Police Community Ethics

• Ethics – is the standard of conduct and moral requirements necessary

to function effectively within an organization of profession.
• Ethics in the Law Enforcement context – means honest and honorable
service to the community rather than working for personal gain or
individual profit.
• Morals – pertaining to character and behavior from the point of view
of right and wrong.
• Morality – is the area of knowledge that is concerned with principles
of right and wrong behavior to such and establishing and conforming
to such principles.
• Moralist – is a person who values or follows good conduct, even in
the absence of religion.
• Ethics and Moral Distinguished – while both the term ethics and
morals refers to that type of behavior which tends to become
customary because of the approval or practices of the group and are
thus essentially synonymous, Ethics ordinarily suggests the study of
moral conduct or the principles underlying the desirable types of
human conduct; on the other hand, morals ordinarily refers to the
human conduct itself. Ethics will guide a person’s judgement
concerning the morality of human acts whereas, moral is the
application of ethics.
• Values – A principle or quality that is intrinsically desirable. Those
ideas and concept within each of us that we deem important. We are
guided by our set of values which help determine our behavior as we
live our lives, and assist our decision making. They help us decide
right from wrong and help define who we are and what we stand for.
• A good value system for Law Enforcement Agency include
• Honesty and integrity
• Respect for Human Rights
• Professionalism
• Desire to help and serve others
• Patriotism
• Selflessness
• Why we study Ethics?
• Decisions (wrong ways and right ways of doing things)
• To have an orderly social life
• To value life
• Professional Ethics – is the branch of moral science that treats of the
obligations which a member of a profession owes to the public, to his
profession, to his colleagues and to his clients.
• Accountability and Actions:
• Article XI, Section 1, of 1987 Philippines Constitution – Public office is
a public trust. Public Officers and Employees must at all times be
accountable to the people, serve them with utmost responsibility,
integrity, loyalty and efficiency, act with patriotism and justice and
lead modest lives.
• For public service they must ultimately be accountable to:
• Accountability in Government and in Civil Society – There is a network
of accountability between the different organs of state. The aim is
usually to have some separation and balance of powers, so that no
one part of the system can dominate the others.
• Accountability in Management – Public services are mostly
hierarchical, with each officers accountable to a manager. Sometimes
the lines of management accountability are blurred.
• Accountability to the Public – Public servant are accountable to the
public, that, in name, they are appointed to serve. There has been
increasing concern about this in the past few years, with an emphasis
on becoming directly accountable to “clients” or “customers”.
• Chapter 1 (Professional Conduct and Police Ethical Standard)
• Introduction: Professional conduct and ethical standards and a high
degree of honesty are more essential for officers and members of the
PNP than for any member of the society.
• This is so because they are entrusted with the enforcement of the
rules, regulations and ordinances created by City/Municipality and
the laws of the land created by the congress that guide in the conduct
of society. A policeman’s violation or infraction thereof or his failure
to enforce it, dishonors the law and the authority he represents. All
members of the PNP shall abide and adhere to the provisions of Code
and Conduct and Ethical Standards. Toward this end, a truly
professional and dedicated Law Enforcer shall be develop in
promoting peace and order, ensuring public safety and enhancing
community participation guided by the principle that all public
servants must at all times be accountable to the people.
• They shall serve with utmost responsibility, integrity, morality and
efficiency with due respects to human right and signify as hallmarks
of a democratic society. They shall at all times bear faithful allegiances
to the legitimate government, support and uphold the constitution,
respect the duly constituted authority and be loyal to the service.
• Definitions of Terms
• Neglect of Duty or Nonfeasance – is the failure to perform an act
which one is obligated or permitted to do either by law or directive
due to omission or failure to recognize the obligation.
• Irregularities in the Performance of Duty/Misfeasance – is the
improper performance of some act, which might lawfully done.
• Malfeasance – is the intentional commission of a prohibited act or
intentional unjust performance of some act of which the party had no
right.
• Misconduct – is the wrong doing or violation of departmental
procedures.
• Incompetence – it is the manifestation of lack of adequate ability and
fitness for the satisfactory performance of police duties. This has
reference to any physical intellectual quality the lack of, which
substantially incapacitates one to perform the duties of peace officer.
• Oppression – an act of cruelty, severity, unlawful execution,
domination or excessive use of authority. The exercise of the unlawful
• Powers or other means, in depriving and individual of his liberty or
property against his will, is generally an act of oppression.
• Dishonesty to the Government – Consist of abandonment or
renunciation of one’s loyalty to the Government of the Philippines, or
advocating to overthrow the government.
• Violation of Law – Presupposes conviction in court of any crime or
offense penalized under Revised Penal Code or any Special Law or
Ordinance.
