Career Survival:Career Survival:

Building an Ethical Organization for Building an Ethical Organization for Professional LongevityProfessional Longevity

Presented by Major Mark Mathews and Presented by Major Mark Mathews and Lieutenant Dean C GoodwinLieutenant Dean C Goodwin

Manassas Park PoliceManassas Park Police

ObjectivesObjectives

To Define What Ethics Means To UsTo Define What Ethics Means To Us

Discuss Cause and Effect of Ethically Discuss Cause and Effect of Ethically Bankrupt OrganizationsBankrupt Organizations

Discuss The Benefits of Ethical Discuss The Benefits of Ethical Behavior within OrganizationsBehavior within Organizations

Ethics ReviewEthics Review

1010 1010 1010

2020 2020 2020

3030 3030 3030

QUESTIONQUESTION

What is one of the major contributors What is one of the major contributors to unethical behavior?to unethical behavior?

QUESTIONQUESTION

Who should conduct ethics training in Who should conduct ethics training in the organization?the organization?

QUESTIONQUESTION

What was suggested as the best What was suggested as the best solution to effectively addressing the solution to effectively addressing the problem of the “Code of Silence?”problem of the “Code of Silence?”

QUESTIONQUESTION

What is the biggest cause of BAD What is the biggest cause of BAD MORALE?MORALE?

QUESTIONQUESTION

Average years officer is in law Average years officer is in law enforcement before charged with a enforcement before charged with a criminal offense?criminal offense?

QUESTIONQUESTION

In cases involving the “Code of In cases involving the “Code of Silence”, what percentage of time Silence”, what percentage of time was pressure applied by a was pressure applied by a supervisor? supervisor?

QUESTIONQUESTION

In what type of incident was the In what type of incident was the “Code of Silence” applied most “Code of Silence” applied most often?often?

QUESTIONQUESTION

What three (3) things do senior What three (3) things do senior organizational figures think organizational figures think employees want most? employees want most?

QUESTIONQUESTION

What top three things do you believe What top three things do you believe employees want most in their employees want most in their organization? organization?

ANSWERANSWER

Anger or Greed Anger or Greed

ANSWERANSWER

FTOsFTOs

ANSWERANSWER

Good Ethics TrainingGood Ethics Training

ANSWERANSWER

FavoritismFavoritism

ANSWERANSWER

7.2 years7.2 years

ANSWERANSWER

73%73%

ANSWERANSWER

Excessive use of forceExcessive use of force

ANSWERANSWER

1) Good pay1) Good pay

2) Promotional Opportunities2) Promotional Opportunities

3) Job Security3) Job Security

ANSWERANSWER

1) Appreciation for work done1) Appreciation for work done

2) Feeling “in” on things2) Feeling “in” on things

3) Empathy towards personal issues3) Empathy towards personal issues

““Ethics is a code of values which Ethics is a code of values which guide our choices and actions guide our choices and actions and determine the purpose and and determine the purpose and

course of our lives.”course of our lives.”   

Ayn Rand, Russian-American novelist and philosopher (1905-1982)Ayn Rand, Russian-American novelist and philosopher (1905-1982)

What are the Benefits of an Ethical What are the Benefits of an Ethical Organization?Organization?

Improved MoraleImproved Morale

Improved ProductivityImproved Productivity

Improved Communication Improved Communication (Transparent and Authentic)(Transparent and Authentic)

Increased Trust Amongst All Increased Trust Amongst All EmployeesEmployees

How Can We Start This Process?How Can We Start This Process?

Needs AssessmentNeeds Assessment

A confidential “Needs Assessment” A confidential “Needs Assessment” helps identify, through anonymous helps identify, through anonymous surveying, the REAL problems an surveying, the REAL problems an organization is facing organization is facing

Who Will Take “Needs Who Will Take “Needs Assessment”Assessment”

Senior CommandSenior Command

Mid-level Management (Sergeants Mid-level Management (Sergeants and Lieutenants)and Lieutenants)

FTOsFTOs

Officers/DetectivesOfficers/Detectives

EVERYONE!EVERYONE!

The Greatest Contributor Which The Greatest Contributor Which Leads to Unethical BehaviorLeads to Unethical Behavior

Perception of FavoritismPerception of Favoritism– Leads to Anger and Greed (The Leads to Anger and Greed (The

organization OWES me)organization OWES me)

Anger/Greed is number one (1) Anger/Greed is number one (1) displayed behavior by employees displayed behavior by employees who act out in unethical wayswho act out in unethical ways

Who Should Perform the Ethics Who Should Perform the Ethics Training Within Organizations?Training Within Organizations?

The best people to conduct this The best people to conduct this training is:training is:

-FTOs -FTOs

Why do you think that Why do you think that may be?may be?

It’s where it all starts!It’s where it all starts! Culturally norms and accepted Culturally norms and accepted behaviors are imparted to behaviors are imparted to probationary officers by their probationary officers by their FTOsFTOs

So Why Are We Talking with So Why Are We Talking with You?You?

73% of officers who participated in 73% of officers who participated in the “Code of Silence” were pressured the “Code of Silence” were pressured by their SUPERVISORS to do so.by their SUPERVISORS to do so.

When is “Code of Silence” Most When is “Code of Silence” Most Often Employed?Often Employed?

Cases of Excessive ForceCases of Excessive Force

However, the “Code of Silence” leads However, the “Code of Silence” leads to all types of unethical behavior to all types of unethical behavior such as:such as:

Average Number of Years as an Average Number of Years as an OfficerOfficer

What is the average number of years What is the average number of years an officer has when they commit an officer has when they commit criminal/serious unethical acts?criminal/serious unethical acts?

7.2 years7.2 years

Is Senior Management Out of Is Senior Management Out of Touch?Touch?

Top three (3) conditions senior Top three (3) conditions senior management believes management believes employees want present in their employees want present in their careerscareers::

– Good PayGood Pay– Promotional OpportunityPromotional Opportunity– Job SecurityJob Security

Employees Agree?Employees Agree?

Not by a long shot. Survey says:Not by a long shot. Survey says:

– Appreciation for work performedAppreciation for work performed– Feeling “in” on things (authentic Feeling “in” on things (authentic

communication, transparent leadership, communication, transparent leadership, and participatory processes)and participatory processes)

– Empathy for personal problemsEmpathy for personal problems

Who Has the Most Influence Over Who Has the Most Influence Over the Top Three (3) Employee the Top Three (3) Employee

ChoicesChoices

YOU!YOU!

Ignorance of what is right speaks Ignorance of what is right speaks to our lack of knowledge. to our lack of knowledge.

Knowing what is right and failing Knowing what is right and failing to act, speaks to our lack of to act, speaks to our lack of

character.character.

(Goodwin, 2004)(Goodwin, 2004)