Changing the culture of law enforcement

Since the airing of San Francisco Police Officer Andrew Cohen's offensive video, the issue of "cop culture" has become a hot topic. What is cop culture? What do we want it to be? Moreover, can it be changed?

Law enforcement is a difficult and isolating profession. Cops and deputy sheriffs are regularly exposed to hostility, second-guessing and interagency bickering, not to mention real personal danger. They get slugged, stabbed, shot, shot at and lied to as part of their regular routine. A wall in San Francisco's Hall of Justice lists the names of 96 San Francisco police officers who have been killed just for doing their job. In the last 10 years, according to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund, a cop has been killed on average every 53 hours in the United States.

Nevertheless, society's expectations of peace officers are understandably high. Both on-duty and off, we expect cops and deputies to exhibit exemplary behavior. We expect them to be professional. We expect them to be role models.

Those seeking to change cop culture to meet those expectations should know that an excellent tool already exists. It is the Law Enforcement Code of Ethics, promulgated by the International Association of Chiefs of Police and adopted by thousands of law-enforcement agencies across the nation.

I recently attended a law-enforcement academy graduation where, as part of the ceremony, recruits from a dozen agencies recited from memory that code of ethics. I recited it with them, as did every other peace officer in the audience. It is simple and straightforward, but it defines the culture we must expect of our law-enforcement officers:

"As a law-enforcement officer, my fundamental duty is to serve mankind; to safeguard lives and property; to protect the innocent against deception, the weak against oppression or intimidation, and the peaceful against violence or disorder; and to respect the constitutional rights of all persons to liberty, equality and justice.

"I will keep my private life unsullied as an example to all; maintain courageous calm in the face of danger, scorn or ridicule; develop self-restraint; and be constantly mindful of the welfare of others. Honest in thought and deed in both my personal and official life, I will be exemplary in obeying the laws of the land and the regulations of my department. Whatever I see or hear of a confidential nature or that is confided to me in my official capacity will be kept ever secret unless revelation is necessary in the performance of my duty.

"I will never act officiously or permit personal feelings, prejudices, animosities or friendships to influence my decisions. With no compromise for crime and with relentless prosecution of criminals, I will enforce the law courteously and appropriately without fear or favor, malice or ill will, never employing unnecessary force or violence and never accepting gratuities.

"I recognize the badge of my office as a symbol of public faith, and I accept it as a public trust to be held so long as I am true to the ethics of the police service. I will constantly strive to achieve these objectives and ideals, dedicating myself before God to my chosen profession: law enforcement."

Adopting and enforcing the Law Enforcement Code of Ethics will help any agency create a relationship of trust with the community. If officers remain true to the code, the culture will take care of itself.