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| The code of silence should not be broken, or should it be? |
These past class lectures have been dwelling deep into the word “ethics.” “Ethics” is this, and “Ethics” is that. Why are we talking about ethics though? We have been discussing ethics because every professional in the criminal justice field should be displaying this. Lawyers, police officers, and judges are supposed to display ethics every day and every hour while on the job. This is because these professionals make decisions that affect normal people every day. Whether it is an officer issuing a ticket, a state’s attorney deciding on a plea bargain or on a guilty verdict, or even a judge making a final say so; ethics are used every day in the world of criminal justice. So are these professionals supposed to have ethics? I would think so. There is something that stands in the way of me believing that one of these professions have ethics or good morals all the time, and that is the blue code of silence, and that is normally used by police officers. The Blue Code of Silence is an unwritten rule among police officers in the U.S not to report on other colleague’s errors, misconducts, or crimes. That is basically saying if you see something wrong, then do not snitch. I would never snitch myself, but if you are officer of the law you have to report crime whether it is your colleague or a random person (that’s why I will not become a cop). Cops are sworn into law enforcement to enforce the law on others, but they won’t snitch on each other because of their code; where is the ethics in that?I know all police officers are not the same. I understand the brotherhood of not snitching on each other. I am in a fraternity so I know some things are meant to be kept in the family. There does come a time when you have to hold your brother accountable for what they are doing, especially when your job is to enforce the law. Sometimes police officers are faced with the decision on whether to snitch on their fellow employee. What would you do if you were in an officer’s position and you knew that one of your colleagues did something illegal? Would you report him/her? Would you look the other way? Honestly, I feel I wouldn’t say anything at all, but then again I am not an officer and I wouldn’t become one so I wouldn’t have to be faced with that decision. I researched a story on a police officer who broke the code of silence and did report a fellow officer. In fact, that officer testified against the whole department. (see link at top of page) The police officer did the right thing to the eyes of the public and to his peers. You cannot argue with that. The officer is now faced with the deep fact that he knows that he broke the code of silence. He will no longer have the bond shared amongst other officers because he broke the code. He will have to go to work every day knowing that he will be labeled as a snitch. That has to be hard on him.I feel bad for this police officer. I feel bad for officers in general. It’s a terrible feeling for getting ridiculed for doing the right thing all because they broke a secret code. What would you do? Would you testify or keep the corruption on the hush? Like I already said, I don’t think I would become a police officer. The job is already stressful enough. I wouldn’t want any more stress put upon myself all over a code of silence.
When you are talking about the code of silence among police officers I think one of the most interesting aspects to examine is the foundation of it. It's interesting to contrast Kant's categorical imperative that we discussed in class, which would say that no matter what you would always have to report the offending officer, to some of the ideas discussed in the readings. I believe the reality of the situation is that the vast majority of officers out there today regularly break their own personal code of ethics to create exceptions for their co-workers. It is demonstrated in the "Fort Apache syndrome", or that us against them mentality that many officers develop over years of service. Some of the things that officers witness being a first responder no doubt take some kind of toll on them. Emile Durkheim originally had the idea of an anomie, or feeling out of place, and I think that the situations police officers regularly have to deal with hold the potential to drive officers towards the issue of anomie. I think that its the two of these factors, "Fort Apache syndrome" and the problem of anomie, in conjunction with one another is what creates that "Thin Blue Line" or the tight knit relationships many officers share. With the foundation of such relationship being such a strong one you would have to think that the offense of another officer would have to be to an extreme extent for action by another to be taken. I think that another interesting situation that could be thought of is in terms of an officer witnessing a partner who may have previously saved his life commit an offense. What justification could an individual make in turning in someone they owe their life to?
ReplyDeleteAnd Kazio wins the prize for the first blog posted! :-)
ReplyDeleteIn regards to the blog post by Kazio Marshall, I say that I would have to tell on the other officer. My reason is simple, it is better for the greater good of people rather than the one. I also take in account the officer broke the law by implanting illegal drugs on a suspect just to meet a quota. The community needs to know because they wouldnt want to be victimized by that officer down the line. In you blog you asked questions regarding ethics. Ethics is making the the right decision based on what the "whole" considers morally right? If you think of this that way then you could possibly see telling on this corrupt officer is the right thing to do. Corruption in the police department is terrible because society holds officers to the standard of them enforcing laws rather that breaking them. As you know one of the most corrupt times was the political era and the professional era sought to keep politics out. What i'm saying exactly is this officer may be your best friend but his professionalism is in question. The ethical decision is reporting that officer.
