Most public codes forbid using public office for private gain. Is this the core problem here? What do you consider in arriving at your answer?
According to the case, the action of Chief Moose seeking employment from the outside source was the core problem. This is because the other officials argued that chief moose would violate bedrock principles of the county law. In arriving at this conclusion, I considered the Issued six-page ruling argument from the six members of the ethics commission, which stated that it is not in the county’s best interest to allow its employees to trade their government activities for private gain. Which means they were against the chief Moose action.
Should the value of free speech override ethics rules for public officials? Why?
Freedom of speech should not override ethics rules for public officials. This is because ethics serves as a guide to moral daily living and judges whether our behavior is justifying. In which, it enhances respect among the government officials and the public. Therefore if freedom of speech overrides the ethics rules, there will be freedom of hate speech, which may lead to disrespect among the government officials, thus leading to conflict.
Did Chief Moose do anything unethical by pursuing the book and movie contracts
before seeking a waiver of the county’s standards? Why?
Yes, mainly because seeking a waiver at the first step would help him know what to include and exclude from the book. Remember, police service is a private service sector, and therefore not everything should get exposed to the public. Consequently, it was unethical for the chief to pursue both the book and the movie contract before seeking a county standards waiver. The weaver would help him know the best content and most ethical instead of exposing everything to the public. From ethical commissioners, the book would exploit the tragedy or cause harm to the prosecution’s case.
Did Chief Moose do anything unethical by seeking a waiver of the county’s
standards? Why?
Not at all. This was the very best thing he could have done in the first step before doing anything. By seeking the waiver would help in providing detailed information and avoiding unethical forms of bias. He would protect his activities, protect content, do no harm to him, improve confidentiality, and assess relevant components.
Did Chief Moose do anything unethical by resigning to fulfill the book
contract? Why?
No. About the case, Duncan denied that the book would exploit the tragedy or harm to the prosecution’s case. Also, Chief moose, again and again, has claimed that he would not do anything that would jeopardize the prosecutions or anything that would interfere with it. His aim was only to seek justice as much as possible. That was a clear indication that his actions were morally right (Kenck, 2017).
As a member of the ethics commission, would you have granted Chief Moose a
waiver? Why?
Yes. Moose has an excellent working history, and that is why Duncan refers to him as an extraordinary police chief who has served the county well for four years. His aim was not to offend or interfere with the prosecutions but to seek justice.
References
Kenck-Crispin, D. J. (2017). Charles A. Moose: Race, Community Policing, and Portland’s First African American Police Chief.