Police misconduct is a complex singularity that occurs when police officers abuse the trust of the society they are sworn to protect. This can come in the form of lying, accepting bribes, robbing drug dealers, selling of drugs, or turning a blind eye when a fellow officer is using excessive force. The consequences of these acts go far beyond actions against the police officer as it diminishes public confidence and trust in law enforcement.
Crime prevention and public safety are the overarching goals of law enforcement. Police ethics involves making hard choices as well as avoiding violations of basic moral standards. "Of all criminal justice agencies the police are the most widely dispersed, readily accessible, and widely visible agents of the criminal justice system (Sechrest and Burns, 1992). " Officers must draw upon an ethical framework along with relying on emotion, instinct, and personal values when facing ethical issues. Ethical issues and questions arise for nearly every officer and are concerned with the issue of right and wrong and how we should react to them. The approach that is adopted to an ethical issue will frame and give meaning to any decision we make, and can be used to justify and validate that decision. Members of the law enforcement profession must be aware of, and adhere to ethical standards when carrying out their functions. The law gives the police immense authority, and that authority, if used appropriately, ensures law and order while protecting the community. Policing, or police culture, fringes on the mutual respect and cooperation of the public in which the police are sworn to protect (Banks, 2009). Due to the authority that is placed on these individuals, the temptation to abuse this power is forever existent. .
Similarly, there is a formal rule-of-law that represents societal standards that define police duties and responsibilities. Then there are unwritten rules that determine acceptable and normative behavior with any particular police department.
