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Criminal Justice 1010 Term Paper

McKayla Sheriff
Professional courtesy is a topic of controversy among our nation today. Questioning
whether or not police officers should be allowed to exercise this courtesy is a common battle
among civilians. However, do these people understand what it is they are fighting over? Many
think professional courtesy is an on-duty police officer (or other professional) giving an off-duty
officer a break, or letting them get away with something that would have otherwise caused them
to be punished.
However, Officer Duane Wolfe (2009) gives an alternative definition for the matter. He
states that professional courtesy means that when you are in my jurisdiction you conduct
yourself so that your behavior doesnt require that I come into contact with you. You act like a
professional and show me courtesy by not placing me in the position of having to deal with you.
In return I do the same for you.
Looking at professional courtesy from that perspective, has allowed more acceptance for
the matter in my mind. If all professionals used this same definition, I believe that professional
courtesy should be allowed to be practiced. However, due to the fact that many others still see
this act of courtesy as the first definition presented, and take advantage of this system;
professional courtesy isnt something that should be exercised by law enforcement officials.
You see, the problem with professional courtesy is it is often taken too far. In my personal
experience I have witnessed officers overlooking serious offenses because they were practicing
professional courtesy. For example, I once spent eighteen months in Detroit, Michigan. While I
was there I was introduced to this phenomenon of professional courtesy by an officer that I was

in contact with. This officer had been practicing domestic violence in his home toward his wife.
He would get off the clock each day and drown his sorrows in alcohol, and let his anger out in
the form of violence. When his wife contacted the police, on more than one occasion, nothing
was done to stop this criminal offense. Why? The answer is simplebecause this man was a
brother officer.
This is only one example of a man in uniform thinking he is above the law, and expecting
to be treated as such. The issue here is that the responding officers gave him that courtesy. They
put their own jobs on the line, as well as their reputation, to let a crime-committing officer off the
hook simply because he also possessed that same metal badge.
Fellow police officers are not the only ones being let off the hook because of professional
courtesy. NJLawman (2004) stated In fifteen years as a police officer, I have never, and absent
extraordinary circumstances, would never give a minor summons to a veteranIn a way, theyre
even above professional courtesy. He goes on to say that most of us couldnt even imagine what
these veterans have gone though. As much as that statement is true, following this principle
would put us in a never-ending questioning of where to draw the line. Would this courtesy only
be valid to those who actually stood in the line of fire, or to all those who have ever worn the
uniform? Presenting these general standards for those that should be protected by professional
courtesy would leave too many opportunities for this system to be taken advantage of.
Does professional courtesy help the practice of law enforcement and public safety? The
answer to this question is absolutely not. How would allowing certain individuals to act as if they
were immune to the laws placed before society be considered safe? By allowing officers to treat
other officers or even veterans as if they get some sort of break in the law, would only cause

other respected professions (lawyers, judges, firemen, doctors, nurses, etc.) to expect the same
treatment. Now think about that. What would our society look like if we were cutting breaks to
each of the above professionals in our citylet alone country?
Even minor traffic violations being taken lightly would cause serious chaos and danger
in our society. If each of the above were to speed even seven miles over the speed limit each day,
it would be seen as more common to break the law than to live it. How would you explain to the
dentists or school teachers who are breaking that same law that they are not enough to be
saved by professional courtesy? You simply could notwithout being unethical.
Professional courtesy raises these ethical issues by not treating each citizen, off the clock
or on, equally. We live in a society where equality is one of our highest aspirations. Is our society
completely fair and equal to all citizens? Of course not, and this is one prime example of why.
We simply cannot expect to live in a country of fairness if we ourselves are not practicing that
same principle. Law enforcers are seen as those who should have this principle embedded in
their minds the best. No person is perfect, including police officers and other law enforcers, yet
we must strive to be so because the public has a right to expect to be treated with fairness
(Ginger 2003 pg. 70).
On duty-officers would not have to be faced with whether or not they should cut other
officers a break if the officer committing the offense would have acted as they are instructed to
from the beginning. Lt. Dan Marcou (2012) gives instructions to the off-duty officer to better
help this problem. He states Professional courtesy is not something you get from an on-duty
officer. Professional courtesy is something you give to an on-duty officer. This means that the
off-duty officer who is facing the on-duty officer (as any other civilian would) is the one who

needs to be practicing professional courtesy by showing respect and owning up to his wrong
doings.
Lt. Dan Marcou (2012) goes on to explain that if you as an off-duty officer, or whatever
your ranking may be, follow the laws that you enforce during your work daythis will never be
a problem for you, because as a law abiding citizen you will not be faced with possible criminal
charges. However, he acknowledges that mistakes happen and even as an officer, there is the
possibility of the day where you are faced with this challenge. When this happens to you he
suggests Instead of flashing your badge with a sense of entitlement, try this. Present your
drivers license and badge to inform the officer that you are an armed off-duty officer. Add, I
am sorry for putting you in this awkward position. Do what you deem necessary, Officer. This
was my mistake.
This simple act of owning up to what you have done, officer or not, changes the whole
ball-game for professional courtesy. In my opinion, this act of owning up to what you have done
is what classifies you as a true professional in need of a break. Odds are when you present this
approach, instead of acting entitled to higher treatment, you will be much more widely respected
and gain a new sense of honor in your career.
In conclusion, the reputation that professional courtesy has been given over the years
needs to be eliminated. In order to do this, those who have previously been saved under this
law need to change their ways and act just as they expect every other civilian to act. What
should not be eliminated, and rather should be enforced, is the respect that has been lacking in
the criminal justice world. Live by the fundamental rule of treat others how youd like to be

treated and start showing all officials that same respect that you strive to be given, by owning
up to your mistakes and not putting a fellow officer in an uncomfortable situation.

References
Ginger, J. (2003). Police Leadership in the Twenty-First Century: Philosophy, Doctrine and
Developments edited by R. Adlam and P. Villiers, Reviewed by James D. Ginger.
International Journal of Police Science & Management, 70-114.
Lawman, N. (2004). Professional Courtesy. Law Enforcement Magazine.
Marcou, L. (2012). Professional courtesy: The badge on the uniform trumps the badge in the
wallet. Blue Knights.
Parsi, JD, PhD, K. (2000). Ethics of Professional Courtesy. Virtual Mentor.
Wolfe, D. (2009). Defining "professional courtesy" The Warrior's Path.