Florida Police Officer Requirements – 2

Principle Two 

Police officers shall refrain from any conduct in an official capacity that detracts from the public’s faith in the integrity of the criminal justice system.

Rationale 

Community cooperation with the police is a product of its trust that officers will act honestly and with impartiality. The police officer, as the public’s initial contact with the criminal justice system, must act in a manner that instills such trust.

Rules

2.1 Police officers shall carry out their duties with integrity, fairness and impartiality.

2.2 Police officers shall not knowingly make false accusations of any criminal ordinance, traffic or other law violation. This provision shall not prohibit the use of deception during criminal investigations or interrogations as permitted under law.

2.3 Police officers shall truthfully, completely and impartially report, testify and present evidence, including exculpatory evidence, in all matters of an official nature.

2.4 Police officers shall take no action knowing it will violate the constitutional rights of any person.

2.5 Police officers must obey lawful orders, but must refuse to obey any orders the officer knows would require the officer to commit an illegal act. If in doubt as to the clarity of an order, the officer shall, if feasible, request the issuing officer to clarify the order. An officer refusing to obey an order shall be required to justify his or her actions.

2.6 Police officers learning of conduct or observing conduct which is in violation of any law or policy of this Department shall take necessary action and report the incident to the officer’s immediate supervisor, who shall forward the information to the Chief of Police. If the misconduct is committed by the officer’s immediate supervisor, the officer shall report the incident to the immediate supervisor’s supervisor.