DEBORAH G. KEELING, GENNARO F. VITO, MARIA CRISTINA VOINIC, Romanian and American Police Officers' Perceptions of Professional Integrity and Ethical Behavior

Abstract

This exploratory comparative study compares how police officers belonging totwo different cultures regard various types of police corruption, how severely theythink transgressions should be punished, and how willing they are to reportinfractions. In order to measure police integrity and to identify the potential for policemisconduct we applied the methodology developed in the United States by C.B.Klockars and his colleagues. The present quantitative analysis is based on survey dataobtained from two convenience samples, consisting of American police officers whorecently attended the Administrative Officer’s course at the Southern Police Institutein the United States and Romanian police officers enrolled in or graduates of theMaster’s program at the Romanian Police Academy. Even if a potential for unethicalbehavior was detected in both groups under study, results show that Romanian policeofficers appear to have a higher level of tolerance toward police misconduct than theirAmerican counterparts.

Keywords

• police corruption
• police integrity
• code of silence
• Romanian police
• American police