Ethical Judgment Flashcards

You find a large sum of cash at a crime scene with no clear evidentiary link. The proper action is to:

Answer: Voucher it into evidence and document it fully

All property found at a crime scene must be properly vouchered into evidence to maintain chain of custody and legal integrity.

A prosecutor asks you to slightly exaggerate testimony to ensure a conviction of someone you believe is guilty. You should:

Answer: Refuse and report the request to your supervisor or department ethics officer

Perjury and evidence manipulation are crimes; officers must refuse and report requests to falsify testimony regardless of the source.

While on patrol, you observe a colleague park in a fire lane and leave the scene without official justification. The ethical response is to:

Answer: Note it and address it verbally with the officer when appropriate

Minor policy infractions are best addressed through direct professional communication first before escalating to formal complaints.

A victim of a crime tells you she does not want to press charges against her abusive partner. The most ethical approach is to:

Answer: Explain her options, document the incident, and follow department policy on mandatory reporting

Officers must inform victims of their rights and options while following mandatory reporting laws and department policies, regardless of victim preference.

You discover that a criminal informant has been providing false information to your unit for personal gain. You should:

Answer: Report the unreliable information and terminate the informant relationship through proper channels

Informants who provide false information compromise investigations and must be deactivated and reported through proper supervisory channels.

During a protest, a supervisor instructs officers to disperse a crowd that is engaged in lawful assembly. You should:

Answer: Raise the legal concern about the lawful nature of the assembly to the supervisor before acting

Officers have a constitutional obligation not to violate citizens' First Amendment rights and must raise concerns before dispersing a lawful assembly.

A news reporter asks you for details of an ongoing investigation that have not been publicly released. You should:

Answer: Decline and refer the reporter to the department's public information officer

Unauthorized disclosure of investigative information can compromise cases and must be routed through the official public information officer.