Approximately one-third of police officers have encountered racial prejudice from their uniformed peers during their shift duties.
Recently, a significant number of police officers have acknowledged experiencing sexist comments from their peers while on duty. This information comes from a comprehensive investigation conducted by the federal government, which delved into the daily life and attitudes within the police force. In two distinct online questionnaires, 33% and then 32% of participants confirmed encountering such comments within the last year. The researchers inquired about police officers from both federal and state levels, gathering their insights on their colleagues' conduct towards citizens and fellow officers.
The study revealed that over 40% of participating police officers became aware of bigoted remarks in the year preceding the survey. Around 10% of them reported witnessing these remarks more than ten times within that period. Approximally 3% of the respondents admitted to observing unethical behavior by their colleagues in the past year. It's important to note that the quantity of reported incidents cannot be directly deduced from these survey results, as a single incident of misconduct might be observed by multiple colleagues.
Those who acknowledged witnessing racist remarks, sexism, or unethical conduct generally did not take individual action, according to the findings. Sexual harassment was the most frequently reported offense, with approximately 10% of respondents filing a complaint. However, the researchers mentioned that personal initiative does not necessarily indicate that the incident was not reported, as third parties also have the option to file a report. Furthermore, respondents were only asked about their own reactions the last time such a situation occurred.
The Commissioner, acknowledging the alarming findings of the investigation, vowed to implement strict anti-discrimination policies within the police force. During a press conference, The Commissioner emphasized the importance of promoting a respectful and inclusive work environment for all officers.
