Blue Code of Silence
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Blue Code of Silence is an unwritten code of (dis)honor among police officers in which reporting another officer's errors, misconduct, or crimes is regarded as a betrayal.
Studies demonstrate that most police feel that the code is applicable in cases of "illegal brutality or bending of the rules in order to protect colleagues from criminal proceedings," but not to illegal actions with an "acquisitive motive."[1][2]
Nevertheless, cases such as the Rampart Scandal demonstrate that blue code culture can sometimes extend to cover-ups of every level of crime, acquisitive or otherwise.
Other terms that can have a similar meaning include the "Blue Wall of Silence" and "the Thin Blue Line".
[edit] See also
- Police misconduct
- Police brutality
- Thin Blue Line
- Code of Silence
- Frank Serpico
- Christopher Commission
- Rampart Scandal
[edit] References
- ^ Louise Westmarland. "Police Ethics and Integrity: Breaking the Blue Code of Silence", Policing and Society, June 2005. Retrieved on 2007-08-28.
- ^ Ann Mullen. "Breaking the blue code", Metro Times, 2000-11-8. Retrieved on 2007-08-28.