ReplyDeleteNow Mr Marshall I have a similar question to propose to you. Suppose you were a space pilot transferring a medical stimulant to a planet full of sick people. Now the space vessel you are on has your mass and once you get into the planets gravitational pull, you will be able to land safely and distribute the cure. Now as you are approaching the planet you notice a stowaway aboard you vessel. It is a 13 year old girl. The unfortunate thing is that with her mass and your mass together the vessel will crash once you reach the gravity pull. Now do you kill this little girl and get rid of her to land safely or do you keep her on board risking a crash resulting in your death, the girls and every sick person on the planet?
This is an ethical question.
Darius, I would teach the little girl how to fly the ship and sacrifice myself. Utilitarianism says to sacrifice for the greater good, and you have to get these medical stimulants to those who need it. Actually no, I wouldn't do that, just wanted to throw a little comedy in there. All scenarios like this are hard ethical questions and aren't simply a yes or no answer.
ReplyDeleteTo comment on Kazio's work...
There was a similar issue involving the blue code of silence in one of my other courses, contemporary policing in america. I was originally going to write about it before I even read this post so please everyone don't say I am stealing Kazio's swag. lol. You can read about in my post, its actually about a local officer in the town of bloomington a few years back. Anyways to sum it up, Jeffery Pelo was once a bloomington police officer who had broke in and sexually assaulted and raped numerous women over a span of time. He was clean in his tracks until one night another officer on duty was called to a house on a call of disturbance where the homeowner saw someone lurking around at one in the morning. This officer, officer Dave Zeamer approached the man, and told him to stop, turn around, its the police, etc. And when he turned around it was fellow officer Pelo. Zeamer was obviously in shock, and Pelo had claimed he was looking for a new house for his mother, and claimed that it was easier to "look" at one in the morning when no one is around to bother him. Zeamer knew this was fishy to say the least, but let him go on his way. Should Zeamer have done something right then and there, or allow the law to take its course? Eventually it did and Pelo was sentenced to 440 years for multiple counts of sexual assault. Here we see the blue code of silence come into play. Zeamer didn't know for sure that Pelo was the offender of all these past assaults, but he had a right to at least arrest him there for trespassing. It's not as clear cut as an example, but I made the connection nonetheless.
To sum it up as breifly as I can my views on the blue code of silence is they are fine so long as its petty in nature and what is being done doesn't really harm the greater good. However if the offense that these officers are committing are becoming feloniuos then the line must be drawn somewhere, am I right?
I myself am planning on becoming an officer and I, too, realize how difficult it is going to be. Here is my rule of conduct: you can't go around snitching on every single person for every single thing. Just like being in the real world. For instance I see people cheating on tests all the time but I do not run up and tell the teacher. It depends on what the person has done. Is it as simple as another officer couldn't respond to a call because he was stuffing his face with donuts or because he was doing coke. The answer to which one I would report is pretty simple. Using your best judgment is what police officers do day in and day out, why should it be any different when working for a department? Your gut will usually tell you the right thing to do and it is usually a good idea to listen to it.
ReplyDeleteWe could all say that we would or wouldn't tell, but really none of us know until we in fact are in those types of situations. I would like to say I am a good person and have great morals, but to others I may not. I think that codes are meant to be broken if it's for the greater good.what we learned in class is a lot of common sense that we stand by already. We are all taught to fend for ourselves and sacrifice a few for a bunch of people to survive. I agree with this, even if people think it's not fair. Life isn't fair in general and why have everyone be in danger instead of a few that want to. Officers get sworn in knowing they must in fact do their best what is right. Ethics is the biggest part of the job, it's the foundation of law enforcement. Corruption within police departments will always be there, it's up to police officers to try to change it.
ReplyDeleteI think this is a very hard position to be in. Being a police officer you do have the code of silence but at the same time you have the duty to report behavior that is against the law. How are officers going to arrest people for having drugs on them, in their cars, or doing the drug but then they are going to turn around later that day and do the same drugs they just ruined someones life over? That makes no sense. I also feel bad for this officer. I do think he did the right thing specially if it would be on his consious continuously. I think that even though he did report his fellow officer and now he is looked at as being a snitch, the higher up officers will have a positive outlook on him. There also will be other officers in your department that will have the same morals as you. You cannot be the only one that does not agree with what illegal activites another officer is doing!
ReplyDeleteNo one wants to be the "snitch" but i do think that in certain cases regardless of the the situation, the problem needs to be addressed. In our discussion groups today we talked about how an officer was selling drugs and guns that were evidence to support he family that was bankrupt, clearly someone became aware of the situation and the cops had to throw one their own in jail and rightfully so. Im not saying that you shouldn't have your brothers back but there is a difference between knowing of an others drug use where you can say hey don't let me see that again compared to seeing him brutally beat to death a man of a different race (for example). Police are taught to use discretion and they should use that in all circumstances even when it comes to their own. Personally i believe that even though there is a certain code i don't think i could watch another officer get away with something that a normal citizen is spending years in jail for....which is probably a good reason i will never be a cop. [ GROUP B]
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