on, sexual harassment, intimidation, and illicitthe use of weapons. The Mollen Commission found that most corrupt officersstart off as honest and idealistic. The career ofcorruptions begins with passively accepting minorgratuities that gradually begin to involve more seriousviolation of the laws, involving larger amounts of money andofficers initiating corrupt acts. It can be said that power inevitably tends to corrupt,and it is yet to be recognized that, while there is noreason to presume that police officers as individuals areany less fallible than other members of society, people areoften shocked and outraged when officers are exposedviolating the law. There deviance elicits a special feelingof betrayal. The danger of police corruption could invertthe formal goals of the organization and may lead to theuse of organizational power to encourage and create crimerather than to deter it. There has been many attempts to put an end to policecorruption, with no real success. An attempt to eliminatecorruption, by increasing salaries, more training, incentivefor education, and the development of policies that focusdirectly on factors leading to corruption. Despite manyefforts by the police departments to control corruption, itstill exists. Police corruption has a very long standinghistory.Controlling corruption has to come from both the policedepartment and the assistance and support of local communitymembers. Community members should be educated about thenegative affects of corruption within the police agency andthat gratuities (most common form of police corruption), isjust the catalyst for future corruption. They should beaware of regulations. Controlling corruption from thedepartmental level requires an organization with strongleadership. Corruption can take place at any level in thepolice department, from the patrol officer, to the chief ofpolice. Controlling begins with the chief of police and hisattitude. The chief has...
