“The Blue Wall of Silence” is also known as “Blue Code” or “Blue Shield”. It was generated first in New York. The Blue Wall of Silence is an unwritten code which is commonly referred to as a rule among police officers not to report on another officer’s errors, misconducts, and/or crimes, including police brutality, when they are questioned about an incident of misconduct involving another colleague, during the course of an investigation. In the United States, every state and city has a police force to enforce its laws and ensure that the public peace is upheld throughout the country. The Blue Wall of Silence can be one of many contributing factors that help police officers maintain the unorthodoxy that might be involved within their department. The Blue Wall symbolizes the loyalty among officers within the police force. For officers to maintain this loyalty, many may be forced to overlook the incidences of police brutality which in turn could hurt the victims by preventing them from getting the justice they might deserve. Furthermore, the Blue Wall and police brutality have been and continue to be, protected and simplified by the police culture. …show more content…
Police culture involves a set of standards and rules that have grown through the experience of officers and which are affected by the atmosphere in which they work. Police officers are brought into this “cop culture” from the beginning of their careers that started at the academies they attended. Police officers are more likely to cover up certain kinds of mistakes made by fellow police officers. Some police officers feel that the code is appropriate in cases of illegal brutality or twisting of the rules in order to protect other officers from criminal accounts, but not those of illegal activities with a greedy
Furthermore, Police Officers are held to higher standards than others employed in public service because they alone have the power to limit individual freedom. Another effort to increase legitimacy with the citizens of Dallas is the Law Enforcement Code of Ethics and the Canons of Police Ethics that provides officers with a philosophical en ethical basis for the Dallas Police Department rules and regulations. The provisions of the Code of Conduct shall be observed by all members of the Department in order to maintain the confidence, respect, and support of the public. Police Legitimacy reflects on how the public perceives officers and what they can do to improve or erode those perceptions. In the city of Dallas, there is about one patrol officer for every thousand citizens, as a result, the impact that every single Dallas Police Officers makes on the citizens that we served represent the Police Department in general.
This book begins immediately with some shocking statistics that will allow the police officers in the ethics course to see just how prevalent the code of silence can be. Quinn reports, “only 39 percent of police officers believe fellow officers will report serious criminal violations involving the abuse of authority,” and “52,4 percent of police officers agreed, “It is not unusual for a police officer to turn a blind eye to improper conduct by other officers” (4). The book goes on to discuss why officers partake in the code of silence. A scenario given by the author describes an officer who reports to a domestic violence call and ends up being beaten by the offender. The offender would have killed the officer if it were not for the back up that arrived.
This journal article concentrates on police brutality in a specific section which is when police brutality occurs under custody. The author sheds light on police brutality that has gone undetected and shushed up due to the lack of evidence against police officials to support the defense of the victims. The author also looks at multiple cases where police officials have gotten away with this due to falsifying reports. But also, points out how surveillance has increased, in addition to how all of this is changing because of everyone having cell phones and also the power of recording policing officials, causing much more awareness against this, and how it's changing
It’s in their guidelines they follow the ethical and moral rules put in place, they just have to follow them to avoid making these police mistakes. If police officers followed this code of conduct, they would not abuse their power and police brutality would not be such a big
The article “Police Violence and Citizen Crime Reporting in the Black Community” written by Matthew Desmond, Andrew V. Papachristos, and David S. Kirk also addresses on police brutality heavily. Chapter three of Milwaukee stories main topic focuses on the BPP. Morales stated, “HQ had been shot up, had its windows smashed, and books, food, and other supplies stolen in repeated raids by the police. And just a couple months before there was failed arson attempt. Most of the Party suspected the FBI in that one.”
Many times police officers feel pressured to not report cases of discriminatory profiling, because they do not want to go against their partners. Another way police integrity can be improved is through “collecting data of track traffic stops and other encounters with citizens” (National Institute of Justice). Another way to increase integrity is to have a rotation of officer assignments to prevent officers from being able to hide the misconduct of others. The most long lasting attempt to promote integrity is to train officers in ethics and cultural awareness (National Institute of
Ethics and the Evolution of Police Policing in this present day is defined as an individual or group of individual who prevent and detect crime within a community. Policing compares in many ways. They all attempt to provide services, keep the peace and reduce crime. Policing has evolved into something much more than what it used to be. Within this essay are the many different perspectives and how ethics were learned.
This report is showing light to the communities’ response to police brutality particularly in the black communities and also their encounters with police officers. Police brutality is physical violence and great cruelty demonstrated by a police officer. Police brutality and misconduct have existed for many decades and it even has been broadcasted in news stories over America, but nothing has changed. It has happened predominantly to African Americans in lower-income states. Police officers are given slaps on the wrist for taking a life or injuring an innocent person.
Annotated Bibliography Books Dudley, William, et al., editors. Police Brutality. D.L. Bender, 1991. • Police Brutality gives information on how police brutality is a widespread issue in the United States and explains different controversies and cases that relate to police brutality. • The editors of this book include activists and nonfiction authors who provide reliable information on what happened during different incidences of police brutality and the viewpoints and controversies that come with it.
My research methodology gathered documents of data from specific databases analyzing the understanding of police culture. Researchers explain how there's been a considerable amount of time spent studying police culture. Paoline III has provided an in-depth review of scientific issues within the police culture which has the capacity to have an effect by a variety of study factors; describing various elements and facets of a single phenomenon among occupational members, loyalty, and the crime fighter image. The study teaches new members about the dayto- day components of police work examples: deviance, accountability, and reform efforts, the components of culture understanding the police culture. The studies show how officers perceive their working
Parker conceived the “the thin blue line” The thin blue line is a movement in what transfers the police officers into professional crime fighters. Parker made as a police officer a thin blue line a force that stood between civilization and chaos and protecting society from barbarism and Communist subversion. The police officers had to act with no fear and no favor. For parker he believed that
Police brutality remains a common yet controversial topic around the world. Police brutality is “the use of excessive and/or unnecessary force by police when dealing with civilians” (thelawdictionary.org). It’s a topic that segregates communities and makes each other their enemy. Specifically, a white officer has been the enemy of the black community. Unfortunately, the tension between police and blacks grew over the past few decades.
While it can be interpreted as standing for ones beliefs, a police officer must uphold a high moral code in accordance to the society which is being served. The ethics to which police officers holds themselves, must include the character traits demonstrated in personal life, in addition to operating as public servants. If an officer is deemed untrustworthy at home, they cannot be trusted to work legally within the police department. Honesty within policing is just as important, where failing to admit a mistake can weaken a reputation and call previous cases into question. Although these traits can be trained into an individual, integrity must be developed personally before it can be applied
Many police agencies today have established a code of ethics, or codes of conduct, and it easy to find parallels between Peel’s principles and present policies and
‘’Most officers enter law enforcement with minimal experience in the field or in handling the moral dilemmas that officers typically encounter. They learn how to perform their jobs, as well as recognize the organizational norms, values, and culture, from their peers and supervisors. While supervisors provide direct, formal reinforcement, officers’ peers offer friendship and informal rewards that, in many cases, hold greater influence than official recognition from the agency’’ (Fitch, 2011). Officers who come across situations where they are unsure what is morally and ethically best to do often turn to their peers for assurance and guidance. Good ethical behavior can easily be influenced by officers and those in law enforcement.