Title: Police Integrity and How to Improve It | National Institute of Justice
Headings: Police Integrity and How to Improve It
Police Integrity and How to Improve It
Management and Culture Affect Integrity
How to Improve Integrity
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Content: Accountability of managers and supervisors
Equal treatment for all members of the organization
Citizen accessibility to the department
Inspections and audits
Quality education for employees
Defining values and principles and incorporating them into every facet of operations may be more important than hiring decisions. Diligence in detecting and addressing misconduct will show officers that managers practice what they preach. How to Improve Integrity
Findings from a study of 3,235 officers from 30 mostly municipal law enforcement agencies reveal the following recommendations for police managers [4]: Address and discipline minor offenses so officers learn that major offenses will be disciplined too. Open the disciplinary process to public scrutiny. Rotate officer assignments to discourage the formation of bonds that lead officers to cover up the misconduct of others. Many departments are improving integrity and raising the standards for officers by taking the following steps: Improving the way they hire and train officers in ethics and cultural awareness. Collecting data to track traffic stops and other encounters with citizens. Soliciting community input through citizen review boards, ombudsmen or community problem-solving initiatives.