You who would now raise your hand and take the oath to serve and protect on behalf of the masses will be faced with challenges of the conscience and the spirit that will test your mettle and will either serve to harden your resolve to stay the path of righteousness or bend you in ways large or small that will collectively diminish us as a professional body and tarnish our proverbial shield.
Deitrich Bonhoeffer’s transition from theologian to conspirator in an assassination plot is important reading for anyone looking for insight on applying Christian ethics to life today.
Filed in Perspective, Purpose
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Also tagged Bonhoeffer, deadly force, Ethics, Hitler, leadership, Metaxas, Nazi, Priorities, racism, servant leadership, strategic deception
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The wicked flee when no man pursueth: but the righteous are bold as a lion.
Proverbs 28:1
There are key differences between the local police and the federal government, those differences are the heart of the reason immigration enforcement should remain a federal responsibility.
Filed in Perspective, Principles
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Also tagged Arizona, Ethics, illegal immigration, immigration, law enforcement, leadership, Nine Principles of Policing, police, racial profiling, racism, SB1070, Sir Robert Peel
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A moral crisis exists if we are called upon to commit “a social and racial sin” in the performance of our duties. Is that the position that police officers in Arizona will find themselves? What are the principles that should help form our view?
Filed in Perspective, Principles
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Also tagged Arizona, Ethics, illegal immigration, immigration, law enforcement, leadership, police, racial profiling, racism, SB1070
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There are two related problems, our unhappiness with our own circumstances that leads to an unhealthy eye for our neighbor’s stuff.
We are called to tell the truth. This is not easy for anyone, but it can be complicated for a police officer, perhaps even more so for a Christian police officer. How do we reconcile situations where we employ strategic deception, lies to conceal our identity or to prompt an admission from a suspect, with our obligation to remain truthful?
At best, a lack of commitment to honesty will damage your reputation and all of your relationships, at worst it can destroy them.
The Ethicist’s take on seeking your day in court when you know you are guilty. A civic virtue or dodging responsibility?
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
An employee stole money from me and I think he is going to steal again, should I call the police? The NY Times Ethicist’s answer might surprise you.