Applied Ethics/Becoming an Exemplary Peace Officer [2024]

Ethical decision making for all people and most especially for Police Officers, Jail Officers and Correctional Officers at every rank is of EXTREME IMPORTANCE. Once you lose it, it is hard, to near impossible to regain the trust others will have in you. There has never been a greater need for extraordinary men and women to serve their community. The services you perform are so very critical to the well-being of the community that you serve, that every agency needs and expects excellence.

Adequacy is Not Enough

This course which is authored by the founder and leading instructor of ethical behavior, Michael Josephson of the Josephson Institute of Ethics, and brings together in conjunction with his book “Becoming an Exemplary Peace Officer” and explains Trustworthiness, Respect, Responsibility, Fairness, Caring and Citizenship.

The definition of true ethics and ethical behavior along with the Six Pillars of Character Integrity, Character and Ethics are not a part-time pursuit for a human being. Rather, these three modalities of human beings should be thought of as a way of everyday life, and we all consciously be aware of and put into practice these high ideals.

It is critical, especially for officers who must have the trust of their community, to be qualified in terms of their ethical approach, character, commitment, integrity and intelligence in order to perform the wide range of vital tasks from suppressing crime to protecting people and property to working to solve community problems.

This course is intended to help strengthen your personal ethics and character and to further develop and refine the knowledge, abilities and skills that will allow you to be an Exemplary Officer.

By the end of this course, you will be more able to:

• Define what are ethics and values

• Understand and identify the six pillars of character

• Recognize the importance of exemplary decision making