• Corruption – is forbidden acts involving misuse of office for gain. An
Officer’s misuse of police authority for personal gain.
• Forms of Corruption:
• Negotiate Graft
• Extortion
• Acceptance of petty bribes
• Opportunistic Theft
• Taking bribes from other officers
• Favoritism – is the unfair “breaks” to friends or relatives (nepotism)
• Rotten Apples – are either weak individuals who have slipped through
screening process or succumbed to the temptations inherent in police work
or deviant individuals who continue their deviances in an environment that
gives them ample opportunity.
• Deviance – behavior inconsistent with the norms, values or ethics.
• Three (3) Types of Police Deviance:
• Police Gratuity – is the receipt of free meals, services or discounts.
• Chiseling – is when an officer is quite blatant in about demanding free
service.
• Police Shakedown – is when the police officer extorts business owners
for protection money.
• Police Perjury – is usually a means to affect an act of corruption,
leaving out certain pertinent pieces of information in order to “fix” a
criminal prosecution.
• Police Brutality – is defined as excessive force, name calling, sarcasm,
ridicule and disrespect.
• When citizen charges police brutality they maybe referring to number
of things, including:
• Command to move or go home
• Field stops and searches
• Threats or implied violence
• Prodding with night stick or approaching with pistol
• The actual use of Physical Force
• Police Profanity – refers to the use of obscene and profane language.
• Misuse of Confidential Information – this normally involves the
jeopardization of ongoing investigations by leaking information to
friends, relatives, the public, the press or in some cases directly to the
criminal suspect or members of their gang.
• Code – any system of rules and principles. The Law Enforcement Code
of Ethics is a basic system of ethics rules for police officers.
• Principles – A rule of conduct. The Code of Ethics are basic rules that
every police officers must follow and a system of rules that must
control your behavior both on duty and off duty.
• Oath – A formal and solemn commitment usually asking God and
others to witness that you’re sincerely intend to do what you say and
promising what you say is the absolute truth.
• When a Police Officers swears to the Law Enforcement Code of Ethics,
he promises to intend to follow and obey these rules and ask God and
others to witness and hold him accountable to that promise.
• Law Enforcement Code of Ethics
• Performance OF THE DUTIES OF A POLICE OFFICER
• Impartiality
• Professionalism
• DISCREETION
• Reasonableness
• Maintenance of Public Confidence
• Use of Force
• CONFIDENTIALITY
• INTEGRITY
• COOPERATION WITH OTHER OFFICERS AND AGENCIES
• PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL CAPABILITIES
• PRIVATE LIFE
• Canons of Police Ethics
• Primordial Police Responsibility
• Limitation of police authority
• Knowledge of the law and other responsibilities
• Use of proper means to obtain proper ends
• Cooperation with public officials
• Proper conduct and behavior
• Conduct toward the community
• Conduct in arresting law violators
• Firmness in refusing gifts or favor
• Impartial presentation of evidence
• Attitude toward police profession
• PROFFESIONAL POLICE PRINCIPLES
• Prevention of crime and disorder
• Cooperation of the community
• Unreasonable force reduce community cooperation
• Use of reasonable force when persuasion is not sufficient
• Impartial enforcement of laws
• Rules of engagement must be partially observed
• Reduction of crime and disorder
• Police discretion
• THE POLICE CORE VALUES
• THE POLICE OFFICER’S CREED
• PNP STAND ON BASIC ISSUES
• PNP image
• Career Management, The key to Professionalism
• Police management leadership
• Equality in the service
• Delicadeza
• Police Lifestyle
• Political Patronage
• Human rights
• Setting example
• PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT AND ETHICAL STANDARDS
• Section 1 - Standard of Police Professionalism
• All PNP personnel shall perform their duties with excellence,
competence, integrity, intelligence and expertise in the application of
specialized skill and technical knowledge.
• Section 2 – Police Professional Conduct
• All members of the PNP shall observe the following professional
conduct:
• Commitment to Democracy
• Commitment to Public Interest
• Non-Partisan
• Physical fitness and health
• Secrecy Discipline
• Social awareness
• Non-Solicitation of patronage
• Proper care and use of public property
• Respect for human rights
• Devotion of duty
• Conservation of natural resources
• Discipline
• Tenets of discipline
• One of the first signs of discipline is the stage of orderliness and
cleanliness of the policeman’s place of work. If a police a police
station is unkept, people cannot expect the kind of positive responses
to their needs.
• All police actions must be characterized by courtesy and discipline
• All objectives of the PNP must always be for the public interest and
not private interest. The people must feel that they are welcome to
approach any members of the PNP for assistance.
• All citizens must be treated with dignity and respect.
• All police actions must be in accordance with the law. Respect for human
rights and other laws of the land must be primordial concern in the
exercise of police duties.
