Police Wrongdoing in North America
Introduction
After years of police misconduct across North America, the once-positive reputation of police officers has taken a severe hit. Unfortunately, the very people whose job was to “serve and protect” us from the world’s evils and bring us harmony have become the object of our anxiety instead (Ouellet et al., 2019). Not only do they lose their perfect image, but so do they lose credibility. When police officers violate their oath of office, the oath loses any meaning. Any form of misconduct will inevitably lead to the complete breakdown of the oath.
Discussion
The promise that “I will never betray my badge” is one of the first to crumble. For example, those who covered up the post-Katrina Danziger Bridge shootings, that resulted in the death of two civilians and the injury of four others, will never again be trusted by the public or even their fellow police. They have blown their cover in front of the public and fellow officers. With no one believing them anymore, they have no credibility (Ouellet et al., 2019). Despite their pledge to “always respect the constitution,” which they use to justify their cover-ups of criminal activity, they violate it. Disheartening is the destruction of such a respectable component of the police force through misconduct: the value of the oath.
Conclusion
When police in North America engage in misbehavior, the general public is likely to regard them negatively. The public no longer has faith in them, and it is difficult to regain the trust of the general populace once it has been lost. Participating in covering up the shooting could destroy one’s reputation to the extent of being afraid of those who know about it
(Ouellet et al., 2019). One’s personal and public conduct is subject to scrutiny after taking the oath. No matter the state, people are devastated by the news of police misbehavior. In the eyes of the public, cops are no better than the bad guys they are sworn to stop.
Reference
Ouellet, M., Hashimi, S., Gravel, J., & Papachristos, A. V. (2019). Network exposure and excessive use of force. Criminology & Public Policy, 18(3), 675-704. Web.