Question

The tidewater police department is a small rural department that consists of 22 police officers, 4 detectives, a criminal intelligence analyst and 3 secretaries. The police department has a new chief op police that has created and enacted a code of conduct and ethics policy. About half of the officers have 20 +years of experience and the other half have less than 3 years of experience.

You are a rookie police officer on your first patrol. The older, experienced officer tells you that the restaurant on the corner likes to have the police around, so they always give free meals. Your partner orders steak, potatoes, and all the trimmings which total almost $50.00.

Describe the three principles of ethical decision making this rookie officer will face in this situation.

Answer 1

The Ethical decision making always been a difficult task, because pre perception and personal interests influenced the ability to ethical decision making. The ethical decision making is a cognitive process in which we consider ethical rules and principle or guidelines when making decision.

Principles of Ethical Decision Making-

1- Long Term Self Interest: The long term interests are very important for decision making because we can pre evaluate the decision. In this case the officer have to make decision by the view of ethical issues. The $ 50 can influence the ability of decision making.

2- Personal Virtues: Personal virtue, is consider as the mean of ethics and personal interests, the officer must think about personal virtues so that he can be able to work as per norms of Police ethics.

3- Government requirements: The ethical decision can varies to requirements and condition of that time, government requirements strongly influenced the ability to decision making, officer must follow the rules and regulations.

4- Individual Rights: Individual rights are the key part of any decision, ethical decisions always aware about individual rights. In this case the officer must know the rights of restaurant owner as well as colleagues.

            As an officer, I must use my personal ethical ability and find the social ethical values as well as long term interests, Social requirements, human rights and individual rights.