• Basic police service must be rendered equitably for all citizens and must
not be given in exchange for any favor, reward or condition.
• Involvement of police personnel is syndicated crime particularly illegal
gambling must not be tolerated.
• There is no substance for leadership by example. Police Commanders as
model of public service must show proper behavior not only to their
subordinates but also to the people.
• Loyalty
• Obedience to superior
• Command responsibility
• POLICE ETHICAL STANDARDS
• Morality
• Judicious use of Authority
• Integrity
• Justice
• Humility
• Orderliness
• Perseverance
• CUSTOMS AND TRADITIONS
• General Statement – The PNP adopts the generally acceptable
customs and traditions based on the desirable practices of the police
service. These shall serve as inspiration as the PPN endeavors to
attain its goals and objectives.
• Definitions of Terms:
• Customs – established usage or social practices carried on by tradition
that have obtained the force of law.
• Traditions – Bodies of beliefs, stories and customs effect of an
unwritten law
• Courtesy – A manifestation or expression of consideration and respect
for others.
• Ceremony – A formal act or set of formal acts established by customs
or authority as proper to special occasion.
• Social Decorum – A set of norms and standards practiced by members
during socials and other functions.
• POLICE CUSTOMS ON COURTESY
• Salute – is the usual greeting rendered by uniformed members upon
meeting and recognizing persons entitled to a salute.
• Salute of National Colors and Standard – members stand at a
attention and salute the national color and standard as it pass them
or when the national color is raised or lowered during ceremonies.
• Address/Title – Junior in ranks address senior members who are
entitled to salute with word “Sir”.
• Courtesy Calls
• Courtesy call of newly assigned appointed member
• New Year’s call
• Promotion call
• Exit call
• Courtesy of the post
• RHIP
• POLICE CUSTOM ON CEREMONIES
• Flag Raising Ceremony
• Flag Lowering Ceremony
• Half-Mast
• Funeral Service and Honors
• Ceremony Tendered to Retirees
• Honor Ceremony
• Turn-over Ceremony
• Weeding Ceremony
• Anniversary
• POLICE CUSTOMS ON SOCIAL DECUROM
• Proper Attire
• Table Manners
• Social Graces
• Uniform/Appearance
• Manner of Walking
• OTHER POLICE CUSTOMS
• Visiting the Sick
• Survivor Assistance to heirs of Deceased Members
• Visiting the Religious Leaders
• Athletics
• Happy Hours
• TRADITION
• Spiritual Beliefs
• Valor
• Patriotism
• Discipline
• Gentlemanliness
• Word of Honor
• Duty
• Loyalty
• Camaraderie
• POLICE OFFICERS PLEDGE
• Fundamental Principles – The rigid application of fundamental
principles in police work is necessary to avoid human rights violation
and maintain respect of the profession
• The people have the responsibility to prevent and control crime,
disorder and oppression by influential/political groups, abusive
soldiers, tyrannical policeman and decadent society.
• The police have the responsibility to recognize that the fulfillment of
its functions is dependent upon community approval of its existence
and on its ability to obtain and maintain responsive support and
participative cooperation.
• The police have the responsibility to recognize that an order to secure
and maintain the approval, support and cooperation of the public, it
has a collateral responsibility of securing the willing assistance of the
public in the task of securing observance of law.
• The police have the responsibility to recognize that when community
cooperates and assists the police it diminishes proportionately the
need for the use of physical force and compulsion in achieving law
enforcement objectives.
• RA 6713
• Section 4, RA 6713, Norms and Conduct of Public Officials and
Employees
• Commitment to Public Interest
• Professionalism
• Justness and Sincerity
• Political Neutrality
• Responsiveness to the Public
• Nationalism and Patriotism
• Commitment to Democracy
• Simple Living
• Civil Service Commission
• Section 5, RA 6713 – Duties of Public Officials and Employees
• Section 7, RA 6713 – Prohibited Acts and Transactions
• Section 8, RA 6713 – Statement and Disclosure
• Section 9, RA 6713 – Penalties
• RA 7438 – Act defining Certain rights of person Arrested, detained or
under Custodial Investigation
• Section 3 RA 3019 – Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act
• Book 2, RPC, Title Seven – Crimes Committed by Public Officers
• Chapter II Malfeasance and Misfeasance
• Section 1
• Section 2
• Chapter III Frauds and Illegal exactions and Transactions
• Chapter IV Malversation of Public Funds and Property
• Chapter V Infidelity of Public Officers
• Section 1
• Section 2
• Section 3
• Chapter VI Other Offenses or Irregularities by Public Officers
• Section 1
• Section 2
• Section 3
• Section 4
• RA 9372 – Human Security Act of 2007