Edwin J. Delattre authored the sixth edition of Character and Cops Ethics in Policing, which was released in 2011. The police department and all of its relevant topics are covered in the book. The book's "Introduction" chapter is where the review is located. Briefly describing the book's goal and primary components is the section's main subject.
The police department is a crucial one with relevance in every community in the world. The safety of the local populace is the responsibility of the police. The writer argues that our literature shows us that the cops are sarcastic, estranged, disaffected, and unhappy, but it is not true in real life and society. Most officers of police department tend to be passionate, dedicated and responsible regarding their job and duties. The police department is not a choice but a necessity to the society. It is not only for the protection of the society but also for making the general public regulatory and conscious of the importance of law and order. Every person has weaknesses, and nobody is perfect in this world. Many people are good for the society, and many are badly contributing to it as every individual has his or her own beliefs, values, morals and ethics which differ. So the police force is essential to convert a society into the civilized community and its protection in every manner. There is a definite need of guardians of society to protect and regulate its rhythm and flow. Cops are much needed for the defense its citizens from any possible harm, to maintain peace and regulate law and order.
Evaluation and Conclusion
The main theme of the chapter is to introduce the audience to the book and its contents. The author describes the necessity of the police department and how these people secure any society. In his point of view, the dream of every community is to get freedom from the dictatorship because people want to be free and benefit from the security. So that is why society needs rules and law enforcement. Each community wants the police department trusts citizens, respects and believes in them.
Chapter 2: “Excellence of Character”
The review is the second chapter of the book entitled “Excellence of Character”. The main theme of this chapter is a brief description of the nature and character of the development and superiority of the police department.
Summary
The main point of the chapter is to show that to be an excellent and good person is not only police traits but the features of every person in the society. The author believes that every human has the competency to do the right thing, in the right way and at the right time. By birth sympathy and social awareness is the part of every person’s nature. In author’s point of view, humans are impulsive, and it is called first nature of individuals. When the individuals grow, they learn to show the habits of their conduct, and it is called second nature.
Evaluation and Conclusion
According to the writer, a bad person is the one who gains profit by victimizing other people and never cares about right and wrong. Society as a whole should never be devoid of sentiment and it is both moral and ethical responsibility of everyone to take care of and be kind to one another. It is not just the liability of the police department but it is the moral duty of every person living in this world.
Chapter 3: “The Mission of Police”
This review is the third part of the book named “The Mission of Police”. The primary theme of the portion is to explain the basic purpose of the police department and their existence in the society.
Summary
The main mission of the police force in the United States of America is that to spread the “experiment in the ordered liberty”. It means that the power is not linked to one man or one official personality and it is equally distributed in all areas and parts of the government, like in the judicial, legislative, federal and executive branches of the government. The basic mission of the police is to protect and balance the power as well as to maintain law and order and protect and secure the liberty of law.
Evaluation and Conclusion
In the United States, the power of the country is evenly distributed all over the government parts and ensures the liberty and security of the authority. The power should be balanced that no person or agency can fully operate without any restrictions.
Chapter 4: “The Public Trust and Probity”
The review is the fourth chapter of the book named “The Public Trust and Probity”. The main theme of the section is to discuss the public trust of society and serving their honor and respect.
Summary
The author argues that a public office is just like a public trust. The police force is acting as public servants in the society, and their motto should be to give priority to their duty above any own advantage for anyone related to them.
Evaluation and Conclusion
The police force should be happy to sacrifice their private connections such as friendship and loved ones for the sake of the Rights of the society.
Chapter 5 & 6: “Discretion” & “Public Corruption for Profit”
The review is devoted to the fifth and sixth chapters of the book. The main theme of the fifth division is about discretion which means that the law authorities decide which laws are important and should be applied in the society. The main theme of the sixth chapter is devoted to the corruption and disloyalty to general public.
Summary
Section six is based on the differences between the corrupted and uncorrupted personalities. In the portion, the topic which is emphasized includes the properties that play the significant role in the prosperity or deterioration of any society. Chapter five discusses the discretion of the authorities and officials who tend to be the official policy and law makers.
Evaluation and Conclusion
The main conclusion of chapter five is to discuss the discretion and its importance in society. Some rules and regulations are significant and must be observed by law enforcement bodies. The main conclusion of chapter six is that the society should be responsible and uncorrupted that leads to the social justice and peace.
Chapter 7: “Authority and Reform in Controlling Corruption”
Introduction
Corruption has grown its roots in every field and profession including the police department as well. Luckily, the problem is not incurable. The biggest issue of corruption is that it hides in the cloak of secrecy and keeps growing with exponential rate. Usually, the crime doers are holders of substantial posts and staff under them prefers perjury rather than confession.
Summary
Corruption is a continuously growing problem which has some solutions, but all of them are very complicated and challenging. As it is said, ‘it is harder to reform a curriculum than to move a graveyard’ (Delattre 45). Administrators who are responsible for change must be efficient in politics and should not be concerned with position and power. According to a police chief, the bottom line of reform of the police department is the control of personal matters. The role of the police chief against the cancer of corruption is extremely significant.
