Character and cops : ethics in policing / Edwin J. Delattre.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Introduction -- Excellence of character -- The mission of police -- The public trust and probity -- Discretion -- Public corruption for profit -- Authority and reform in controlling corruption -- Leadership and the character of a department -- Illegal narcotics: moral issues and public policy -- The fundamentals of character and training -- Deliberation and moral problems in training -- Tragedy and "noble cause" corruption -- Death and bereavement, deadly force and guilt -- Taking our lives seriously -- Fatalism, microcosms, and therapeutic reductions -- Ethical ideals, youth violence, and gang enforcement -- Police, the O.J. Simpson trial, and race -- The spirit of public service and individual conscience -- Ethics in the future of policing -- Terrorism and policing -- Ethics in action: case studies of professional excellence in policing -- From war veterans to peace officers.

"This fascinating volume, a sophisticated exercise in applied political philosophy, illuminates the complexity of policing and the central role of that profession in a free society."--George F. Will, on back cover. "Police work is among the most challenging of careers and it is best done by those with strong character. For more than twenty years, Ed Delattre has been teaching police officers at every level about the complexities of ethical policing and providing clear guidance to strengthen their character. Each edition of Character and Cops builds on a rock-solid foundation of wisdom while recognizing the constantly changing world in which we police. In the sixth edition, he takes on the vexing issue of officers returning from deployments in war zones."--Darrel W. Stephens, on back cover. "Policing in the twenty-first century requires more than ever the utmost trust of the citizens law enforcement serves. Delattre's emphasis on the virtues of character, integrity, and honesty coupled with compassion and equal justice for all makes this book required reading for police supervisors at all levels."--James W. McMahon, on back cover.

Delattre implicitly promoting the "bad apple" theory of police corruption and brutality, discusses how to promote good values in individual police officers through training and discusses how those values should lead officers to act in a variety of situations. This new edition adds a chapter on terrorism and policing, complaining that police lack the tools to effectively prosecute the "War on Terrorism" and examining issues of racial profiling.