Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine one of history’s most horrific offenses carried out by police. This being their participation in the Holocaust. By examining previous research in the field, it was determined the factors that led to their participation still exist in policing today. Factors such as implicit bias and police deviancy along with the absence of ethics-based police training are all contributing factors. An examination was conducted in regard to the existence of the “us versus them mentality” that police possess in order to understand factors that cause it. The research also acknowledges the existence of the “code of silence” used to protect officer’s deviancy and ethical violations from being exposed. The research was conducted because of current events and the necessity of understanding the complicated culture that exists in policing. Now more than ever, law enforcement departments throughout the United States should be focused on building legitimacy and public trust. The research found that a clear emphasis to accomplish this should be a focus on the positive mentoring of new recruits and continual ethics training throughout an officer’s entire career.

Keywords: Police Ethics, Code of Silence, Us versus Them, Ethics Based Police Training, Police, Holocaust, Police Deviancy,

Year Manuscript Completed

Fall 2020

Senior Project Advisor

Dr. Tricia Jordan, PhD

Degree Awarded

Bachelor of Integrated Studies Degree

Field of Study

Commerce & Leadership

Document Type

Thesis

Download

Share

COinS