Authority Quote by John Kleinig
“Police have both extra constraints and extra permissions - on the one hand, they can't dodge involvement in social disorder as the rest of us can and they may be required to conduct themselves privately in a way that does not undermine their public authority; on the other hand, they have permission to engage in deceptions, invasions of privacy and uses of force that are forbidden to the rest of us. But this does not put them beyond common morality.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: Policing and Morality, John Kleinig, 2015
Police have unique duties and powers that differ from ordinary citizens, yet they remain subject to the same moral standards.
In simple terms: Police have special powers but must follow ordinary morality.
Key Takeaway
Remember that authority does not exempt one from ethics.
Themes
authority
ethics
power
responsibility
Mood
serious
reflective
Type
ethical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- community policing
- public protests
- privacy investigations
- use of force decisions
Key Concepts
social contract
moral philosophy
law enforcement
Questions to Reflect On
- How should officers balance authority with moral accountability?
- What safeguards can prevent abuse of power?
A Different Perspective
Their special powers can create conflicts between duty and personal morality.
![“The rationale which accompanies that imposition of male authority euphemistically referred to as 'the battle of the sexes' bears a certain resemblance to the formulas of nations at war, where any heinousness is justified on the grounds that the enemy is either an inferior [part of the] species or…” quote by Kate Millett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/895/kate-millett-7301_accompany_the-rationale-which-accompanies-that-imp_8896.jpg)