Leadership and Ethics in Law Enforcement
Chapter 1: Notes in Class
8/23/2010
Characteristics/Traits of a Police Officer:
Judgement
Self Discipline
Dedication
Professionalism
Courage
Maturity
Duty
Willingness to help
Honesty
Respect
Integrity
Patience
Principles of Policing
Robert Peel was the founder of modern policing, and established the “9 Principles of Policing”
(1829).
The police must secure the willing cooperation of the public.
The ability of the police to perform their duties is dependent upon public approval of police,
their actions, behavior, and maintain public support.
To the extent the public use force, the level of cooperation diminishes.
When you cater to public opinion, you don’t let them influence how you enforce the law.
The police use physical force to the extent necessary to secure observance to the law only when
persuasion, advice, and warnings do not work.
The police should never appear to usurp the powers of the judiciary by averaging individuals or
using their authority to judge or punish the guilty
The test of the police is the absence of crime and disorder, not the visible evidence of police
action in dealing with them.
The Change Imperative
The Change Imperative …
Alters lives
Transforms socities
Creates leadership challenges for the police
Tom Peters…
