why does the code of silence exist

The code of silence is usually followed because of threat of force or danger to oneself, or being branded as a traitor or an outcast within the unit or organization, as the experience of police whistleblower Frank Serpico

illustrates. Police are known to have a well-developed blue wall of silence.

Full Answer

What is the Code of silence in law enforcement?

What Is the Code of Silence in Law Enforcement? The Code of Silence, otherwise known as the blue wall, refers to the unspoken fact that police officers do not report fellow officers for abusing their power or for committing crimes while on the job.

What does Blue Code of silence mean?

The “blue wall of silence,” also known as “blue code” or “blue shield” supposedly refers to the informal code of silence among police officers, who do not wish to report on their colleagues’ wrong doing.

What is a Mafia code of silence?

Mafia's Law of Omerta. Omerta is the Code of silence when dealing with the government. It literally means "manhood" and refers to the idea of a man dealing with his own problems without the help of an law-body, but the term has a also become synonymous with Mafia's code of silence.

What is the symbol of silence?

While sometimes silence after a lot of noise is nice, a long stretch of silence that feels like it won’t end can be a symbol of loneliness. Often film makers will use silence to emphasize the idea of loneliness. For example, they might show someone screaming out for help.

Why does the police code of silence exist?

18. The Code of Silence is prompted by excessive use of force incidents more than for any other specific circumstance. 19. People outside police organizations reveal the misconduct within an agency more often than it is divulged from employees.

What is the code of silence called?

History. Omertà is a code of silence, according to one of the first Mafia researchers Antonio Cutrera, a former officer of public security. It seals lips of men even in their own defense and even when the accused is innocent of charged crimes.

Is the blue wall of silence illegal?

Police corruption All of these are considered illegal offenses and are grounds for suspension or immediate dismissal. Officers who follow the code are unable to report fellow officers who participate in corruption due to the unwritten laws of their "police family".

Why do cops speak in code?

Police officers are in constant communication with dispatch, other officers, support departments, the local jail, and county correctional facilities, and others. The codes help streamline communication and also add an element of secrecy. Plus, they help shield communications from the general public.

What does it mean to break the code of silence?

What is Code Silence? At some of the schools and programs, “Code Silence” is a punishment where students are told to not speak in order to “socially isolate” students, according to the Breaking Code Silence website. Breaking Code Silence is encouraging alumni of the troubled teen industry to share testimonials online.

What happens when omertà is broken?

Within Mafia culture, breaking omertà is punishable by death. The code was adopted by Sicilians long before the emergence of Cosa Nostra (some observers date it to the 16th century as a way of opposing Spanish rule). It is also deeply rooted in rural Crete, Greece.

What is the highest law enforcement?

The Chief of Police (COP) is the highest-ranking officer in the Police Department.

Why does the blue wall of silence exist?

The blue wall of silence is inspired and maintained by the strong subculture in policing. Former police lieutenant with the Boston Police Department, Tom Nolan, argues that the subculture promotes a “cult of masculinity” that enforces deliberate misrepresentation.

What does it mean to cross the thin blue line?

The "thin blue line" is a term that typically refers to the concept of the police as the line which keeps society from descending into violent chaos.

What do 10-8 mean?

In Service In ServicePolice 10 CodesCodeGeneral PurposeAPCO (Association of Police Communications Officers)10-7Out of ServiceOut of Service10-8In ServiceIn Service10-9RepeatSay Again10-10Fight In ProgressNegative108 more rows

What does 23 mean in police code?

Police code 23 means Traffic congestion.

What is a 1042 police code?

This particular code is used to indicate an officer's end of tour. While 10-42 is most frequently used when an officer has completed his tour of service for the day, it is also used in conjunction with funeral proceedings when an officer has been killed in the line of duty.

What does Omerta mean in text?

a conspiracy of silenceomertà / Italian (omerˈta) / noun. a conspiracy of silence. Slang.

What is cone of silence meaning?

Definition of cone of silence : a cone-shaped region directly above a radio signal beacon in which signals from the beacon are not received by aircraft.

Where was the code of silence practiced?

The code of silence was famously practiced in Irish-American neighborhoods in Boston, Massachusetts such as Charlestown, South Boston, and Somerville. A more well-known example of the code of silence is omertà (Italian: omertà, from the Latin: humilitas=humility or modesty), the Mafia code of silence.

Why do police have a code of silence?

The code of silence is usually followed because of threat of force or danger to oneself, or being branded as a traitor or an out cast within the unit or organization, as the experience of police whistleblower Frank Serpico illustrates. Police are known to have a well-developed Blue Code of Silence.

