Ethics - Law Enforcement - Research Study
Kardasz: The interesting study discussed below alludes to the "code of silence" that thwarts whistleblowing among law enforcement officers.
Integrity of police officers starts at the top
By Heather Ratcliffe / St. Louis Post-Dispatch / Sunday, Jan. 01 2006
The integrity of police officers may be shaped more by a department's culture and clearly defined policies than by an agency's ability to hire the "right" people, according to a national study. Researchers with the National Institute of Justice found that cooperation among officers on the street is essential in detecting breaches in integrity. But officers are often reluctant to report misconduct because of concern for a fellow officer's welfare, the study showed.
A department's reaction to reports of misconduct goes a long way toward creating an environment of integrity, according to researchers. "Officers learn to evaluate the seriousness of various types of misconduct by observing their department's behavior in detecting and disciplining it," the report reads. Local police leaders agreed with the study.
St. Louis police Chief Joseph Mokwa said his department acts swiftly and consistently to serious misconduct to send a signal to his officers and the community. "How you handle discipline is the most important way to communicate your priorities," Mokwa said. On Dec. 21, in fact, Mokwa suspended a detective, pending further investigation, who allegedly used the threat of a shock from a stun gun to try to get a reluctant suspect to provide his name. The suspect did not report the incident, but a police lieutenant who reportedly witnessed the event did. St. Louis County Police Chief Jerry Lee said a department's integrity is critical to performing its daily duties. "If the people we serve don't trust us, we won't be able to complete our mission," Lee said. Researchers developed the study as a way to measure the integrity rather than corruption in police departments - a task that has proven difficult for academics over the years.
The U.S. Department of Justice paid for the study with a federal grant. Three criminal justice professors wrote the study after surveying 3,235 officers from 30 police agencies across the nation. Officers were asked to respond anonymously to questions about hypothetical scenarios involving police. Their answers reflected their attitudes about misconduct, understanding of department policies and their willingness to report bad behavior. Researchers found that contradictions within a police agency created confusion and made it difficult for officers to determine policy and consequences. For example, accepting half-priced meals and other small gifts while on duty in some departments was prohibited on paper but permitted in practice. Lee said the county police department relies on good supervisors to set an example for officers under their command. "Officers need to know what is expected of them and that they will be held accountable," Lee said.
Mokwa said the new study illustrates the importance of reinforcing policies to create an environment of integrity. "It's a good reminder to re-emphasize the policies," Mokwa said. St. Charles County Sheriff Tom Neer said his deputies walk past a sign that reads "Integrity" at the station at the beginning of every shift. "Integrity is one of the most important character traits for anyone who comes through that door," Neer said. "That's why we remind them every day." Researchers said the study was designed so police executives could use the format to survey their own departments to determine how well their own officers understand their policies and gauge attitudes about misconduct.
The study offered two lessons learned that may improve integrity within police departments. First, commanders should consistently address minor offenses with the appropriate discipline. "From this, officers may infer that major offenses, too, are likely to be disciplined," the authors wrote. Secondly, the study suggests that departments share information about the disciplinary process with the public for scrutiny.
The authors were the late Carl B. Klockars, professor of sociology and criminal justice at the University of Delaware; Sanja Kutnjak Ivkovich, an assistant professor of criminology at Florida State University; and Maria R. Haberfeld, an associate professor of police science at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York City.
The entire study can be read over the Internet at www.ojp.usdoj.gov/nij. hratcliffe@post-dispatch.com 314-863-2821
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