Effective leadership and communication are two critical areas for combating law enforcement corruption. Corruption impacts law enforcement and can extend into other sectors, such as communities, department agencies, and politics, ultimately affecting society, police culture, and the entire criminal justice system. Police corruption entails the abuse of police officers' authority in ways that benefit the officer or others personally, including taking bribes, accepting or soliciting gratuities, engaging in sexual misconduct, theft, and dishonesty (Walker & Katz, 2022). These examples represent some of the most prevalent acts of corruption within the United States criminal justice system, contributing to the scrutiny and erosion of trust between citizens and our justice system.
Police corruption does not occur abruptly; it develops gradually over time. Minor unethical behaviors are tolerated and left unaddressed, fostering an environment of deviant individuals who project, promote, and instill the same behaviors in recruits. In these situations, managerial figures often lack training or an understanding of applying practical leadership skills. Leadership is the most crucial organizational variable, and a lack of leadership paves the way for corruption (Walker & Katz, 2022). Leaders bear a significant responsibility to disrupt and prevent corruption. Effective leadership fosters strong ethical standards and policies that address issues and rectify wrongdoings.
Effective communication is essential in all areas of life. It fosters conflict resolution, builds trust, and creates a less chaotic environment. Police corruption is a problem that requires collaboration among multiple groups to address. However, it starts with accountability among peers and colleagues. Officers often hesitate to report other officers breaking the law due to “insider culture” and the “curtain of silence” (Westmarland & Conway, 2020). Therefore, proper ethics training is necessary to demonstrate moral courage and the consequences of moral muteness. To transform the culture of police departments, leadership must reshape the environment, promote the reporting of wrongful behavior, and instill values that maintain zero tolerance for deviant conduct.
It is difficult to understand why officers sworn to protect and serve the community, as well as uphold and enforce the law, are often involved in corrupt situations. There needs to be an emphasis on moral standards and ethics training among officers. Theories from criminology, sociology, psychology, biology, and organizational studies help explain the causes of corruption and highlight its dynamic, multifaceted nature; however, it remains challenging to grasp fully. Ultimately, what determines acts of corruption is one's moral character and belief system. Integrity is a crucial trait needed to combat corruption, and the characteristics essential to possessing integrity include prudence, trust, selflessness, courage, intellectual honesty, justice, and responsibility (Martin, 2011).
Integrity involves not only doing the right thing when no one is looking but also adhering to a code of ethics and consistently striving to be the best person one can be.
Prudency: A prudent officer uses practical wisdom to guide behavior and determine the best course of action.
Trust: Cultivates loyal relationships between officers and the community they serve.
Selflessness: Officers must set aside personal and culturally driven thoughts and opinions to do the right thing.
Courage: It takes courage to go against the crowd, especially when the crowd represents the same organization you work for.
Intellectual honesty: Officers must report questionable activities, even if they are unsure whether the act is wrong.
Justice: Justice is owed to everyone, regardless of how it may seem; everyone deserves equal treatment.
Responsibility: Officers are responsible for doing the right thing without excuse or poor judgment.
References
Martin, R. (2011, May 1). Police corruption: An analytical look into police ethics. FBI: Law Enforcement Bulletin. https://leb.fbi.gov/articles/featured-articles/police-corruption-an-analytical-look-into-police-ethics
Walker, S. & Katz, C. (2022). The Police in America: An Introduction, 10th ed.
Westmarland, L., & Conway, S. (2020). Police ethics and integrity: Keeping the ‘blue code’ of silence. International Journal of Police Science & Management. https://doi.org/10.1177/1461355720947762