Introduction
Whenever people unite to form a community, a nation, a religious body or a profession, they set down in writing those fundamental principles which will best guide them in their common effort. Examples of such written codes of personal and organizational conduct are the Ten Commandments, the U.S. Constitution, the state criminal codes and the Law Enforcement Officer's Code of Ethics. These documents are important not only for the guidance they offer, but also as a standard against which we measure our work and our attitude.

One of the essential factors which elevates a "job" to the level of a respected profession is the fact that the group (all those persons who perform the same occupational task) establishes its own Code of Conduct. Since 1956, law enforcement has possessed its own code, developed and disseminated by police practitioners.

The Law Enforcement Code of Ethics is the guide for conduct expected of peace officers while on and off duty. It is a 7 day-a-week, 24-hour a day commitment and one the police academy takes very seriously. Cadets are presented with the Code of Ethics on Orientation Day. They are told that from this point forward, cadets will be held to the standards of conduct described in the Code of Ethics. Cadets are required to memorize the Code of Ethics by graduation. Throughout the academy, the meaning of the Code is discussed with academy staff members all in preparation for the Core Values Competency Oral Board. During the last three weeks of the academy, each cadet stands before an oral board. They begin this test by reciting the Code of Ethics from memory and then answer a series of competency level questions that require cadets to demonstrate the ability to apply the concepts contained within the Code to real life situations. This test insures that graduates know the contents and understand the meaning of this important document.

Law Enforcement Code of Ethics

• As a law enforcement officer, my fundamental duty is:
  • To serve mankind.
  • To safeguard lives and property.
  • To protect the innocent against deception, the weak against oppression or intimidation, and the peaceful against violence or disorder.
  • To respect the constitutional rights of all men to liberty, equality, and justice.
• I will keep my private life unsullied as an example to all.
  • I will maintain courageous calm in the face of danger, scorn or ridicule.
  • I will develop self-restraint and be constantly mindful of the welfare of others.
  • I will be honest in both thought and deed in both my personal and professional life.
  • I will be exemplary in obeying the laws of the land and the regulations of my department.
  • Whatever I see or hear of a confidential nature that is confided to me in my official capacity will be ever kept secret, unless revelation is necessary in the performance of my duty.
• I will never act officiously or permit personal feelings, prejudices, animosities, or friendships to influence my decisions.
• With no compromise for crime and with relentless prosecution of criminals, I will enforce the law courteously and appropriately without fear or favor, malice or ill will, never employing unnecessary force or violence, and never accepting gratuities.
• I recognize the badge of my office as a symbol of public faith and I accept it as a public trust to be held so long as I am true to the ethics of the police service.
• I will constantly strive to achieve these objectives and ideals, dedicating myself before god to my chosen profession...law enforcement.

All law enforcement officers must be fully aware of the ethical responsibilities of their position and must strive constantly to live up to the highest possible standards of professional policing.

The International Association of Chiefs of Police believes it is important that police officers have clear advice and counsel available to assist them in performing their duties consistent with these standards, and has adopted the following ethical mandates as guidelines to meet these ends.

Primary Responsibilities of a Police Officer
A police officer acts as an official representative of government who is required and trusted to work within the law. The officer's powers and duties are conferred by statute. The fundamental duties of a police officer include serving the community; safeguarding lives and property; protecting the innocent; keeping the peace; and ensuring the rights of all to liberty, equality and justice.

Performance of the Duties of a Police Officer
A police officer shall perform all duties impartially, without favor or affection or ill will and without regard to status, sex, race, religion, political belief or aspiration. All citizens will be treated equally with courtesy, consideration and dignity.

Officers will never allow personal feelings, animosities or friendships to influence official conduct, Laws will be enforced appropriately and courteously and, in carrying out their responsibilities, officers will strive to obtain maximum cooperation from the public. They will conduct themselves in appearance and deportment in such a manner as to inspire confidence and respect for the position of public trust they hold.

Discretion
A police officer will use responsibly the discretion vested in the position and exercise it within the law. The principle of reasonableness will guide the officer's determinations and the officer will consider 211 surrounding circumstances in determining whether any legal action shall be taken.

Consistent and wise use of discretion, based on professional policing competence, will do much to preserve wood relationships and retain the confidence of the public. There can be difficulty in choosing between conflicting courses of action. It is important to remember that a timely word of advice rather than arrest which may be correct in appropriate circumstances-can be a more effective means of achieving a desired end.

Use of Force
A police officer will never employ unnecessary force or violence and will use only such force in the discharge of duty as is reasonable in all circumstances.

Force should be used only with the greatest restraint and only after discussion, negotiation and persuasion have been found to be inappropriate or ineffective. While the use of force is occasionally unavoidable, every police officer will refrain from applying the unnecessary infliction of pain or suffering and will never engage in cruel, degrading or inhuman treatment of any person.

Confidentiality
Whatever a police officer sees, hears or learns of, which is of a confidential nature, will be kept secret unless the performance of duty or legal provision requires otherwise.

Members of the public have a right to security and privacy, and information obtained about them must not be improperly divulged.

Integrity
A police officer will not engage in acts of corruption or bribery, nor will an officer condone such acts by other police officers.

The public demands that the integrity of police officers be above reproach. Police officers must, therefore, avoid any conduct that might compromise integrity and thus undercut the public confidence in a law enforcement agency. Officers will refuse to accept any gifts, presents, subscriptions, favors, gratuities 01' promises that could be interpreted as seeking to cause the officer to refrain from performing official responsibilities honestly and within the law. Police officers must not receive private or special advantage from their official status, Respect from the public cannot be bought; it can only be earned and cultivated.

Cooperation with Other Officers and Agencies
Police officers will cooperate with all legally authorized agencies and their representatives in the pursuit of justice.

An officer or agency may be one among many organizations that may provide law enforcement services to a jurisdiction. It is imperative that a police officer assist colleagues fully and completely with respect and consideration at all times.

Personal/Professional Capabilities
Police officers will be responsible for their own standard of professional performance and will take every reasonable opportunity to enhance and improve their level of knowledge and competence.

Through study and experience, a police officer can acquire the high level of knowledge and competence that is essential for the efficient and effective performance of duty, The acquisition of knowledge is a never-ending process of personal and professional development that should be pursued constantly.

Private Life
Police officers will behave in a manner that does not bring discredit to their agencies or themselves.

A police officer's character and conduct while off duty must always be exemplary, thus maintaining a position of respect in the community in which he or she lives and serves. The officer's personal behavior must be beyond reproach.

*Adopted by the Executive Committee of the International Association of Chiefs of Police on October 17, 1989, during its 96th Annual Conference in Louisville, Kentucky, to replace the 1957 code of ethics adopted at the 64th Annual IACP Conference.

**The IACP gratefully acknowledges the assistance of Sir John C. Hermon, former chief constable of the Royal Ulster Constabulary, who gave full license to the association to freely use the language and concepts presented in the RUC's "Professional Policing Ethics," Appendix I of the Chief Constable's Annual Report, 1988, presented to the Police Authority for Northern Ireland, for the preparation of this code.