Law Enforcement Ethics Do Not Begin When You Pin on the Badge

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In every person's life, there are particular dates that can be mentally retrieved in a moment's notice. September 11, 2001, immediately comes to mind. December 7, 1941, is a day "that will live in infamy," and July 4, 1776, is the day the United States gained its independence. Dates of national importance are not the only ones we remember. The birth of a child, the death of a parent, the anniversary of our marriage are just as likely to spark our recollection. For those blessed to be police officers, the day they first recited the police code of ethics can compete with each of these dates.

Over the years, I have had the opportunity to lecture future law enforcement officers in the classrooms of colleges and universities--young men and women making the decision to serve even though they easily could have chosen a safer, more lucrative career path. I also have had the misfortune to counsel equally bright and ambitious young people who, due to poor decision making, will never be afforded the honor of pinning on the badge. Because of those …