INTRODUCTION

In our society, criminals are seen as the enemy and fundamentally different from good people. Police are often seen as crime fighters in the army that fights the enemy. Good people accept and understand that police are in a war and
must be allowed deference in their decision making. Police perception
of their role as crime fighters will lead to certain decisions in their
use of force, definition of duty, use of deception and coercion, and
other decisions.

Police are also seen as public servants,
who serve all people, including criminals. In this context, criminals
are not a distinct group in that they shop, pay taxes, have kids and
parents, and often are one’s next-door neighbors.

Police
have limited ability to affect crime rates one way or the other since
crime is a complex social phenomenon. The public favors a police
approach that protects due process and equal protection over the use of
force.

INSTRUCTIONS

In
your main post, consider the historical development of police roles and
the different ethics systems in a criminal justice community context,
and respond to the following:

• Differentiate ethical viewpoints and models of police as crime fighters and public servants.
• Explain,
  as a criminal justice professional, how these opposing viewpoints may
  affect your perception of yourself and the public.
• Examine
  the effect self-perception has on a criminal justice professional’s
  ethical behavior in carrying out his or her assigned duties.