Ethical standards for police officers

 

1. Citizens’ common sense and ethical standards

 

 

 

1) Common sense of citizens

 

① Citizens expect the police to intervene everywhere. -Limitations of police power arise

 

② Citizens cannot resist the legitimate exercise of authority by the police and must obey. -The risk of police abuse of authority is high, and the possibility of police corruption is also high.

 

③ Civil society demands high ethical standards in the performance of police duties.

 

④ Pressure is being exerted on the exercise of police authority through public opinion and community surveillance.

 

 

 

2) Police ethics standards

 

① Environment: There is wide discretion in the area of police exercise of authority, leaving room for various choices and decisions. Discretion in police work can be exercised in a variety of ways, depending on the situation and individual police officer, ranging from routine police work such as red light violations to important issues.

 

② Basic direction: The exercise of police authority must be in accordance with laws, rules, and the guidelines and directions of superior supervisors. Must follow normative procedures and instructions, control specific situations, and solve problems.

 

③ Note: You must defend yourself from danger and be careful not to restrain yourself when exercising public power, which results in the use of excessive force.

 

④ Control: Police organizations repeatedly educate police officers on the behavioral guidelines they must follow, including rules and laws, to enable them to make appropriate judgments and decisions in specific action situations. In addition, when problems such as abuse of discretion arise, police officers are burdened with ethical and legal responsibility for their discretion. Police officers must be responsible for their choices of actions.

 

⑤ Ethical standards: Sound citizenship and common sense are not only the standards for law enforcement by police officers, but also the foundation for ethical reasoning. In other words, this becomes the ethical standard for the performance of police duties.

 

. Sound common sense - The police, whose main job is to enforce the law and maintain order, are the institutions through which citizens feel the power of the state most directly in their daily lives, so police officers must have the sound common sense that the majority of citizens have.

 

. Moral behavior - In a democratic society, police work is an exercise of authority granted by citizens, such as preventing social danger and maintaining order, so police officers must act honestly, temperately, and courageously in exercising their authority.

 

. Common sense behavior - The level of force necessary to achieve police objectives should be kept to a minimum. Whether it is appropriate or excessive must be determined by citizens' sound common sense.

 

L. Efficient execution ability - How well and tactfully a police officer working in a specific crisis situation can control and respond to the situation depends on sound common sense and the ability to apply the police's technical capabilities. A police officer's ability to judge and control the situation and a citizen's sound common sense are important in performing police duties.

 

⑥ Task: We must learn sound citizenship and common sense. In a democratic society, most sound common sense is established as a standard for communal life in the form of laws, so the desirable behavior of public officials in a democratic society is to faithfully implement policies and execution that reflect the sound judgment and demands of citizens. Police officers must have their professional ethics based on the sound common sense that prevails in democracy.

 

2. Specific details of ethical standards

 

 

 

1) Contents of police ethics standards

 

(1) Public trust

 

① Citizens believe that the police will strictly enforce the law and exercise public power for the benefit of citizens, so they must strive to become trustworthy police so that citizens can seek help from the police at any time.

 

. Citizens trust the police to enforce the law.

 

. Citizens trust the police to use force to the minimum necessary.

 

. Citizens trust that the police will not use public power for private gain.

 

(2) Safety of life and property

 

① The purpose of the police is to protect the lives and property of citizens.

 

② The function of the police is law enforcement for the safety of citizens’ lives and property. These standards - establish the police's area of activity - and - provide direction on what the police should do in their area of activity. -It gives answers to how police officers can develop themselves and -what knowledge is needed.

 

③ We must keep in mind that law enforcement itself is not the purpose of the police, but rather a means to maintain and protect the safety of citizens' lives and property.

 

(3) Fair access

 

① Public security services are a kind of social public good and should be provided to everyone without discrimination.

 

② Fair access is the basis of social justice for the entire civil society. When the police takes sides or neglects or ignores law enforcement in a specific area or person, such taking sides, negligence, and disregard are undesirable attitudes that should be guarded against and expelled from police officers' activities.

 

(4) Role limitations and teamwork

 

① Police officers must operate within the scope of their social roles, and even while engaging in activities within this scope, police objectives must be achieved through mutual cooperation.

