Ethical and Legal Issues Presented in the Scenario

The store owner did not observe ethics when he moved across the red light. It is morally wrong to abet traffic rules. The police officer is morally right in stopping the vehicle that crossed the red light. The legal issue here is that the store owner has broken the law. He should be arrested and charged for breaking then traffic rules. The policeman being familiar with the store owner is faced with an ethics dilemma whether to prosecute him or leave. He wonders whether he should sacrifice their friendship with the store owner at the altar of justice (Kleinig, 2008). The whole saga began when the policeman accepted the hospitality of the store owner. It was quite unethical for him to accept the hospitality. This has resulted to the impairment of objectivity. He can not carry out his duty well.

The criminal justice professionals began to observe ethics by setting the traffic rules to be followed by motorists (Banks, 2008). All cars should observe traffic lights and should not move is a presumption here. Also, the professionals observed police misconduct the moment they let go off the law abettors. This happened due to the hospitality they had previously been accorded by them. According to this case, the police officer ended up being in a dilemma whether to prosecute or not. The professionals decided that it was unethical for a policeman to accept a friendly invitation from members of the general public (Reiman, 2001). Police officers permitted friendship to influence their decisions.

Factors that contributed ethics in criminal justice are; prejudices, animosities, personal feelings, and friendships. These impaired objectivity and the work of police officers immensely. The police officers should not base on personal feelings when observing ethics. Instead, he should be honest in his deeds and actions according to the requirements of the law. It is also beneficial for the police to recognize their positions as symbols of public confidence and acknowledge it as a public belief (Siegel, 2008). If I were the deputy chief, I would not have compromised with the store owner regardless of how my fellow colleagues would feel. I would ticket him for not observing the traffic rules. If my fellow colleagues respond negatively, in would explain to them that ethics should be observed at all times without partiality.