Police corruption is one of the most pressing issues in today’s world. If someone discovers bribery incidents in a civil workplace, the response to it is quite apparent – informing the supervisor and the police. However, when corruption is found in law enforcement, the actions to handle it may be different. When a new police recruit finds out that one of his or her colleagues takes bribes, it would be appropriate to contact a trustworthy superior officer immediately and explain the situation.
I do not think it is logical to talk to the person suspected in the criminal activity because, given the fact that one is new on the force, they may be easily misled. Moreover, not reporting this crime on time will result in police recruit being considered an accomplice once the bribery becomes evident. However, the fact that I am a new police officer will not stop me because the purpose of being in law enforcement is to fight crime, no matter where it takes place or who commits it.
If the person suspected of taking bribes from criminals is the supervisor, the action plan will be different. First, I would see if there is another superior officer I can talk to about the incident. However, I believe that the safest and most effective way to report such a crime would be to submit a report through the government agency online or using a hotline, if available. This way, the investigation would be unbiased and the most thorough. Submitting a tip to the appropriate state authority is probably the best way to report bribery in law enforcement, especially in a situation when it becomes known to a newly recruited police officer.