 

② Democratic societies are faithful to the principle of separation of powers to prevent corruption of power. Under the principle of separation of powers, the police are responsible for part of the general administrative function (risk prevention function) and criminal justice function (crime suppression and investigation). Therefore, the police, who maintain social order and prevent crime, are exercising a part of the function of the government, and must ensure that the entire function of the government is harmonized through cooperation or collaboration with other agencies for national purposes.

 

③ Cooperation and harmony must begin with each government agency protecting the limits and duties of its own work area. What the community imposes on the police is to investigate suspects and conduct fact-finding to enable indictment by the prosecution and trial by a judge, that is, the task of preparing for possible punishment.

 

④ The reason the police are meaningful as a social system is because the presence of the police can better guarantee social safety and order. In order to carry out these police activities well, the National Police Agency, local police offices, police stations, etc. must cooperate with each other and with colleagues. Each police officer does his part, but police work must be unified by an organizational mechanism. Most police work requires teamwork among police officers to be effective. The meaning of this cooperation is not only functional cooperation between departments or people, but also intangible things such as information exchange.

 

⑤ In a democratic society, it is the position given to the police by the community and the ethical standards for the smooth performance of that position. Since the police form part of the criminal justice function, they must ensure smooth coordination, mutual communication, and collaboration between agencies when carrying out their duties, and must also perform their duties well through interaction within the police organization from a microscopic perspective. .

 

(5) Objectivity

 

① When performing their public role, police officers must be fair and disinterested without being caught up in personal feelings.

 

② Police work is a social activity that requires objectivity without being limited by the individuality and emotions of police officers.

 

③ Citizens expect police officers not to use emotional force and to play an objective public role while complying with all rules related to their law enforcement.

 

④ The main cause of loss of objectivity is excessive involvement of police officers.

 

. Comes from passion. When this passion itself is not a passion suitable for the position of police officer

 

. Personal biases and preferences lead to over-involvement.

 

. Excessive involvement occurs when one is caught up in passion, prejudice, or preference without knowing one's duty.

 

⑤ Objectivity is to avoid such excessive involvement and to be able to look at a situation or situation calmly without unfairly pre-judging it.

 

⑥ Cynicism: Problems also arise when objectivity appears excessive. That's what it means to express cynicism about citizens' requests for help. This is not a level of controlling one's emotions, but is closer to indifference, showing no concern for those who ask for help.

 

. Cynicism comes easily within an organization when people feel their efforts are in vain or their work is not rewarding.

 

. Cynicism makes it difficult to demand the best possible service and dedicated service on which the police are based.

 

⑦ Excessive involvement, or its opposite, cynicism, is an act that violates the police officer’s ethical request for objectivity. This objectivity is an Oriental virtue of ‘moderation’ and is an attitude of mind that police officers must maintain from the beginning to the end of specific police activities.

 

 

3. Police Code of Ethics

 

 

 

1) Significance

 

(1) Definition: A police organization sets a code of conduct that meets the ethical standards desired by citizens and has its members follow it. The police code of ethics is a written document of the police organization's abstract code of conduct. Typically, the police code of ethics is understood by the community as a moral and spiritual indicator that police officers must adhere to when performing police duties.

 

(2) Origin: The reason for creating the code of ethics was for the police organization to get closer to the wishes of citizens.

 

① The publication of the American Police Code of Ethics was done in conjunction with efforts to professionalize the police. In 1955, the California Police Officers Research Association established a code of ethics as part of a program to improve the status of police officers.

 

② The establishment of the Korean police code of ethics is aimed at restoring citizens' trust in the police by urging ethical reflection on the part of police officers to establish their mental attitude as public officials amidst civil society's criticism of the police for public corruption, professional incompetence, etc. 

 

 

 

2) Content

 

(1) The code of ethics focuses on members’ self-discipline, autonomy, and dedication to society. The establishment of a code of ethics indicates that an occupation is a profession or is accepted as a prerequisite for obtaining a profession.

 

(2) Korean police code of ethics

 

① Confused period after liberation - Under the influence of the Anglo-American law police system, ‘service and order’ were used as ideological indicators and codes of conduct for the police.

 

② 1966 - Enactment of the ‘Police Ethics Charter’: The first generation of police ethics norms

 

Purpose of enactment: To increase the ethical standards of police officers, establish police discipline, and promote sound public life.

