Question 1

In terms of discretion, according to the text, ethics class participants very often identify the _____________ as problematic.

Accepted Answer

B

Question 2

Whistle-blowing is most associated with what type of ethical dilemma?

Accepted Answer

Whistle-blowing is most associated with the ethical dilemma of loyalty because it involves the conflict between an employee's loyalty to their organization and their duty to report wrongdoing or unethical behavior within the organization.

Question 3

According to the text, while teaching ethics to police officers, it is useful to weigh all of the following except:

Accepted Answer

While teaching ethics to police officers, it's essential to focus on the requirements of the law, the requirements of the department, and personal ethics. Public opinion, although important in some contexts, is not a stable or reliable basis for ethical decision-making in law enforcement, as it can vary widely and may not always align with legal or ethical standards.

Question 4

_________ dilemmas may involve situations in which the officer knows that the job requires a particular action, but feels that action is a waste of time.

Accepted Answer

Duty dilemmas occur when an officer recognizes that their job necessitates a specific action, but personally believes that action is unnecessary or ineffective.

Question 5

The phenomenon of police officers lying about the facts of a case is often called:

Accepted Answer

Testilying is a portmanteau of "testifying" and "lying," specifically used to describe the phenomenon of police officers providing false testimony or lying about the facts of a case.

Question 6

Mounting evidence shows that _________ is the best methodology for teaching police ethics

Accepted Answer

Scenario-based training is widely recognized as the most effective method for teaching police ethics because it allows officers to engage with realistic situations, requiring them to apply ethical principles in a practical context. This method helps in developing critical thinking and decision-making skills in complex, real-world situations.

Question 7

Many officers are never faced with issues of police ____________ because they are in patrol and not in criminal investigation.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Many officers are never faced with issues...

Question 8

A gratuity is something given to all police as a policy. A ____________ is something given to an individual in return for a specific action.

Accepted Answer

The answer of A gratuity is something given to all...

Question 9

According to the text, which of the following methods of ethics training do police officers prefer?

Accepted Answer

The answer of According to the text, which of the...

Question 10

Whether a police officer should enforce a relatively minor law due to situational elements such as the age or poverty of an offender would be an example of:

Accepted Answer

Discretion refers to the power or right to decide or act according to one's own judgment. In the context of law enforcement, it involves making decisions based on the specifics of a situation, such as whether to enforce a minor law given the offender's circumstances.

Question 11

Supervisors such as sergeants and lieutenants are the most often overlooked groups for ethics instruction.

Accepted Answer

Supervisors like sergeants and lieutenants often fall into a gap in ethics training programs, which tend to focus either on new recruits or higher-level management, overlooking the crucial middle management roles these supervisors occupy.

Question 12

According to the text, the traditional pedagogical approach is the most appropriate method to teach ethics to police recruits and officers.

Accepted Answer

Traditional pedagogical approaches, which often rely on lecture-based methods, may not be the most effective for teaching ethics to police recruits and officers. Interactive, scenario-based, and experiential learning methods are generally considered more effective in promoting ethical decision-making and behavior in law enforcement training.

Question 13

Many officers are never faced with issues of police discretion in their daily duties.

Accepted Answer

Police officers regularly face situations that require them to exercise discretion in their daily duties, such as deciding whether to issue a warning or a ticket during traffic stops or how to de-escalate a potentially volatile situation.

Question 14

Discretion can be defined as the power to make a choice among alternatives.

Accepted Answer

Discretion refers to the authority or power to decide or act according to one's own judgment among a range of choices.

Question 15

Police training often spends the most time on activities that officers are least likely to encounter on the job.

Accepted Answer

Studies and reports have shown that police training in the United States often allocates a significant amount of time to firearms training and physical control techniques, which are situations officers are less likely to encounter compared to activities like routine patrols, community interaction, and non-violent conflict resolution.

Question 16

Ethics instruction is best implemented as a single training block during the academy.

Accepted Answer

Ethics instruction is most effective when integrated throughout the entire training program and reinforced continuously, rather than being confined to a single training block. This approach helps inculcate ethical behavior as a fundamental aspect of professional conduct.

Question 17

Many police officers feel that it is ethically acceptable to receive gratuities.

Accepted Answer

Many police officers believe that accepting small gratuities, such as free or discounted coffee and meals, is ethically acceptable as a form of community appreciation and does not compromise their integrity or duties. However, opinions on this matter can vary widely among officers and departments, with some enforcing strict policies against such practices.

Question 18

Personalizing course content may help police officers to recognize ethical issues and resolve them.

Accepted Answer

Personalizing course content can make the material more relevant and engaging for police officers, thereby enhancing their ability to recognize and resolve ethical issues by applying the concepts to real-life scenarios.

Question 19

Police officers are always forced to present ethical rationales for their decisions.

Accepted Answer

Police officers are expected to act ethically and may need to justify their decisions, but they are not always forced to present ethical rationales for every decision they make. Their actions are often guided by law, policy, and situational demands.

Question 20

According to the text, ethical practice for police is primarily a matter of knowing and following a set of rules.

Accepted Answer

Ethical practice for police involves more than just knowing and following a set of rules; it requires understanding the principles behind those rules and applying them judiciously in various situations, often requiring moral judgment and discretion beyond mere rule adherence.

Quiz 5: Using Ethical Dilemmas in Training Police