Evaluation and Conclusion
No matter what is the extent of citizen administration, the presence of the police chief during the implementation of anticorruption policy is essential. There are certain problems which occur during controlling the citizen review boards. There are plenty of responsibilities on the shoulders of the police chief like budget, misconduct, fraud, discipline and union compromise.
Chapter 8: “Leadership and the Character of a Department”
Introduction
According to Booker Taliaferro Washington, Frederick Douglas believed that a rightful soul within a person cannot be degraded by the irrational differences of race, color, and ethnicity (Delattre 109). Both of them had a strong faith that it is much more harmful and worse to impose the evil than to suffer. It does not mean that a person must suffer from wrong actions; it just refers that a person must prefer pain and trials on the path of truth and righteousness than comfort on the path of wickedness.
Summary
Not only in the police department but in every profession and life process person should prefer good over bad or less bad than more bad. In the police department, usually, there are two types of officers. First are those who look for all possible ways so they can escape the judgment of good and bad while second are those who, when experience bad, point it out.
Police forces, in particular, are associated with more suffering and failures than in any other field because, despite strict law enforcement and following of rules, there will always be individual or little value corruption, perpetrators, and wrong doings.
Evaluation and Conclusion
The level of failures, trials, and hardships is much higher in policing but the department is morally and lawfully bound to keep its own track clean and must follow Fredrick Douglas concepts to gain success. Success can only be achieved if we understand and perceive its real and actual meaning. Law enforcers must remain steady and sharp under pressure; otherwise, they have greater chances to undergo burnout. Burnout is not a cause but it is a representation of failure. Therefore, the hiring of law enforcement department must put extra care to select those individuals who have a higher threshold for pressure and difficult conditions. Community Patrol Officers Program (CPOP) is an important step towards application and regulation of law and order. Rigorous training and high-performance standards are essential steps to ensure the recruitment of worthy individuals.
Chapter 9: “Illegal Narcotics - Moral Issues and Public Policy”
Introduction
This should turn into global public problems, which, due to the restriction of the use of drugs by government officials, get out of control. It is crucial for police officers to educate the public on the matter as it is becoming necessarily important with the rapid increase in murders, thefts, and other crimes because of the issue. The issue of the legalization of narcotics by Congress is highly debatable. Both extremes of the issue are unmanageable. It sounds unusual at first, but police officers should use different platforms like media and newspapers to communicate with the general public and aware them regarding the issue. The problem has already become morally more appropriate.
Summary
It has become a social, ethical and moral responsibility of police officers to educate and aware the general public about the important issue of narcotics trafficking. Everyone agrees that no amount of diligence or expenditure on the supply and demand sides of narcotics can eliminate drug use. The only solution to the problem is its control, not abolition. There are certain platforms and authorities that argue over the legalization of narcotics.
Evaluation and Conclusion
The Police Department actively draws attention and takes action against a serious and terrible issue but there are multiple problems, complications, troubles, and hurdles on their way. It must be admitted that the problem of narcotics abuse cannot be eliminated right away. All that can be done is to minimize its severity in those ways when it does not tend to re-grow too fast.
Chapter 10 & 11: “The Fundamentals of Character and Training”, “Deliberation and Moral Problems in Training”
Introduction
Chapter 10 refers to misleading views about ethics which must be corrected in the minds of police officers during their training sessions. With the passage of time, the perception of the general public is changing. Most of the people’s minds are so poisoned by the negativity that they perceive ethics and morality as means to achieve meaningful purposes like money and sex. Such problems must be confronted and treated by the understanding of psychology on the individual level. By understanding the minds and their cognitive processes, we can justify as well as treat the external behavior of the general public.
Summary
The author said in Chapter 10, the misconceptions about ethics, morality and other concepts are important to confront. There are also various arguments regarding realism and idealism and their mutual difference. Other misleading views include the concepts of morality and happiness which lead to moral problems and bad habits. In Chapter 11, those ethical and moral problems are discussed that police officers encounter during their training.
Evaluation and Conclusion
To correct the misconceptions about important facts like ethics and morality, one must gain expertise of goodness and purity in the character. A person should be good and pure in nature personally as well as publically. Things that are thought during training must be remembered by officers during field as well.
Chapter 12 & 13: “Tragedy and “Noble Cause” Corruption”, “Death and Bereavement, Deadly Force and Guilt”
Introduction
Chapter 12 refers to the individual importance of every being that walks on the earth. It says that we must not use anyone as mere means as no one perceive oneself as mere means only. In chapter 13 the author claims that the life of each person is equally valuable and precious, but the value of a policeman's life is often underestimated. Moreover, the life of a police officer is more uncertain and vague as compared to others all the time.
Summary
Chapter 12 explains the importance and significance of every individual in a profession. The police department is associated with the use of power in the society and they have a huge responsibility regarding doing it correctly. There is no doubt in the fact that death of a beloved one is extremely painful no matter in what age they die (young or old). In chapter 13 the writer describes that it is more painful when a loved one who died was young and could not live his or her life. The author continues to say that it is even more heartbreaking when such death occurs in the line of duty instead of any other condition.
