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Philadelphia Police Department
Statement of Ethical Principles

In one of its definitions, the word "ethics" encompasses the standard of conduct governing all members of a profession. Police exist to preserve law and order. The Greek philosopher Plato wrote that good government is wise, brave, temperate and just. This statement of ethics for police officers establishes broad standards to help police accomplish their mission in a manner which comports with good and wise government.

Citizens who earn their police badges voluntarily bear the public trust. They are faithfully charged to protect the safety and the rights of fellow members of society.

To provide these special protections, police officers carry special powers. They have the authority to investigate other people, to abridge their normal liberties, and to use force when necessary.

Two basic constraints limit use of this authority. First, it is wrong for police to use their office for personal profit or gain, wrong for them to accept any favor which places their own advantage above the welfare of the public. Second, it is wrong for officers to violate the Constitution or laws in performance of their work.

Officers must also bring to their work personal qualities which can spring only from within their personal fabric. They must appreciate and care for the needs of the people they serve. They must exercise common sense in a manner that conveys common decency. They should never render themselves needlessly to danger; they should maintain their physical fitness and their skillfulness in using the tools of their work.

Fulfilling this public trust is demanding work. It brings disappointment, weariness and stress. But these are the facts of life in this profession each officer has chosen. But it also provides officers the opportunity to contribute in an immeasurable way to the common good.

The Philadelphia Police Department is obligated to provide the best training and support for its officers throughout their careers. The Department will strive to the utmost to provide clear policies and adequate resources for every officer to accomplish the work we have accepted together.

Integrity
The public demands that the integrity of its law enforcement officers be above reproach. The dishonesty of just one officer may impair public confidence and cast suspicion upon the Department as a whole. Succumbing to even minor temptations can generate a malignancy which will ultimately destroy an individual's effectiveness and which may well contribute to the corruption of fellow officers. Officers must scrupulously avoid any conduct which might compromise their integrity or the integrity of those with whom they work. No officer should seek or accept any special consideration or privilege, nor anything of value for which others are expected to pay, solely because they are police officers, or for performing their duty in some manner inconsistent with the highest regard for integrity.


Respect for Rights
A broad range of rights and privileges are afforded each individual by law and nature. Liberty is maintained for the most part by our constant attention toward preservation of a consistent exercise of these rights and privileges and through mutual respect for every person's exercise of his or her rights and privileges. However, the police officer must contend with a persistent flow of personal conflicts, both legal and illegal. To resolve these differences, the police enforce a body of laws within the Constitution's assurance that all of us - regardless of economic status, sex, race or creed - receive equal and fair treatment. In so doing, officers often face ambiguous situations, particularly in trying to protect the rights of a victim and an accused. To carry out this mission, police officers have the power to search and arrest, to use force, and to investigate and incarcerate. As police, we must use these tools properly with no abuse of our authority. Decency, security and liberty all demand that government officials observe strict limits to their awesome powers. A government of laws cannot exist when its servants fail to observe the law's own boundaries. Any government official who disobeys the rigorous demands of law in turn disturbs the public order which all of us are sworn to uphold.


Use of Force
In a complex urban society, officers daily confront situations where control must be exercised to effect arrests and to protect public safety. Control is achieved through advice, warning and persuasion, or by the use of physical force. Force may not be used unless other reasonable alternatives have been exhausted or would be clearly ineffective under the particular circumstances. When the use of physical force is necessary, using baton, pepper spray, firearms or other means, it must be exercised only when, and in the manner, authorized in the Department's policies. Decisions as to when and how to use force must be consistently made and exercised throughout every neighborhood of this City.

Courtesy
Effective law enforcement depends on a working partnership and a community of interest between the Department, its officers and the public they serve. The practice of courtesy in all public contacts encourages understanding and appreciation. Discourtesy breeds contempt and resistance. Most of the public are law-abiding citizens most of the time; they rightfully expect fair and courteous treatment by Department employees. While the urgency of a situation might preclude the ordinary social amenities, discourtesy under any circumstance is indefensible. The practice of courtesy by an officer is entirely consistent with the firmness and impartiality that characterizes a professional police officer.

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