Police Officers Act Ethically

Based on the assigned readings of DR. Sunahara’s research, he gives many reasons as to why police officer’s act unethically. He first states that ethical behaviour is learned and shaped by the experiences of an individual. If there is an environment where temptation and threats are high there is a higher chance of an individual having unethical behaviour. The opposite is also true if there is low temptation, and no threats it is easier for an individual to act ethically. In his research Dr. Sunahara gives many reasons as to why a police officers may act unethically. The first reason he gives is that police officers act unethically due to the environment they work in. He divided this into several sub categories the first of which is the environments impact on the police officers behaviour, this

Next is the environment and the alienation of the police officer, in this situation the officer starts to feel no loyalty to the rules of society, or to their police organization, and the officer starts following his/her own motives causing them to act unethically. The final environmental factor that can cause a police officer to act unethically is the environment and noble cause corruption, in this situation a police officer gives way to procedural justice, and starts to follow their own rules causing the officer to act unethically. Another reason why Dr. Sunahara believes police officers act unethically is because of a motivated workforce. This can be good as well as bad, police officers are expected to do good, and follow the law, this can lead to the officer feeling they deserve more because they play a “heroic role” in society, causing officers to act