Texas Administrative Code › Title 37 - PUBLIC SAFETY AND CORRECTIONS › Part 1 - TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY › Chapter 1 - ORGANIZATION AND ADMINISTRATION › Subchapter H - PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT › Section 1.113 - International Association of Chiefs of Police Canons of Police Ethics

Current through Reg. 49, No. 28; July 12, 2024
The International Association of Chiefs of Police Canons of
					 Police Ethics is adopted for the benefit of all department members and for the
					 guidance of commissioned personnel. They are as follows.
(1) Primary responsibility of job. The
				  primary responsibility of the police service, and of the individual officer, is
				  the protection of the people of the United States through the upholding of
				  their laws; chief among these is the Constitution of the United States and its
				  amendments. The law enforcement officer always represents the whole of the
				  community and its legally expressed will and is never the arm of any political
				  party or clique.
(2) Limitation of
				  authority. The first duty of a law enforcement officer, as upholder of the law,
				  is to know its bounds upon him in enforcing it. Because he represents the legal
				  will of the community, be it local, state, or federal, he must be aware of the
				  limitations and proscriptions which the people, through law, have placed upon
				  him. He must recognize the genius of the American system of government which
				  gives to no man, group of men, or institution, absolute power, and he must
				  insure that he, as a prime defender of that system, does not pervert its
				  character.
(3) Duty to be familiar
				  with the law and with responsibilities of self and other public officials. The
				  law enforcement officer shall assiduously apply himself to the study of the
				  principles of the law which he is sworn to uphold. He will make certain of his
				  responsibilities in the particulars of their enforcement, seeking aid from his
				  superiors in matters of technicality or principle when these are not clear to
				  him; he will make special effort to fully understand his relationship to other
				  public officials, including other law enforcement agencies, particularly on
				  matters of jurisdiction both geographically and substantively.
(4) Utilization of proper means to gain
				  proper ends. The law enforcement officer shall be mindful of his responsibility
				  to pay strict heed to the selection of means in discharging the duties of his
				  office. Violations of law or disregard for public safety and property on the
				  part of an officer are intrinsically wrong; they are self-defeating in that
				  they instill in the public mind a like disposition. The employment of illegal
				  means, no matter how worthy the end, is certain to encourage disrespect for the
				  law and its officers. If the law is to be honored, it must first be honored by
				  those who enforce it.
(5)
				  Cooperation with public officials in the discharge of their authorized duties.
				  The law enforcement officer shall cooperate fully with other police officials
				  in the discharge of authorized duties, regardless of party affiliation or
				  personal prejudices. He shall be meticulous, however, in assuring himself of
				  the propriety, under the law, of such actions and shall guard against the use
				  of his office or person, whether knowingly or unknowingly, in any improper or
				  illegal action. In any situation open to question, he shall seek authority from
				  his superior officer, giving him a full report of the proposed service or
				  action.
(6) Private conduct. The
				  law enforcement officer shall be mindful of his special identification by the
				  public as an upholder of the law. Laxity of conduct or manner in private life,
				  expressing either disrespect for the law or seeking to gain special privilege,
				  cannot but reflect upon the police officers and the police service. The
				  community and the service require that the law enforcement officer lead the
				  life of a decent and honorable man. Following the career of a policeman gives
				  no man special perquisites. It does give the satisfaction and pride of
				  following and furthering an unbroken tradition of safeguarding the American
				  republic. The officer who reflects upon this tradition will not degrade it.
				  Rather, he will so conduct his private life that the public will regard him as
				  an example of stability, fidelity, and morality.
(7) Conduct toward the public. The law
				  enforcement officer, mindful of his responsibility to the whole community,
				  shall deal with individuals of the community in a manner calculated to instill
				  respect for its laws and its police service. The law enforcement officer shall
				  conduct his official life in a manner such as will inspire confidence and
				  trust. Thus, he will be neither overbearing nor subservient, as no individual
				  citizen has an obligation to stand in awe of him nor a right to command him.
				  The officer will give service where he can, and require compliance with the
				  law. He will do neither from personal preference nor prejudice but rather as a
				  duly appointed officer of the law discharging his sworn obligation.
(8) Conduct in arresting and dealing with law
				  violators. The law enforcement officer shall use his powers of arrest strictly
				  in accordance with the law and with due regard to the rights of the citizen
				  concerned. His office gives him no right to prosecute the violator nor to mete
				  out punishment for the offense. He shall, at all times, have clear appreciation
				  of his responsibilities and limitations regarding detention of the violator; he
				  shall conduct himself in such a manner as will minimize the possibility of
				  having to use force. To this end he shall cultivate a dedication to the service
				  of the people and the equitable upholding of their laws whether in the handling
				  of law violators or in dealing with the law-abiding.
(9) Gifts and favors. The law enforcement
				  officer representing government bears the heavy responsibility of maintaining,
				  in his own conduct, the honor and integrity of all government institutions. He
				  shall, therefore, guard against placing himself in a position in which any
				  person can expect special consideration or in which the public can reasonably
				  assume that special consideration is being given. Thus, he should be firm in
				  refusing gifts, favors, or gratuities, large or small, which can, in the public
				  mind, be interpreted as capable of influencing his judgment in the discharge of
				  his duties.
(10) Presentation of
				  evidence. The law enforcement officer shall be concerned equally in the
				  prosecution of the wrong-doer and the defense of the innocent. He shall
				  ascertain what constitutes evidence and shall present such evidence impartially
				  and without malice. In so doing, he will ignore social, political, and all
				  other distinctions among the persons involved, strengthening the tradition of
				  the reliability and integrity of an officer's word. The law enforcement officer
				  shall take special pains to increase his perception and skill of observation,
				  mindful that in many situations his is the sole impartial testimony to the
				  facts of a case.
(11) Attitude
				  toward profession. The law enforcement officer shall regard the discharge of
				  his duties as a public trust and recognize his responsibility as a public
				  servant. By diligent study and sincere attention to self-improvement he shall
				  strive to make the best possible application of science to the solution of
				  crime and, in the field of human relationships, strive for effective leadership
				  and public influence in matters affecting public safety. He shall appreciate
				  the importance and responsibility of his office, hold police work to be an
				  honorable profession rendering valuable service to his community and his
				  country.