Police Corruption
Police Corruption: A Perspective View Into the
Definition, Cause, & Harm
Randy Botelho
BSLS Capstone, LS498-01 – Unit 9
Professor Odim
December 17, 2011
Thesis Statement
Corruption in law enforcement is not victimless and creates a negative perception of the United States legal system.
Introduction
There are few professions in the United States that are entrusted with protecting society’s safety and system of laws that have been established throughout the course of American history. One of those professions is that of a police officer. It is an admirable calling for an individual to deal with criminals and place themselves in harm’s way on a daily basis. It is certainly not a job that can be done by everyone and it takes a special kind of person to handle the stress and rigors that the job entails. Police officers often wear two faces. They have the face of professionalism and duty to uphold the law when they put their police uniform on at the beginning of each shift. The second face that they wear is when their shift has ended and they have to go home to their family. Some of the stressors, and at times atrocities, that police officers have been exposed to throughout their shift have to be forgotten about. This has to be done to keep their families from being exposed to the same psychological issues that police officers are trained to handle. There are many levels of law enforcement included within state and federal agencies and this paper will discuss several levels of law enforcement. The stepping stone to the system of law enforcement in the United States is the individual police officer. The individual police officer is who society recognizes and creates a relationship with. This is possible because the individual police officers are seen on a daily basis by the community and they are, in most cases, viewed as an authority figure. Inherent issues arise when individuals are placed in a position of trust and authority.
Definition, Cause, & Harm
Randy Botelho
BSLS Capstone, LS498-01 – Unit 9
Professor Odim
December 17, 2011
Thesis Statement
Corruption in law enforcement is not victimless and creates a negative perception of the United States legal system.
Introduction
There are few professions in the United States that are entrusted with protecting society’s safety and system of laws that have been established throughout the course of American history. One of those professions is that of a police officer. It is an admirable calling for an individual to deal with criminals and place themselves in harm’s way on a daily basis. It is certainly not a job that can be done by everyone and it takes a special kind of person to handle the stress and rigors that the job entails. Police officers often wear two faces. They have the face of professionalism and duty to uphold the law when they put their police uniform on at the beginning of each shift. The second face that they wear is when their shift has ended and they have to go home to their family. Some of the stressors, and at times atrocities, that police officers have been exposed to throughout their shift have to be forgotten about. This has to be done to keep their families from being exposed to the same psychological issues that police officers are trained to handle. There are many levels of law enforcement included within state and federal agencies and this paper will discuss several levels of law enforcement. The stepping stone to the system of law enforcement in the United States is the individual police officer. The individual police officer is who society recognizes and creates a relationship with. This is possible because the individual police officers are seen on a daily basis by the community and they are, in most cases, viewed as an authority figure. Inherent issues arise when individuals are placed in a position of trust and authority.