What are your thoughts about the police practice of the Blue Wall of Silence - Essay Example

Task: Blue Wall of Silence Different countries employ a Police force with the responsibility of enforcing and observing order. Their occupation dictates that they preserve order without infringing on peoples’ human and civil rights. However, this is unlike the case because some crooked officers often disregard the human rights. “The Blue Wall of Silence” (BWS) also referred, as the blue code is one of the impediments of justice contributing to deviant behavior among officers. BWS is the practice displayed by police officers in an attempt to lessen their co-operation when called to bear witness against an indicted fellow officer (Dempsey & Linda 38).

The police officers form allegiances and brotherhoods to cover each other’s wrongdoings in all instances. Police are mandated to fight crime and detain dangerous criminals. These criminals include serial killers, drug traffickers, terrorists, burglars among others. Officers have access to the dangerous weaponry secretive and secure places. The officers are armed since they expected to control any emergent criminal activities. However, the same officers commit crimes ranging from police brutality, extrajudicial killings assassinations and lending their personal weaponry to illegal gangs.

Interestingly, the police training makes them aggressive, a rule that promotes brutality amidst such officers. By engaging in police brutality, these officers defy the rules that deter them from committing crimes (Dempsey & Linda 38). Police officers participate in viciousness and torturing of criminals in the past. It is not probable to indicate the proportion of people who have been abused by police. This is because a significant proportion of such torture happens in hidden places away from the public.

The blue code has helped to conceal the heinous acts committed by the police. This is because in many occasions the officers will not testify against colleague officers. Officers who have attempted to cross the blue wall risk being demoted or get tortured themselves. Among the officers, such an act is seen as betrayal of the whole police force. The BWS is not justifiable morally or legally as it reflects unreasonable loyalty among officers. Therefore, it is a huge obstacle to true execution of justice.

It has done more in affecting the discernment of the police force in the public forum. The BWS is justifiable on the foundation that officers are reliant on each other for their wellbeing and protection. It is the force against the dangerous world hence they exercise loyalty towards their colleagues. Junior police officers also practice the blue code involuntary to protect the senior officers. It is apparent that officers who observe the BWS conform to the conflicting side of the law since they protect criminals.

As such, it is fundamental to embrace corrective approaches. The BWS exposes a negative image on police officers consequently contributing to lack of trust from the public. This has a negative trickling effect as the public opt to protect themselves from external negative forces as opposed to trusting police officers. This has contributed to insecurity especially in unsafe neighborhoods as the officers and the citizens likewise have guns to protect them. The blue code has equally increased corruption among officers as well as protection of criminals such as drug kingpins.

This is attributable to the fact that very senior police officers may protect such persons. Police officers are bound by the “code of silence” to shield corrupt colleagues or risk demotion and intimidation or even being killed by fellow officers. The code impedes investigation because the police in most instances are the only witnesses present at a crime scene. Those who maintain the blue code silence hinder the process of fair justice by concealing crucial information. The situation is complicated further If the injured party has other factors working against them.

Such factors include the race of the victim, their alleged crime, and the place where the crime took place. Brutality by the police is usually well planned and under circumstances whereby only the officers are able to give out confidential witness report. Additionally, there is less mechanism to protect police witnesses against their fellow officers in case they defy the blue shield. Apparently, the BWS undermines the performance of the police force. This indicates that rethinking about the code is of great significance.

Although observing BWS seems rational as the police claims since it enhances their security, the practice is not justifiable. A rational approach would be sourcing for other tactics that would guarantee their security rather than compromising justice. The officers should understand that their office demands them to observe genuine and transparent positions while performing their duties. It surprises to realize that officers entrusted with the responsibility of enforcing the law undermine the formulations of the same.

In such a condition, principles advocated by the law are not attainable. Regulations are formulated to restore and maintain order in the community. Consequently, culprits who break them should bear the consequences disregarding their position or career. Importantly, a selective application of law is unbearable hence should be discouraged with all probable means. In conclusion, the police officers ought to be accorded protection and security if they choose to break silence against officers who engage in offenses.

Given the supposition that they are the gatekeepers in criminal justice arena, they should find a comprehensive way to avert crimes committed by fellow officers (Dempsey & Linda 38). This will protect their public image as well as reduce the conflicts with the public hence deter future malpractice. Furthermore, it would boost the public’s buoyancy in policing. Works Cited Dempsey, John. & Linda, Forst. An Introduction to Policing. Clifton Park, NY: Delmar Cengage Learning, 2012. Print.