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Law Enforcement Ethics Flashcards

7 cards from real TCOLE practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.

Read the first 7 Law Enforcement Ethics flashcards as text

  1. A fellow officer asks you to falsify your time sheet to cover for his unauthorized absence. What is the ethically correct response?

    Answer: Refuse and report the request to a supervisor

    Falsifying official documents violates TCOLE standards and Texas Penal Code; an officer must refuse and report the misconduct.

  2. Under the Texas Penal Code, an officer who accepts money in exchange for not issuing a citation has committed:

    Answer: Bribery of a public servant

    Accepting a benefit for an official action or omission constitutes bribery of a public servant under TPC Chapter 36.

  3. An officer discovers that a subordinate has been padding arrest reports to meet unofficial quotas. The BEST first action is to:

    Answer: Report the misconduct through the chain of command

    Falsification of official reports is a serious integrity violation that must be reported through proper channels.

  4. Which ethical principle requires an officer to treat every person with equal dignity regardless of race, ethnicity, or social status?

    Answer: Impartiality

    Impartiality means applying the law consistently without favoritism or prejudice toward any individual or group.

  5. An officer working a second job as a security guard observes a shoplifting incident. Ethically, the officer should:

    Answer: Act within lawful authority and report the incident properly

    Texas law allows licensed peace officers to exercise authority off-duty, and integrity requires responding to crime observed regardless of employment context.

  6. What does the TCOLE Code of Ethics require regarding an officer's conduct in their personal life?

    Answer: Officers must behave lawfully and ethically even off duty

    TCOLE standards extend to personal conduct because an officer's integrity outside the job directly affects public trust in law enforcement.

  7. An officer stops a driver who turns out to be the officer's supervisor's spouse. The officer should:

    Answer: Apply the same lawful discretion used for any other driver

    Ethical officers apply consistent standards regardless of who the subject is, avoiding preferential treatment based on personal relationships.