Author

Blazhevich N.V.

Title of article

Professional honour and dignity of law enforcement officer as a methodological problem

Section

Methodology of law enforcement activities

Issue, year

1 (31) 2015

Abstract

The integrative character of concepts of professional honour and dignity of law enforcement officers is interpreted. These concepts systematize the highest moral values and qualities of police officers. They provide the meaning of both professional ethical behaviour norms and service etiquette of law enforcement officers. The concepts of professional honour and professional dignity are distinguished. Their relation to ethical categories of honour, dignity and conscience as well as ethical concepts of professional reputation, professional authority, professional duty and moral responsibility is established. The concepts of professional honour and dignity are mutually complementary and define moral value of police officers’ professional activity. The concept of professional honour implies public recognition of activities of both separate officer and law enforcement body in whole. It also emphasizes external moral value attitude to police activity. The concept of professional dignity implies internal moral value attitude of police officers to their activity. It is argued that officers’ dignity is their internal honour and officers’ honour is their external dignity. Realization of professional dignity is a form of their moral self-consciousness, self-control and self-exactingness. Professional dignity implicates respectful attitude of other people to police officers, public recognition of officers’ rights and liberties, high morality. The author considers professional honour as officers’ external conscience and professional dignity as their internal conscience. Police officers valuing their honour and dignity are stated to have good reputation and true authority. Professional honour and dignity are determined by their attitude to professional duty.

Keywords

honour, dignity, conscience, professional honour, professional dignity, duty, professional duty, moral responsibility, professional reputation, professional authority.

References

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