2020 Lesson 19: Ethics

This is an online interpersonal perspectives course focused on law enforcement ethics. It defines terms commonly used in an examination of police ethics, including: appearance of impropriety, bribe, gift, corruption, and Garrity Rights. It examines contrasting theories of ethics, the challenging environment faced by law enforcement officers, the influence of agency culture on the ethical practices of individual officers, the components of moral police behavior, and the Missouri disciplinary process applicable to law enforcement officers. 

The lesson explains the importance of an agency code of conduct and examines behavior that deviates from a model code of conduct. The lesson explores how a code of silence can undermine ethical practices in an agency and reviews state law regarding the acceptance of payments or gifts by public employees. The lesson includes numerous example questions based on actual cases of police misconduct.