Character and Cops: Ethics in Policing

by Edwin J. Delattre

The fifth edition of this enduring work features new material on how today's police officers can meet the ethical challenges of policing while living up to heightened demands for better security. Professor Delattre addresses the need for careful selection of law enforcement recruits by using four examples of intellectual competence and moral probity in policing and law enforcement: the investigation of mass murder at Columbine High School, which was conducted under FBI leadership; the effective transformation of the police force in the Rampart Area of Los Angeles following the catastrophic police misconduct of the 1990s and the reforms of the Los Angeles police department as a whole; the successful anti-gang work conducted by the Fairfax County police in Virginia; and the design and progress, since the September 11 terrorist attacks, of the New York State Office of Homeland Security.

Genres: School

550 pages, Paperback

First published August 31, 1989

Reviews

[George Lichman · Rating 2 out of 5]

First published in 1989 and in its 6th edition in 2011, CHARACTER AND COPS is a very lengthy book published by the conservative American Enterprise Institute. The book is very dated for today’s law enforcement officer, unnecessarily wordy, follows a predictably conservative take on law Enforcement issues, and seems to apply ethics to support those positions. Some arguments and conclusions seem not to be well supported, and some even contradictory. An example is that the Constitution is Supreme—obviously—but questions 8-1 court decisions in favor of free speech and makes an argument that the constitutional right to confront witnesses is not absolute.

There was some good content in the book. I particularly agree with the idea that good character can’t or is difficult to teach, that preemployment screening of potential police officers is paramount, that standards for candidates should not be lowered to meet staffing shortages, and the “spirit of service” is essential. I agree also with examples of ethics in action in policing, and that those who fail to live up to the high standards required of policing should be removed from their positions.

With some updating, more balanced positions, and serious editing, this book could play an important role in 21st Century law enforcement. However, there are better options available.

[Stephanie MacDonald · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had to read this book for school and while clearly nothing is more important that character and integrity within any position of public trust, I could not help but find my self very frustrated with the very opinionated tones and lack of empathy for those who have come from broken paths. There is a difference between fact and opinion and I found the author to more or less, over and over, talk about how people are BORN with good character. This is SO wrong. Clearly this author and many other "professionals" in the field know NOTHING of what it is like growing up without opportunity. It is no different than the out of touch people who speak out on poverty while never at any point in their own lives experiencing what it is like to be poor. This book is VERY close-minded. There ARE people who do not end up where their unfortunate lives began; just because people make mistakes or are not offered opportunities like others, it does NOT mean these people are of bad character and cannot go on to be something great; even honest, trustworthy, and FIRST-HAND-KNOWLEDGEABLE, officers of the law.

[Jim Poling · Rating 3 out of 5]

550 pages to basically say “don’t be a jerk, don’t lie or steal, and don’t let others influence you do so”.

It is very apparent from the writing and the detail which the author addresses this theme that he is very well educated on the topics and manners at hand. He clearly has done years of research and I doubt that there is a more comprehensive book about ethical conduct in law enforcement than this one. He does a great job, it just is hard to stay focused for long periods on the topic. It’s not the most exciting or interesting of topics. It took me a while to complete this book due more to lack of eagerness to pick it back up. It just didn’t grab me and keep me coming back each time wanting more. But I should have predicted as much when picking up a book about ethics. Ethics, a highly important but boring topic.

Congratulations to Dr. Delattre for dedication to such a noble topic.

All in all, follow the golden rule. Do onto others as you’d want done upon you and act with morality even when no one is watching.

[William · Rating 5 out of 5]

An ethics book that isn't boring! Currently on my fifth copy. I've reread this book that many times.

[Valerie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although this was an academically assigned book, I really did enjoy it. It was really informative and well written.

[Kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

this was a promotional book I had to read.