by Elizabeth Curtis

Created on: July 22, 2008

As a prosecutor, I have the utmost respect for law enforcement professionals as a whole. I have many friends and relatives who are police officers and risk their lives on a daily basis to protect their community. I have experienced other officers, however, who, by their negative example, make it harder for the rest of law enforcement to do its job, protect the community and ensure that criminals are held accountable for their crimes. Citizens should report these "bad cops" for the same reason that we would report a waitress who gives poor service or a teacher who is failing to teach his students - as a community, we must all take responsibility for improving things for ourselves and our neighbors.

Whether the cop is dishonest or incompetent, he or she develops a reputation in the community. That reputation reflects on the department as a whole and in turn colors a jury's perception of officers' testimony and investigations. Bad cops lead to bad cases from a prosecution standpoint. Juries judge the credibility of all witnesses, including law enforcement. It is one thing to have a theft or drug sale case ruined by an officer that can't be trusted. Imagine, however, that that officer is called out to investigate the murder of your sister or the rape of your child. If that murderer or rapist cannot be tried and punished for his crimes, the community is not protected from that person in the future. Additionally, the survivors and victims have been essentially re-victimized by the legal system and cannot receive justice for their loved ones.

If community members do not trust law enforcement, they will not turn to them when they need help. They will not come forward and assist law enforcement when needed. This puts us all in potential danger. People will take matters into their own hands and often this puts other innocent people in danger.

Police work is often a high stress job with low compensation. The people who are attracted to police work are committed to doing good in their community in spite of the drawbacks. Occasionally, however, there are those who seem to be in law enforcement because of the perceived power that is there with little concern for the people they are supposed to be protecting. The importance of bringing bad cops to the attention of their superiors is to, hopefully, prevent these officers from eventually becoming the superiors, themselves.

There are definite chains of command within law enforcement. There are consequences for "bad cops" ranging from discipline to dismissal. Sometimes bad behavior by a police officer can be corrected. Sometimes, however, a person is just not someone who can accept the responsibility of wearing a badge. Our police officers should be role models in our community. It is our responsibility to hold them to a high standard.

Learn more about this author, Elizabeth Curtis.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.