 

③ 1980 - ‘New Police Creed’: Established as the police’s code of practice and ethics

 

Content: “1. We fulfill the mission of the new era.

1. We serve cleanly and kindly.

1. We work with fairness and conviction.

1. We develop our own abilities.”

 

④ The Fifth Republic - The attitude of our police to create an advanced country, including the spirit of ownership, sense of honor, morality, spirit of cooperation, sense of duty, spirit of law compliance, patriotism, spirit of anti-communism,

 

Nine virtues, including the will for unification, were selected and made into the police's code of practice.

 

⑤ 1990s - In accordance with the President's directive to promote a new spiritual movement for public officials, police officers also practiced honesty, moderation, and service as the ideologies of the new spiritual movement for police officers.

 

⑥ August 1, 1991 - Enactment and proclamation of the 'Police Charter': In line with the launch of the National Police Agency, the preamble explains the police's tradition, the police's duty, and the police's determination. The goals are presented as fair police, hard-working police, and clean police.

 

⑦ 1998 - ‘Police Service Charter’ ④ In accordance with the Presidential Instruction ‘Administrative Service Charter Establishment Guidelines’ issued as part of the civil service reform, ④ In this Charter, the police shall set the standards and contents of services provided to citizens, as well as methods and procedures for provision. , corrective and compensation measures for incorrect services were specifically determined.

 

 

 

4. Functions and problems of the police code of ethics

 

1) Two perspectives on the nature and function of the police code of ethics

 

① It is a promise made by the police organization, which is a supplier of public security services, to citizens, who are consumers of public security services.

 

② It is basically an internal document created by the police organization itself for the purpose of regulating and guiding the activities of police officers.

 

③ Since the police code of ethics has no external legal binding force, position ② appears to be reasonable. However, this position ignores the environmental factors facing police organizations. In other words, although the police code of ethics is created by the organization itself and taught to police officers, it is overlooked that the fundamental motivation for enacting the code of ethics is due to pressure from the society to which the police belong.

 

④ When the police code of ethics is viewed as the police organization's response to environmental demands, the police code of ethics itself is a promise to the public, so it can be seen as giving a sense of political and ethical duty, if not a legal duty.

 

⑤ The police code of ethics is meaningful as a political and ethical promise established by the police organization in its relationship with the environment in which it finds itself. The police code of ethics has the character of a promise to citizens and at the same time serves as a guide for internal organization members when performing their duties.

 

⑥ Kooken - ‘First of all, public support is important for the successful performance of police work. To ensure this, smooth and sound public relations must be established. However, for good public relations, the actions of police officers must meet the wishes of citizens, and for this, a code of ethics is needed to regulate the behavior of police officers.

 

 

2) Function of the police code of ethics

 

(1) Type:

 

It is reasonable to view the police code of ethics as having both internal and external functions.

 

The function of the police code of ethics from a comprehensive perspective of internal and external functions

 

① A function that ensures the quality of services provided by the police to citizens, thereby ensuring citizens’ confidence in police services. (It is a function that facilitates relationships with citizens.)

 

② The function of improving public relations, that is, the relationship between police and citizens. The police code of ethics is part of an effort to create an organization respected and loved by citizens, and ultimately has the function of promoting desirable civic relationships.

 

③ The code of ethics provides police officers with standards for conduct in relation to public security services. It is a document that shows the standards of conduct that police officers, who are providers of public security services, must adhere to.

 

④ The police code of ethics provides standards for organizational operation. Promotes ethical behavior of police officers by encouraging or discouraging certain actions. It also serves as a standard for decision-making within the organization.

 

⑤ Promote a sound sense of organizational solidarity by providing the ideological orientation of the police organization. The police code of ethics serves the function of uniting and motivating police officers by providing ideological indicators of a desirable police officer.

 

 

 

3) Problems with the police code of ethics

 

① Issues of feasibility in the area of police work - It is true that the police ethics regulations themselves are filled with abstract and conceptual terms, there are no sanctions in place for non-compliance, and the criteria for judging whether or not they are violated are not clear.

 

② Due to the excessively idealistic nature of the code of ethics, police officers, who are nothing more than human beings, are asked to become saints.