Why do some officers participate in the Code of Silence?

Some officers who participate in the Code of Silence rationalize their behavior by convincing themselves that what they are doing is not really hurting anyone, while others intentionally replace the facts with a self-serving version because it is emotionally painful to admit the truth.

What percentage of law enforcement officers say the code of silence exists?

They found that seventy nine percent said that a law enforcement Code of Silence exists and is fairly common throughout the nation. Fifty two percent said that the fact a Code of Silence exists, doesn’t bother them. Another twenty four percent said the Code of Silence is more justified when excessive force involves a citizen who is truly abusive ...

What happens if an officer witnesses an event that he may not agree with?

If in the event an officer witnesses an event which he may not agree with and he has to make the critical decision on whether to tell someone or to keep his silence, then that answer would be dealt with by the individual officer.

Is the Code of Silence in every police station?

The Code of Silence upholds other forms of unethical behavior on the police force and it is reasonable to say that it exists in almost every police station, but it is virtually impossible to effectively determine how extensively the Code of Silence exists within its own organization.

Where does the code of silence occur?

20. The Code of Silence usually occurs within cultures created by the role-modeling of leaders.

Why do some officers participate in the Code of Silence?

Some officers who participate in the Code of Silence rationalize their behavior by convincing themselves that what they are doing is not actually hurting anyone, while others intentionally replace the facts with a self-serving version because it is emotionally painful to admit the truth. 17.

Why are officers in a code of silence so powerful?

One of the most powerful “root causes” of officers throughout the nation participating in a Code of Silence is that they deeply believe they have been victimized by their own workplace.

Why do leaders ignore the Code of Silence?

The intentional ignoring of the Code of Silence by leaders is primarily caused by two problems: a lack of knowledge and self-centeredness. 37. Some leaders do not do more to improve ethical problems such as the Code of Silence because they believe bringing attention to their integrity needs could hurt them personally.

What is the most extensive research on the Code of Silence?

The National Institute of Ethics has concluded the most extensive research ever conducted on the police Code of Silence. Between February, 1999 and June, 2000, 3,714 officers and academy recruits from forty-two different states were asked to participate in the study by the Institute. One aspect of the research determined the views of academy recruits, while the other identified officers who had taken part in the code, then asked why and how it occurred. These findings mark the first time law enforcement has ever been able to learn the truth about this crucial problem. The significance of this knowledge is that if we can learn how to effectively control the Code of Silence, serious corruption cannot exist because many people become aware of a scandal as it expands.

Is the Code of Silence negligent?

The American criminal justice system and in particular law enforcement, has been negligent by not attempting to resolve the negative impact the code. 4. The Code of Silence breeds, supports and nourishes other forms of unethical actions. 5.

Is the Code of Silence more dominant than other professions?

6. The Code of Silence in law enforcement is more dominant and influential than most other vocations or professions.

Why are secondary officers accused of false reports?

Secondary officers are often accused of filing false reports because their views don’t always accurately mimic what occurred.

Is there an absolute response to police?

Our dilemma is that there is no absolute response to any police scenario that can be taken as gospel. As such, officers with diverse personalities are inherently going to respond differently in different situations. Sometimes these responses are going to be physical and often seen as excessive. Some responses in certain situations are excessive, but if used under other circumstances, would be appropriate.

Is there a code of silence on the Chicago Police Department?

Is there a code of silence on the Chicago Police Department? Absolutely yes. Police officers tend to protect their own in minor situations: so do doctors, mechanics, bankers, donut makers, attorneys and just about every profession known to mankind.

Is there a code of silence in police?

Is there a code of silence? Yes, in all professions and walks of life. Interestingly, the code of silence in police work is mostly an honorable one compared to all other professions. Should we ignore the code of silence in police work? No, but we should attempt to understand it further and while respecting the officer’s constitutional rights, we should determine the real right or wrong and never judge officers based on the normal man’s moral base. There is nothing normal about police work.

Can a police officer go a year without violating another person's civil rights?

A proactive police officer cannot go a year on the streets without inadvertently or accidentally violating another person’s civil rights. A slap or a kick is going to take place following a threat to the officer’s daughter from some druggy or after a high speed chase that puts innocent lives in jeopardy.

Can an officer be fired for overstepping his boundaries?

Nor do they allow the officer to use his empirical knowledge and personal discretion in determining the correct course of action. Simply said, there is no manual or book of instructions that every officer can adhere to, so when an officer does overstep his boundaries, he should be reined in and corrected, not fired and sued.

What does "code of silence" mean?

When we hear the term “code of silence” most of us think of peer pressure to not report policy violations or any other type of professional misconduct committed by co-workers in a law enforcement setting.

