Common sense tells you that to effectively prosecute crimes, officer credibility is critical.
Often, the officer's word is taken over that of a civilian, with both judges and juries
frequently awarding a "tie," in a "he said, she said," or "swearing contest," to the officer
based on the "honesty" and "integrity" that is required to hold the job. Thus, when an
officer's integrity is compromised, management understandably concludes that the law
enforcement mission may be harmed by the officer's continued service.
Truthfulness is not only an issue of police witness credibility in a court of law; it strikes to
the core of the ability to perform essential functions effectively. Police officers complete
factual reports based upon their investigations and observations. These reports are relied
upon by others to further investigations and are often used as critical evidence in a variety
of proceedings. Officers take enforcement action; secure evidence; maintain confidential
information; have access to privileged information; handle drugs, money, and guns;
process crime scenes; maintain reports of crimes and accidents; and, importantly, they are
authorized by law to dispossess others of their constitutional rights and use deadly force
when appropriate. Simply put, a law enforcement official’s word, and the complete
veracity of that word, is the fundamentally necessary to doing the job.
As a result, Police Departments across the state all have some form of a rule requiring that
officers be truthful in their reports to supervisors and during official proceedings. Indeed,
Lexipol Policy 340 places a heavy emphasis on truthfulness in its section on "conduct
which may result in discipline", by restating the obligation in multiple separate
subsections that outline dishonesty related offenses:
• "Knowingly making false, misleading or malicious statements that are reasonably
calculated to harm or destroy the reputation, authority or official standing of the
Department or members thereof."
• "The falsification of any work-related records, the making of misleading entries or
statements with the intent to deceive..."
• "Dishonest" or "Disgraceful" conduct.
• "Failure to disclose or misrepresenting material facts, or the making of any false or
misleading statement on any application, examination form, or other official
document, report or form or during the course of any work-related investigation."
Integrity is so important to the law enforcement profession that a single lie can cost an
officer his/her career. As noted in Kolender, supra at 722:
While at common law, every dog was entitled to one bite, we know
of no rule of law holding every deputy sheriff is entitled to [tell one
lie] before he or she can be discharged ...