 

③ Human behavior must come from within, but the police code of ethics given externally without any motivation causes ethical insensitivity.

 

④ Concerns about the deformation of ethical awareness. However, the existence of these problems does not cancel out the significance of the existence of the police code of ethics.

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summary

 

police ethics standards

Citizen trust, safety of life and property, fair access, role limitations and teamwork, objectivity

 

police code of ethics

Significance: Ethical and spiritual indicators that the community expects from police officers

Contents: Kindness, righteousness, fairness, diligence, integrity

Function: Internal (ensuring the quality of security services, providing standards for organizational operation, providing the organization's ideological orientation), external (improving relationships with citizens)

Problems: feasibility, pursuit of ideals, ethical insensitivity, formalization of ethical consciousness

 

 

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Key Questions

1. What is the basis for police ethics standards?

citizen trust, rule of law, public welfare

 

 

2. What is the purpose of establishing the police code of ethics?

Maintaining quality and dignity as a police officer, Increasing trust in the police, Improving police organizational culture

 

 

3. What are the criteria for determining compliance with the police code of ethics?

Laws and regulations related to the performance of police officers' duties

Social norms related to the performance of police officers’ duties

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Key Problems

 

1. Which of the following is not an ethical standard that police officers should have?

 

(a) Safety of citizens' lives and property. (b) fair approach

(c) Role recognition and individual ability display. (d) public trust

 

 The ethical standards that police officers must have include public trust, safety of citizens' lives and property, role limitations and teamwork, fair approach, and objectivity. Answer: (c)

 

 

 

2. Which of the following is not something that citizens trust in the police?

 

(a) The police will definitely enforce the law.

(b) Coercive force used to resolve problems will be used to the maximum extent possible at the discretion of the police.

(c) We will not use public power for private gain.

(d) When force is exercised, it will be used to a minimum.

 

Citizen’s trust: a. Citizens trust the police to enforce the law.

b. Citizens trust the police to use force to the minimum necessary.

c. Citizens trust that the police will not use public power for private gain. Answer: (b)

 

 

 

3. Which of the following is incorrect regarding the ethical standards that police officers should have?

 

(a) It is desirable for security services to be centered around cities.

(b) When performing their public roles, police officers must be fair and selfless without being caught up in personal feelings.

(c) The function of the police is law enforcement to ensure the safety of citizens' lives and property.

(d) As an agent, the police functions to protect the rights of citizens.

 

 Public security services are a kind of social public good and should be provided to everyone without discrimination. Answer: (a)

 

 

4. Which of the following is not a function of the police code of ethics?

(a) Internal function: Ensuring the quality of security services (b) Internal function: Providing standards for organizational operations (c) Internal function: Providing the organization’s ideological orientation (d) External function: Improving relationships with citizens

 

The internal functions of the police code of ethics include ensuring the quality of police services, providing standards for organizational operation, and promoting a sense of sound organizational solidarity. Providing the organization's ideological orientation corresponds to its external function. Answer: (c)

 

 

5. Which of the following is incorrect regarding the police code of ethics?

(a) Issues of feasibility (b) Ideal-seeking nature (c) Concerns about causing ethical insensitivity (d) Concerns about formatting ethical awareness

 

 Problems with the police code of ethics include issues of feasibility, ideal-seeking nature, concerns about causing ethical insensitivity, and concerns about the deformation of ethical awareness. The ideal-seeking nature is only a characteristic of the police code of ethics, not a problem. Answer: (b)

 

 

6. Which of the following is the most appropriate standard for determining compliance with the police code of ethics? (a) Laws and regulations related to the performance of police officers' duties (b) Social norms related to the performance of police officers' duties (c) Personal values and beliefs of police officers (d) Citizen demands related to the performance of police officers' duties

 

 The standards for determining compliance with the police code of ethics are laws and regulations related to the performance of police officers' duties. Social norms can also be referred to, but laws and regulations must be considered first. Personal values, beliefs, and citizen demands can be taken into consideration, but they cannot take priority over laws and regulations. Answer: (a)

 

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Key Terms

Ethics: The study that deals with the moral value of human actions

Professional ethics: moral standards that must be observed by people in a particular profession

Police ethics: moral standards that police officers must adhere to