Iadlest will use FY24 CPD funding to modernize the code of police ethics and establish a model standard for law enforcement ethics

This Cooperative Agreement award of $500,000 from the U.S. Department of Justice's Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) program will be used by the International Association of Directors of Law Enforcement Training, Inc. (IADLEST) to modernize the Code of Police Ethics and establish a national law enforcement ethics model standard. The project aims to promote equity, professionalism, and community trust in policing by convening subject matter experts to collaboratively update the ethical standards, with opportunities for feedback and adoption by law enforcement agencies nationwide. This initiative under CFDA 16.710 - Public Safety Partnership and Community Policing Grants seeks to elevate law enforcement to the standards of other regulated professions, reinforcing public trust and advancing the goals of community safety and engagement.

As societal values evolve and communities seek greater accountability and transparency, IT is imperative to revisit and update ethical expectations and standards within law enforcement. A national policing ethics standard is a major element missing in the effort to elevate law enforcement to a profession. Without a national ethical standard, officer behavior that may be considered unacceptable in one state could be considered acceptable in another. When there is not a clear professional standard there is too much room for interpretation and misapplication. This project will commence with administrative activities, including program startup, team assembly, kickoff meetings with the cops office, regular communication channels establishment, and progress reporting mechanisms. The first major activity for the proposed project will be to convene a working group of smes across the U.S. The smes will include post directors or other appropriate post staff representative (such as legal counsel) and a member of their post commission or board (which are composed of state and local law enforcement leaders such as chiefs and sheriffs). This working group will collaboratively update and modernize the code and canons of police ethics into a national law enforcement ethics model standard. This initiative will involve a two-day, in-person meeting followed by a rigorous process of drafting, feedback collection, and peer review to develop a model ethical standard that promotes equity, professionalism, and community trust. The second major activity will be developing the draft law enforcement ethics model standard with several opportunities for feedback and buy-in from the field. The third component will be a campaign for law enforcement ethics model standard adoption including posts and national law enforcement association partners. By elevating law enforcement to the standards of other regulated professions, this initiative aims to reinforce public trust and confidence in policing while advancing the goals of community safety and engagement.