Transcript Continuum of Cmpromise

Career Survival
Continuum of Compromise
Compromise Begins
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Unprepared Personnel
Understanding the Continuum
Sense of Victimization
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At risk-Jobs are their lives
Lose faith in the Criminal Justice System
Hostility towards administration
Resentment grows
Acts of Omission
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Rationalize
Superficial Investigations
“You never get in trouble for the contact
you don’t make”
“If you don’t do anything, you won’t do
anything wrong”
Acts of Commission
Administrative
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Carrying unauthorized weapons or
equipment
Prohibited pursuits
Romantic Incidents on Duty
Not reporting accidents
Not reporting shots fired
Internal sanctions are only consequences
thus far
Acts of Commission
Administrative
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Feed-Ins
a. “I am not a naïve rookie out to change
the world”
b. “I know what it is really like out there”
c. “ We have to look out for each other
because no one else will”
Acts of Commission
Criminal
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Evidence thrown away
Overtime inflated
A weapon is not put into evidence
Property is damaged in retaliation
Loyalty versus Integrity dilemma
Entitlement v. Accountability
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Sense of victimization and resentment
“We deserve special treatment”
Traffic violations- “Master Shield”
Many rules don’t apply to them
Professional Courtesy
Dilemma
Doing the right thing
Doing what is right
Loyalty v. Integrity
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Otherwise innocent personnel protecting
the guilty through untruthfulness
Consequences
What can be done?
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Progression is predictable
Time spent in preventing ethical compromise
through credible training and proactive
supervision is less than Internal Affairs and
Criminal investigations after the fact
If we are to foster an atmosphere of
unreproachable ethics, we must implement a
comprehensive strategy
Corruption Continuum
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Scandals can be prevented
Phase 1
Administrative Indifference
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Indifference serves as the initial breeding
ground for future misconduct to begin i.e.
ignoring
Quality of hiring
Perception that discipline/promotions are unfair
Disgruntled FTO’s
Supervisors treating people with lack of respect
Phase 2
Ignoring Obvious Ethical Problems
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Lack of knowledge
Allowing poor leadership role models
Allowing disgruntled FTO’s
Conducting ineffective background
investigations
Allowing a lack of accountability to flourish
Phase 2
Ignoring Obvious Ethical Problems
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Self-Centeredness
Some believe that bringing up integrity problems
will hurt them.
Discrimination/Harassment
Sex among employees married to other people
or with a supervisor
No accountability, i.e. large number of use of
force or citizen complaints
New employees completing FTO programs
before they are qualified to do so
Phase 3
Hypocrisy and Fear
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In Phase 3 Hypocrisy and Fear start to dominate the culture-this is
a result of years of indifference significant corruption is imminent.
Frustration of disrespect and hypocrisy cause supervisors to
privately discredit administrators in front of employees
What began as indifference destroys morale, productivity and
dedication.
Extreme bitterness – Warning signs
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Constant harsh criticism by large groups of people – citizen reviews
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Open defiance of administrators – ignoring policy
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Employees rationalize doing unethical things during conversations
with each other
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Helplessness
1. Leads to justification of unethical acts
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Phase 4
Survival of the fittest
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Employees do what it takes to survive.
Administrators lack of knowledge prevents corrective
actions – Accountability
Good employees fear dishonest ones
Tradition of ignoring misconduct convinces employees
that leaders want it covered up – Accountability / Integrity
Code of silence is condoned and privately encouraged
FTO’s are resentful and bitter
Employees who should be fired and decertified are
allowed to resign –gypsy cops – FHD Problem
Phase 4 Cont’d
Eight Solutions to Corruption
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Ensure quality background investigations
Have a high quality FTO Program
Fight political interference – multiple standards
Ensure consistent fair accountability – Sergeants and
Managers
Conduct effective ethics training
Accept nothing less than positive leadership role models
– Commanders and Supervisors (the best examples of
leadership)
Prevent employees from being victimized
Implement an effective employee intervention process