PPAER Ethical Judgment 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: An officer completes a use-of-force incident report. To be ethical, the report should:
- Omit details that might make the officer look bad
- Accurately reflect all events, including actions that may reflect poorly on the officer (Correct answer)
- Match the report of the senior officer present
- Be completed by legal counsel before submission
Correct answer: Accurately reflect all events, including actions that may reflect poorly on the officer
Truthful and complete documentation is a foundational ethical obligation regardless of how the information reflects on the officer.
Question 2: A member of the public files a complaint alleging that you used a racial slur during an arrest. The most ethical response is to:
- Deny it categorically before any investigation begins
- Cooperate fully with the internal affairs investigation (Correct answer)
- Consult with colleagues about what they should say
- File a counter-complaint to discourage the complainant
Correct answer: Cooperate fully with the internal affairs investigation
Full cooperation with internal investigations upholds accountability and allows the process to determine facts accurately.
Question 3: You are assigned to guard evidence for a case involving a wealthy defendant. An attorney offers you money to allow access to the evidence room. You should:
- Refuse and immediately report the approach to your supervisor (Correct answer)
- Refuse but keep the incident to yourself to avoid paperwork
- Accept only if no chain of custody is broken
- Ask a colleague to handle it so you are not involved
Correct answer: Refuse and immediately report the approach to your supervisor
Attempts to tamper with evidence through bribery must be reported immediately to protect the integrity of the justice process.
Question 4: During a high-speed pursuit, your supervisor radios you to terminate the chase due to public safety risk. You should:
- Continue the pursuit since you are close to catching the suspect
- Terminate the pursuit as ordered and document the decision (Correct answer)
- Slow down but keep visual contact without technically pursuing
- Ask for clarification before making a decision
Correct answer: Terminate the pursuit as ordered and document the decision
Officers must follow lawful orders from supervisors, especially those designed to protect public safety, and document the action taken.
Question 5: You learn that a fellow officer is struggling with alcohol dependency and it is affecting their judgment on duty. The ethical action is to:
- Cover for them until they sort it out on their own
- Report the concern to a supervisor or employee assistance program (Correct answer)
- Confront them harshly in front of other officers
- Ignore it since personal issues are private matters
Correct answer: Report the concern to a supervisor or employee assistance program
An officer impaired by substance issues poses a safety risk; reporting through proper or wellness channels protects the officer and the public.
Question 6: While interviewing a juvenile suspect, the most ethical approach is to:
- Use the same aggressive tactics as with adult suspects to get a confession
- Ensure a parent, guardian, or appropriate adult is present and use age-appropriate language (Correct answer)
- Conduct the interview alone to prevent coaching by the guardian
- Offer leniency in exchange for a full confession
Correct answer: Ensure a parent, guardian, or appropriate adult is present and use age-appropriate language
Juvenile suspects have heightened legal protections, including the right to have a guardian present and to be treated in a developmentally appropriate manner.
Question 7: A community leader offers your precinct a large donation in exchange for increased patrol presence on their block. The ethical response is to:
- Accept since the community benefits from more patrols
- Decline the donation and explain that patrol allocation is based on need, not payment (Correct answer)
- Accept the donation for general use but don't change patrol routes
- Check if the amount is below a reporting threshold
Correct answer: Decline the donation and explain that patrol allocation is based on need, not payment
Accepting payment to prioritize policing services is a form of corruption that inequitably distributes public safety resources.
PPAER Ethical Judgment 3
An officer completes a use-of-force incident report.
To be ethical, the report should: