POLICE ETHICS
IN CRIMINAL
INVESTIGATION
VALUES
Concept and ideas within each of us
that we deem important. It serves as our
guide that determines our behaviors and
assists us in our decisions in life. They
help us decide right from wrong and help
us define who we are and what we stand
for.
ORGANIZATIONAL VALUES
Every organization has values that are
important to the group. It will help the
organization to survive. Organizations
develop values much the same as each
individual has developed values.
The PNP will be an effective organization
only if it develops good values.
1. Honesty and integrity
2. Respect for human rights
3. Professionalism
4. Strong sense of justice
5. Desire to help and serve others
6. Patriotism
7. Selflessness
ETHICS
It is defined as the “standards of
conduct and moral requirements”
necessary to function effectively within
an organization or profession. In the law
enforcement context, means honest and
honorable service to the community
rather than working for personal gain or
individual profit
Challenges to Police Ethical Behavior
1. Individual character challenges
These difficulties arise from
personal defects where personnel
engage in acts of dishonesty, greed,
brutality, or individual acts of corruption.
Challenges to Police Ethical Behavior
2. Organizational challenges
The organization has adopted
unethical and unprofessional police standards.
It has already permitted or has participated in
various forms of police misconduct such as
extortion, solicitation of bribes, collection of
unauthorized payments, police brutality and
even homicide to maintain power.
Organizational Arrogance
Caused by a perceived power differential.
The organization is powerful, therefore,
the member is also powerful.
The citizen, representing no one, is not
powerful and not worthy of respect.
The “power of the gun” is so evident in
the exercise of police functions.
GUIDING
PRINCIPLES
ON
POLICE ETHICS
Section 1, Art XI (Philippine Constitution)
“Public office is a public trust. Public
officers and employees must at all times
be accountable to the people, serve
them with utmost responsibility, integrity,
loyalty and efficiency, act with patriotism
and justice, and lead modest lives.”
UN CODE OF CONDUCT FOR LAW
ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS
(UN Res 35/169, 1979)
Article 1
Law enforcement officials shall at all
times fulfill the duty imposed upon them
by law, by serving and protecting all
persons against illegal acts, consistent
with the high degree of responsibility
required by their profession.
Article 2
In the performance of their duty, law
enforcement officials shall respect and
protect human dignity and maintain and
uphold the human rights of all persons.
Article 3
Law enforcement may use force only
when strictly necessary and to the extent
required for the performance of their duty.
Article 4
Matters of a confidential nature in
the possession of law enforcement
official shall be kept confidential, unless
the performance of duty or the needs of
justice strictly requires otherwise.
Article 5
No law enforcement or any act
official may inflict, instigate or tolerate
any act of torture or other cruel,
inhuman or degrading treatment or
punishment, nor may any law
enforcement official invoke superior
orders…as justification of torture or
other cruel, inhuman or degrading
treatment or punishment.
Article 6
Law enforcement officials shall ensure
the full protection of the health of the
persons in their custody and, in particular,
shall take immediate action to secure
medical attention whenever required.
Article 7
Law enforcement officials shall not
commit any act of corruption. They shall
rigorously oppose and combat all such acts.
Article 8
Law enforcement officials shall
respect the law and present Code. They
shall also, to the best of their capability,
prevent and rigorously oppose any
violation of them.
PNP Police Professional Conduct
1. Commitment to Democracy
They shall commit themselves to the democratic
way of life and values and maintain the principle
of public accountability.
2. Commitment to public interest
They shall always uphold public interest over
and above personal interest.
3. Non-partisanship
They shall provide services to everyone without
discrimination.
4. Physical Fitness and Health
They shall strive to be mentally fit and in good
health at all times.
5. Secrecy Discipline
They shall guard the confidentiality of classified
information against unauthorized disclosure.
6. Social awareness
They and their immediate family members shall
be encourage to actively get involved in
religious, social and civic activities without
affecting their official duties.
7. Non-solicitation of Patronage
They shall seek self-improvement through
career development and shall not directly or
indirectly solicit influence or recommendation
from politicians, high ranking government
officials, prominent citizens, persons affiliated
with civic or religious organizations with
regards to their assignment, promotions and
transfer.
8. Proper care and Use of Public Property
They shall promote and maintain a sense of
responsibility in the protection, proper care and
judicious disposition and use or entrusted to
their care and custody.
9. Respect for Human Rights
They shall respect and protect human dignity
and uphold human rights of all persons.
10. Devotion to Duty
They shall perform their duties with dedication
thoroughness, efficiency enthusiasm,
determination and manifest concern for public
welfare and shall refrain from engaging in any
activity which shall be in conflict with their
duties as public servants.
11. Conservation of Natural Resources
They shall help in the development and
conservation of our natural resources for
ecological balance and posterity.
12. Discipline
They shall conduct themselves properly at all
times in keeping with the rules and regulations.
13. Loyalty
They shall be loyal to the Constitution and the
police service.
14. Obedience to Superiors
They shall obey lawful orders of and be
courteous to superior officers and other
appropriate authorities within the chain of
command.
15. Command Responsibility
They shall be responsible for the effective
supervision, control and direction of their
personnel.
PNP Police Officer’s Creed
1. I believe in God, the Supreme Being, the
Great Provider and the creator of all men and
every dear to me.
2. I believe that respect for authority is a duty.
3. I believe in selfless love and service to
people.
4. I believe in the sanctity of marriage and
family life.
5. I believe in the responsible dominion and
stewardship over material things.
6. I believe in the wisdom of truthfulness.
ETHICAL AND LEGAL LAW
ENFORCEMENT CONDUCT
Essential principles in the use of any
Power and Authority:
1. Legality
2. Necessity
3. Proportionality
Sa kabila ng
pagkilalang ito sa
mga pulis…narito
ang mga malulungkot
na istorya…
HETO PA PO…
“Andiyan na naman ang pulis…”
“Pulis na naman?!”
“Sigurado my pulis dian!”
“Wala talaga ang mga pulis!”
“Kaya pala, may pulis kasi eh!”
“Huli…dap!”
“Nakakaawang patayin, nakakainis
namang buhayin!”
Beyond all these findings of
inept, corrupt and undisciplined
police officers, what is the
MAJOR, MAJOR institutional
problem of the PNP?
Beyond all these findings of
inept, corrupt and undisciplined
police officers, what is the
MAJOR, MAJOR institutional
problem of the PNP?
CREDIBILITY
Result of lack of credibility…
Police are
condemned
rather than
commended
FACTS AND FIGURES:
Most crimes by police officers were
found to have been committed by PO1
– PO3 ranks.
The statistics bear significance because
they were being registered ironically in
the midst of all the efforts under the
“Transformation” program of the PNP.
Police Deviance
and Corruption
How Bad is the
Problem?
Police Deviance
Brutality
Abuse of Authority
Lying
Sexual Misconduct
Theft
Alcohol/Drug Abuse
Deliberate Inefficiency
Brutality
Individual police brutality is often a
product of immaturity.
Institutionalized brutality is a by-product
of:
Poor training.
Peer support.
Lax/incompetent supervision.
Abuse of Authority
Legal.
Physical
Verbal.
Lying
Falsifying Reports
Falsifying Evidence
Cover-ups.
Lying in Court
Crimes for Profit
Theft of Property
Bribery
Extortion
Alcohol/Drug Abuse
Drug abuse among police officers has
been a growing concern for over a
decade.
Officers have ready access to both
alcohol and drugs.
Deliberate Inefficiency
Sleeping on Duty
Shirking Duty
Dysfunctions in leadership and
management
Police Corruption
It is the officers misuse of
police authority for personal
gain.
Police Corruption
Negotiable graft
It is the mutual bargaining behavior
engaged in between officers and criminals.
Extortion
It is the practice of solicitation of
money or favors by officers in return for
ignoring violations of law.
Police Corruption
Acceptance of petty bribes
It happens most of the time in the
roads.
Taking kickbacks and similar rewards
It is the money or something of value
given to the officer by a “business” in
exchange for consideration.
Police Corruption
Opportunistic theft
This is a theft that arises naturally out of
the performance of an officer’s routine duties.
Taking bribes from other officers
It is the falsification of attendance
records, influence vacations and day offs, and
reports them present even if they are not.
The most insidious cause of
deteriorating values in the police force
We have bad cops
because good cops
protect them.
GREAT
EXPECTATIONS
Police Role in a Changing
Society
The POLICE in a changing society…
A CATALYST
A STEERER
A PRIME-MOVER
A GOAL-KEEPER
A VISIONARY
A MISSIONARY
Summary
The values that constitute police ethics and the
application of ethical standards to the police service
are among the most important parts of police work.
Every police service and police officials has an
affirmative duty to promote, defend, and respect
the kind of values and standards expressed in the
United Nation Code of Conduct for Law
Enforcement Officials. Additionally, every PNP
official has a duty to carry out the requirements set
forth in the PNP Code of Police Professional
Conduct and the PNP Police Officer’s Creed.
Thank you &
God bless!
