A Conduit from Public Trust to Legitimacy: Continuous Ethics Training in Law Enforcement

Purpose. In the state of California, law enforcement agencies meet professional standards set by the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST). POST mandates biennial perishable skills training for peace officers that include driver training, tactical firearms, arrest and control, and communications. While the subject matter of ethics is required within the POST Basic Recruit Academy, it is only recommended as continuing professional training throughout the career of a peace officer. Ethics is not included in the perishable skills curriculum set forth by POST, the governing agency that deems professional standards for peace officers in the state of California.;Theoretical Framework. The theoretical framework for this study is based on organizational culture and transformational leadership.;Methodology. This descriptive research focused on content analysis of secondary data by systematically evaluating texts for the presence of certain words such as standards and training; ongoing; in-service; mandatory; required; peace officer; ethics; license to practice. The analysis covered entities of California POST, the U.S. Department of Labor, and POST programs throughout the nation.;Findings. While the California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training indicates perishable skills to be those in which skills not refreshed every 2 years otherwise diminish, research on the POST website regarding referenced studies produced negative results. Examination of the data indicated few professions requiring a license to practice mandate ongoing ethics training. Of the 50 states and Washington, DC researched, no evidence was found requiring ongoing ethics training for peace officers.;Conclusions and Recommendations. The study data support the conclusion that ethics training is alarmingly ignored in the sphere of professional standards and ongoing training for peace officers locally and across the United States. Ethics guides deployment of use of force, critical thinking, and community relations. It is the foundation of decision making set up to instill professionalism and adherence to department regulations and law. A peace officer's adherence to department regulations and laws creates a social norm to dissuade social disorder and gives credence to police legitimacy in a time citizens' trust of police wanes. It is recommended commissions on standards and training for peace officers reconsider implementation of ongoing ethics training in a Perishable Skills Program.