hornadylnl
Shooter
- Nov 19, 2008
- 21,505
- 63
He probably wired in a fault to send out ultrasonic brain destroying waves of electricity.*
*I don't really understand how electricity works.
Of course. However that was a direct reply to I'm relating my experience with the private sector that contradicts that. That said, if the price of fair and impartial justice or an $80k purchase order is a cup of coffee, we're well beyond the point where such ethics rules matter. Private businesses and public entities both recognize that a certain level of "freebie" is simply courtesy and not an attempt at bribery or gaining favoritism, however at a certain point it crosses the line. I can ethically accept coffee. I cannot ethically accept a Corvette. Where the line is drawn is open to debate, but its disingenuous to suggest if I was a private employee I would be prohibited from accepting a gratuity that I receive as a public employee.
I don't think there's a law against it specifically. If I were off duty and sitting in a parking lot of a business, I could be trespassed like anyone else since I'm not there on official business. More realistically what would happen, it wouldn't pass ethics from Professional Standards (our version of Internal Affairs), the person requesting such a service would not be an authorized employer, and I'd be disciplined or fired for taking the job.
I've locked up the manager at McD's who'd given me free food multiple times. I think you seriously overestimate the ability of a small freebie to grind the wheels of justice to a halt. I think you'd likely be insulted if I suggested you would change your ethics for a cup of coffee. I think I mentioned earlier that I offer any tradesman who comes to my house a free coffee or soda. Do you think a free soda would make you so enthralled with me that you'd collude to commit insurance fraud, when without that soda you'd have said no? Of course not. You have integrity or you don't, and a minor gratuity isn't going to change that.
I am all for ethics committee oversight of any public official's part time jobs, including cops. I'm also for a bright line rule and codified ethics statement about what gratuities or freebies (premiums) can be accepted. I very much agree there is a line. I just don't think its so insultingly cheap.
The business owner isn't asking you to turn a blind eye to his crimes for a free cup of coffee. He's asking for your increased presence. With that presence comes protection. Unless you operate in a twilight zone where time stands still, your presence at his business is taking away your presence elsewhere. The guy not paying loses your presence while the guy paying gains it. If it is unethical for you to take a $5 bill to patrol my neighborhood while on duty, how is taking a free meal any different?
If I offer a prostitute a steak dinner instead of $20 for her services, I'm not soliciting a prostitute, right? You think the prosecutor would see a difference? Again, there's a line. Why is it drawn between cash payments and free goods or services?