Evaluation and Conclusion
Responsibilities tend to grow with the increase in authority. Some actions, if they are not performed correctly, prove to be morally suicidal and desperate. The right use of power is extremely important in the profession of policing. In chapter 13, the significance of memories and acceptance of reality are described as life that can never be started from the scratch by completely erasing every recollection of the past from mind because it is impossible.
Chapter 14 & 15: “Taking Our Lives Seriously, Fatalism, Microcosms”, and “Therapeutic Reductions”
Introduction
Chapter 14 highlights the importance of genuine professionalism. Its value does not fade away or alter with time and technology changes. In chapter 15, according to Immanuel Kant, humility and noble pride are basic elements of self-respect while their absence leads to lack of remorse (Delattre 247).
Summary
Police as the ultimate security force for the general public of the society and they can gain the trust even after events of mismanagement. To sum up, a police officer must “go the extra mile”. They are expected and intended to live their lives with increased morality and principles as compared to the general public because of their nature of duties.
Evaluation and Conclusion
It is one of the obligations of a law enforcer to take his/her and society’s lives seriously. Morality is the proper calling and essentiality of human and it matters a lot in the decision how we want to live our lives. Police officers must be treated in the way they deserve it. It is not only because they earn respect but also because general public also expects and demands respect from the police department.
Chapter 16& 17: “Ethical Ideals, Youth Violence and Gang Enforcement”, “Police, the O. J. Simpson Trial, and Race”
Introduction
Chapter 16 explains the swiftly increasing problems of youth violence among all age groups in schools and colleges along with the severe issue of gang enforcement. Chapter 17 describes the heart-aching and severely painful story of child abuse of little 6-year-old Elisa who died because of continuous deadly abuse by none other than her own maniac mother.
Summary
Violence has shown a marked increase even in elementary, junior and senior high school grades in the U.S. The need for ethically ideal institutions is rising exponentially. In chapter 17, the author raises the issue of judgment on the superficial basis of color and race and describes multiple real stories to prove the point.
Evaluation and Conclusion
With the enormous growth of problems like youth violence and gang enforcement, work and responsibility of police have been increased as well. The author describes that with the passage of time public expectations towards police will elevate to solve the issues and at such stage, impartiality must be a necessary trait of police officer’s character. The future of the US greatly depends on the behavior of general public towards shallow differences of race and color.
Chapter 18 & 19: “The Spirit of Public Service and Individual Conscience”, “Ethics in the Future of Policing”
Introduction
The author explains in chapter 18 that one of the desirable traits among police officers is “a spirit of service”. As the name depicts, chapter 19 refers to the importance and significance of ethics and morality that police officers should have as a necessary trait.
Summary
A police officer, regardless of level and post, must have the trait of the spirit of service. Only with the feature, he or she might be able to perform his or her responsibilities and complete his or her expectations while being honest and sincere. Ethics, morality, rules, narcissism and social conditions are all important to ensure the safe and sound future of policing in the U.S.
Evaluation and Conclusion
To become sincerely professional and responsible, a police officer must possess the spirit of service and respect for public order and civility. There is a considerable amount of cops who are passionate and dedicated enough to acknowledge their responsibilities by adapting the characteristics of ethics, morality, and rules tend to become fruitful and bright in their future.
Chapter 20, 21 & 22: “Terrorism and Policing”, “Ethics in Action: Case Studies of Professional Excellence in Policing”, “From War Veterans to Peace Officers”
Introduction
Chapter 20 highlights the tragic and painful events in September 2001, when militant fundamentalist terrorists hijacked four aircraft and all of them ended up severe consequences. Chapter 21 sheds light on the willpower and abilities of police officers as compared to overall society as for how they manage to put their ethics and rule in action. In chapter 22, the author highlights the journey of officers from war veterans to peace officials. He has explained the stories with all their specifications as he included all the good and bad experiences of those officers.
Summary
Terrorism is a strong threat to the status and reputation of the police department. It is because it tends to violate peace whose regulation is the major responsibility of police officers.
Terrorism openly works against the survival and social well-being of the world. The author has presented several excellent executed case studies by police officers who managed to put their ethics in actions regardless of trials and complications. In chapter 22, as the author explained, Institutions rise and fall with their standards of personnel recruitment, work performance and fitness for duty during early training and experimental periods respectively.
Evaluation and Conclusion
It is a sad reality that terrorism has brought unwanted changes in the world. The police play a great role as the basic force of resistance against terrorism that has allowed the U.S. to live freely since 2001 for the major of time. In the end, the thing that is must be remembered by every police officer in the line of duty as well as in the personal life is that they should not judge or treat anyone based on racial, ethnic or color differences.
Work Cited
Delattre, Edwin J. Character and Cops.1st ed., Washington, D.C., AEI Press, 2011.
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