Ethical Dilemmas & Decisions, Ch.7

Question 0

graft

Answer 0

any exploitation of one’s role, such as accepting bribes, protection money, or kickbacks

Question 1

gratuities

Answer 1

items of value received by an individual because of their role or position rather than because of a personal relationship with the giver

Question 2

rotten-apple argument

Answer 2

the proposition that the officer alone is deviant and that it was simply a mistake to hire them

Question 3

integrity testing

Answer 3

‘sting’ operations to test whether or not police officers will make honest choices

Question 4

internal affairs model

Answer 4

a review procedure in which police investigators receive and investigate complaints and resolve the investigations internally

Question 5

civilian review/complaint model

Answer 5

the use of an outside agency or board that includes citizens and monitors and investigates misconduct complaints against police

Question 6

corruption

Answer 6

acting on opportunities, created by virtue of one’s authority, for personal gain at the expense of the public one is authorized to serve

Question 7

‘grass eaters’

Answer 7

police officers accepting bribes, gratuities, and unsolicited protection money

Question 8

‘meat eaters’

Answer 8

police officers participating in shakedowns, “shopping” at burglary scenes, cooperating with criminals, selling drugs, robbing drug dealers, and operating burglary rings

Question 9

[Fyfe & Kane] 3 types of police misconduct

Answer 9

1) police crime - officers violate criminal statutes
2) police corruption - officer uses position, by act or omission, to obtain financial benefit
3) abuse of power - officers physically injure; offend a citizen’s sense of dignity

Question 10

elements of police work that lead to drug use

Answer 10

• exposure to criminal element
• relative freedom from supervision
• uncontrolled availability of contraband

Question 11

[Murphy &. Moran] rationales to justify unethical behavior

Answer 11

• “cops are crooks, why be honest”
• “if I don’t take it, someone else will.”
• “only taking what’s mine; if I got paid a decent wage”
• “it’s for a good cause”

Question 12

ethical arguments against gratuities

Answer 12

• demean status of police as professionals
• incipient corruptors; create sense of entitlement
• lead to more serious forms of corruption
• require taxpayers to pay again
• create public perception police are corrupt

Question 13

ethical arguments for gratuities

Answer 13

• harmless, honest rewards
• build community relations
• give businesses police protection
• no different from perks in other occupations
• compensate police for low pay

Question 14

suggestions to reduce police corruption

Answer 14

• improved screening and psychological testing
• training
• integrity testing
• early warning systems