Community Policing and Ethics Flashcards

A neighborhood watch program is an example of community policing because it:

Answer: Engages residents as partners in crime prevention

Neighborhood watch programs engage residents as active partners in preventing crime.

An officer uses discretion when deciding whether to issue a warning instead of a citation. Discretion is ethical when it is:

Answer: Applied fairly and consistently within policy

Ethical discretion is applied fairly, consistently, and within department policy.

The 'code of silence' among officers is ethically problematic because it:

Answer: Protects wrongdoers and undermines accountability

The code of silence shields misconduct and erodes accountability and public trust.

Which approach best demonstrates police accountability to the community?

Answer: Civilian review boards and public reporting

Civilian oversight and public reporting are key mechanisms of police accountability.

When an officer treats all citizens equally regardless of race, status, or wealth, they are upholding the principle of:

Answer: Impartiality and equal protection

Treating all citizens equally reflects impartiality and the principle of equal protection.

A key ethical reason officers should avoid accepting gifts from those they regulate is to:

Answer: Prevent the appearance or reality of corruption

Avoiding gifts prevents both actual corruption and the appearance of impropriety.

Community policing places decision-making authority closer to the:

Answer: Line officers working directly with neighborhoods

Community policing decentralizes authority to officers working directly with neighborhoods.