Gratuities in Policing

Paper Summary:

This paper discusses the effects that gratuities can have on police corruption and asserts that paying nominal gratuities without ulterior motive can gradually progress into areas that constitute bona fide conflicts of interest and corruption for police officers. The paper describes the 'bad' police officer and the progression of the self-controlled police officer to impermissible and unethical conduct. The paper looks at theories of public corruption and presents a personal view on ground-up reforms in connection with police corruption.

Outline:
Gratuities and the Slippery Slope of Police Corruption
Characteristics of Character Type in Policing
Theories of Public Corruption
Strategy for Ground-Up Reforms in Connection with Police Corruption

From the Paper:

"In many respects, it is perfectly natural and benign for police officers to accept gratuities of nominal value that are offered without ulterior motive or the expectation of preferential treatment. However, in other respects, it is also problematic. At least potentially, in the sense that nominal gratuities without ulterior motive can gradually progress into areas that constitute bona fide conflicts of interest and corruption (Geeting 2005).
"Typical examples would include free coffee for police officers on duty or reduced price meals to police officers in uniform at a local diner. The actual value of the gratuities is too small to pose the dilemma of any expected quid pro quo. However, it is easy for such a situation to evolve into reciprocation in the form of an extra pass of the vicinity of the diner at closing time for the safety of the diner owner who is known by the patrolling officer to leave the premises with large sums of money."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Cloud, M. (1994) Emory Law Journal, The Dirty Little Secret. Accessed May 20, 2008 at: http://www.soc.umn.edu/%7Esamaha/cases/cloud_dirty_secret.html
• Conlon, E. (2004) Blue Blood. New York: Riverhead.
• Foley, M. (2000) U.S. Department of Justice, Police Perjury: A Factorial Survey. Accessed May 20, 2008 at: http://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/181241.pdf
• Geeting, J. (2005) The Badge: Thoughts from a State Trooper. Indian Wells: Mckenna
• Montgomery, D. (2005) Perspective: Excessive Force 101; The FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin. Vol. 74 No.8

More papers on Gratuities in Policing:

• Analytical Essay # 128065 : "Abuse of Power In Modern Policing"
• Term Paper # 150066 : "Corruption Issues in Modern Policing"
• Analytical Essay # 90655 : "Ethics of Police Officers"

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