Why does the “I’m good” code of silence even exist?

Being emotionally impacted by the job is viewed by the workforce culture as evidence of a person being “weak,” not worthy of respect, undependable in a crisis, and ultimately unfit for the job. Consequently, the peer pressure to conform to this standard of “I’m good” is powerful.

How does dissociation work?

Dissociation is facilitated by being able to alter one’s mood on demand or by changing what one is focusing on. This may be one reason why behaviors such as substance abuse, overeating, compulsive gambling or compulsive sexual activity may be so rampant among corrections personnel. So the “I’m good” code of silence takes its toll by promoting addictive behaviors that eventually ruin physical, mental and spiritual health.

How to dismantle the "I'm good" code of silence?

The best approach for dismantling the “I’m good” code of silence may be to start by educating staff on the effects of psychological trauma on employees and on their families. Staff need to also be educated about the nature of true resilience, true grit and true pride that is based on facing their inner turmoil and pain and walking through them using effective coping tools. This type of education is to be delivered proactively to all staff, as a form of emergency preparedness, repeatedly, and preferably annually.

Why is negative resilience attributed to disenfranchised distress?

This is due to fear of rejection or ridicule by one’s peers because of the unwritten “rules” of the organizational culture about how staff are to respond after trauma. The distress may also be suppressed, hidden, due to fear of losing one’s job if declared unfit for duty.

How to break the code of silence?

Breaking the “I’m good” code of silence requires the following ingredients, at a minimum: trailblazing honesty and courage, education, the provision of suitable resources, modeling openness by leaders, supportive supervisory styles, and policies about the management of staff exposed to traumatic situations. Even the use of mandatory overtime needs to be examined in this context, as the longer staff are at work, the more likely they are to encounter traumatic situations. Working overtime also means that staff have less time away from work to unwind and to process what they’ve experienced at work. And they have less time to spend with loved ones, less time to enjoy and maintain their social support system, and less time to engage in positive activities – all of which we know can lessen the impact on trauma.

What attitude is needed to respond to an incident?

It should be pointed out that an attitude of resilience and hardiness may very well be necessary during and shortly after an incident. Staff need to remain in charge of the situation and respond quickly, effectively and professionally, showing that they remain unruffled, unyielding, strong and in control.

Why does the police discourage code of silence?

He said the police department discourages code of silence behavior because the city has policies that require officers to be truthful and to report misconduct.

Why is Chicago police code of silence?

An expert witness hired by the Emanuel administration has disputed in several lawsuits the existence of a code of silence among Chicago police to thwart misconduct allegations. The mayor claimed the opposite in the wake of the Laquan McDonald shooting.

How many police misconduct cases has Noble been involved in?

Nationwide, Noble has either testified, filed written reports or provided sworn depositions in more than 100 police misconduct cases. In many of those cases he has worked on behalf of cities or police departments, but he also has worked for attorneys representing plaintiffs suing police.

What did Emanuel's speech represent?

Noble, who has written extensively about policing and the code of silence, subsequently minimized these remarks in a separate police misconduct case, testifying that Emanuel’s speech represented the mayor’s “personal belief” but was inconsistent with what Noble learned in his review of city police practices.

Did Noble deny the existence of a code of silence?

Before Emanuel’s speech, Noble on at least four separate occasions denied the existence of a code of silence in acting on the city’s behalf. One instance involved a lawsuit filed by Karolina Obrycka, a Northwest Side bartender who in 2007 was severely beaten by an off-duty Chicago police officer.

Does NBC5 pay for code of silence?

Contact Us. NBC5 Investigates and the BGA have found that the city has paid thousands in taxpayer dollars to a police expert witness who often testifies that no “code of silence” exists. NBC5's Phil Rogers reports. (Published Monday, Sept. 24, 2018 by NBC5)

Is the code of silence pervasive?

But in his report for the city in the case, Noble declared it was not at all pervasive. ’“The code of silence may exist at some level in all police agencies and when it does manifest it contributes immensely to incidents of abuse of citizens by the police,” Noble wrote in March 2016.

Why is the blue code of silence important?

According to the report, police corruption is enabled by a “blue code of silence” entrenched in a department culture where officers avoid reporting crimes and misconduct by their colleagues. Hagedorn says the war on drugs makes oversight of policing more difficult for patrol officers and drug and vice officers alike.

How to combat police corruption?

To combat police corruption, the researchers propose a combination of external review initiatives and internal incentives. One key recommendation is to replace the appointed Police Board with a democratically elected board of civilians, or an entire new appointed board. “These proposed reforms are designed to create effective oversight structures ...