaurant that when it was not awarded to them the troopers began to argue with the waitress who was trying to explain to the troopers that the restaurants polices had changed. Additionally, the owner of the restaurant had a family member arrested shortly after, the text does not specify if this is directly related but the way this story is written one would assume so.

Unfortunately, the free cup of coffee is the very least possible type of corruption.  Chapter 2 goes on and on about the different types of police corruption, some of the information is mind blowing. I think it’s also important to note that one bad apple can ruin the bunch. If a police agency wants to earn the respect of the public they must never allow for this type corruption to exist in their department. 

Banks, C. (2013). Criminal Justice Ethics: Theory and Practice (3rd ed). Thousand Oaks, CA. Sage Publications. 

Feldberg, M. (1985). Gratuities, Corruption, and the Democratic Ethos of Policing the Case of the Free Cup of Coffee. Retrieved from https://www.ncjrs.gov/App/publications/ID=99041.