Law Enforcement Case Study

Throughout the history of America there has been a form of law enforcement present. In the 1600’s, watchmen and constables were the law enforcement officer. These positions were voluntary, and sometimes even obligatory. As time progressed law enforcement became much more time consuming and dangerous. This created the need for a twenty-four hour police force. In 1833 Philadelphia created the first twenty-four hour police department dedicated to prevention of crime and apprehension of criminals. Soon after Philadelphia created their police department, Boston and New York followed.
Law enforcement officers historically were paid poorly for the job they were tasked with. As a result, some officers took it upon themselves to engage in corrupt and unjust behaviors. One

Many law enforcement officers are exposed briefly to the topic of ethics while in the academy. Often times, after leaving the academy, they do not receive continued education. The International Association of Chiefs of Police recommends that ethics training be integrated into continued training and in-service training curriculums. Studies are suggesting that this is occurring and there is literature supporting the view that the law enforcement community perceives ethics training as a worthwhile endeavor that should be offered on a continuous basis to all ranks within the organization (Wyatt-Nichol & Franks, 2009).
While training in ethics is important to reduce department liability and aid officers in making decisions, this is not the only way to promote ethical decision making on the part of officers. Ethics training should be combined with a rigorous employment screening process that attempts to bring the best possible candidates into the profession. Utilization of both of these tools together increases the likelihood of good law enforcement candidates, and continues the movement towards