The Unwritten Code Essay Example

to understand how and why it happened. The Institute interviewed twenty-five basic law enforcement academies from 16 states and received completed confidential questionnaires from 1,016 participants. The Institute believes that effective control of the Code of Silence can prevent scandals from expanding as many become aware of them.

The results indicate that the Code of Silence in law enforcement is widespread throughout the United States, as reported by 79% of respondents. The study involved a total sample size of 2,698 fulltime officers from twenty-one states and only 1,116 completed the confidential questionnaire while forty-one participated in confidential interviews. Among those surveyed, 52% did not express concern about its presence whereas 24% deemed it acceptable when dealing with abusive citizens involving excessive force.

According to the National Institute of Ethics, 46% of officers have witnessed officer misconduct but did not report it due to fear of repercussions or belief that the administration will not take action. The Code of Silence is widely accepted in most agencies and utilized by both male and female officers, making efforts to eliminate it ineffective. "Whistle-blowers" are generally unsupported by police administrations. Injustices still occur, such as a case in San Francisco where three off-duty cops were involved in a fight with two intoxicated individuals.

The situation was managed by the DEA and involved the police chief, assistant chief, three deputies, and five officers who were all awaiting grand jury indictments. An article in the "Sunday Insight" quoted police officers, but they all wished to remain anonymous. According to a veteran of the force who was quoted, the current situation is similar to that of the Catholic Church where many upright priests

or cops are working diligently and maintaining their integrity.

According to Salter (2003), the Code of Silence mentality still lingers, particularly among those in higher positions of authority, making it difficult for individuals to speak out about major issues. The Code of Silence is influenced by race and power dynamics, with cops who commit injustices often doing so out of negligence due to factors such as racism, boredom, or the desire for power. Former San Jose Police Chief Joseph McNamara (1995) stated in an essay that corrupt, racist, or brutal cops will only refrain from misconduct if they believe their colleagues will blow the whistle on them, and that the police value system allows for behavior that often results in negative media attention.

Based on a study by the Institute of Ethics, gender is not a factor in officers failing to report misconduct. Of the 532 officers who acknowledged witnessing such behavior and not reporting it, 449 were male and 74 were female. The existence of the Code in modern times is considered unnecessary by Neil Trautman, Director of the National Institute of Ethics. Trautman proposes various methods to abolish the Code, with his first objective being to enhance administrative dedication.

According to Trautman (2000), to prevent the Code of Silence from prioritizing loyalty to individuals over loyalty to principles, an organization must demonstrate and express a genuine dedication to integrity. Upholding integrity is crucial in eradicating this code. If officers prioritize their badge and their actions over alliances and colleagues, the code will no longer exist. Furthermore, Trautman emphasizes the importance of recruitment as a means of improvement.

Trautman (2000) argues that while recruitment and hiring

may not be typically linked to the maintenance of a non-destructive Code of Silence, they should be, as hiring employees who prioritize principles over people would reduce the chances of serious misconduct and the Code of Silence. It is important to emphasize integrity as the foundation of the job during the hiring process, so that potential officers will think twice before using the code. Additionally, Trautman emphasizes the need for current agencies to cease using the code during internal training, as ignoring these issues can lead to serious consequences.

Truatman reiterates the importance for officers and potential officers to pledge an oath prioritizing integrity over loyalty. The responsibility to eradicate the code of silence falls on police officers at all levels, including chiefs and trainees at academies. This code persists due to the fear of consequences if an officer speaks out against misconduct. If officers prioritize integrity over protecting their colleagues, the code will no longer have a hold.