Ethics and Professional Conduct
What the exam tests
This domain tests truthfulness, integrity, duty to report misconduct, conflicts of interest, gratuities, and documentation. Expect questions on Brady/Giglio obligations and ethical decisions under pressure.
Core rules
- Officers must be truthful in reports, testimony, and investigations; false statements undermine prosecutions and credibility.
- Brady requires disclosure of exculpatory evidence; Giglio requires disclosure of impeachment material about officers.
- Report misconduct, including excessive force, dishonesty, and evidence tampering.
- Avoid conflicts of interest and gifts that create an appearance of favoritism.
- Social media use must not disclose case information or compromise impartiality.
Worked example
During a traffic stop, an officer finds $500 in cash on the floorboard. The driver says it is not his. The officer counts it, documents the serial numbers, submits it as evidence, and gives a receipt. Reasoning: the cash may be evidence or lost property; documentation protects the driver, the officer, and the case. Pocketing it would be theft and a Brady/Giglio problem.
Traps
- Writing a report that omits facts unfavorable to the officer.
- Accepting a small gift and thinking it is harmless.
- Failing to report a colleague's dishonesty.
- Posting case details on social media.