Introduction
Police corruption refers to the form of misconduct by the law enforcers, where an officer breaks the law or abuse their authority or office for individual gain (Kleinig, 2019). The type of misconduct or corruption may entail financial or status gain, and it may involve one police office or an entire police department.
The Common Forms of Police Corruption and their Effects
The most notable forms of police corruption include misuse of authority, kickbacks, opportunistic robbery or theft, shakedowns, obstruction of justice by covering up illegal acts, the fix, direct participation in criminal activities, and internal or local payoffs, among others (Kleinig, 2019). The misuse of authority is a form of corruption where a police officer uses his power, for example, to threaten or coarse other people. Activities such as illegal searches are also abuse of authority by the police which amounts to police corruption. Kickback refers to the various types of compensation that police officers receive for favors done to some people. It is the most profound form of police corruption.
The different forms of police corruption have problematic effects both at a personal and societal level. Police corruption through the misuse of office is the foundation of mistrust and lack of faith in the police force (Miller, 2016). The police have a duty to uphold integrity while in an office. The forms of misconduct create a mentality on the community that justice will never prevail in the law enforcers without bribery and fixes. Therefore, people result in taking the law in their hands, applying an eye for an eye means of justice.
Police corruption in the form of illegal searches, the fix, and abuse of office leads to interference with the evidence available at a crime scene. Kickbacks and the fix, on the other hand, contribute to deliberate tampering of evidence in favor of a person. Therefore, guilty people may get away with severe offenses following the corrupt actions of the police. Obstruction of justice, especially when a police officer wants to protect a colleague or family, is a common phenomenon (Miller, 2016). The form of police corruption is dangerous in that it may lead to the prosecution of innocent people. Nevertheless, the kinds of frauds like kickbacks and fixes may be the direct cause of grudge, which may turn into catastrophic events like a gang, community or societal wars.
Activities such as opportunistic robber or theft and direct participation in illegal acts may jeopardize the safety of civilians. Police may participate in illicit activities such as illegal arms dealing, drug trafficking, and robbery, among others. Since the police have the authority to carry firearms around, their participation in such activities is a danger to society.
Ways of Combating Police Corruption
The first and most effective way of combating police corruption is ensuring a thorough background check on the people employed in law enforcement. The process of deploying police officers should be strict and adhere to moral issues besides experience and education level. Having morally upright law enforcers will ensure that they uphold the integrity and comply with the codes of ethics. The second step in combating police corruption is ensuring that the salaries, remuneration, and service benefits of the police help in meeting their needs. The police, just like any other people, need money to cater for their needs. Paying them too little salaries may increase temptations to participate in police corruption. Finally, education and workshops on the importance of morality and ethics in the police force are essential to empower the police force (Albrecht, 2017). Consistent training and education on ethical behaviors, rewarding morally upright police officers and severe punishment of corrupt officers will help reduce cases of police corruption.
