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The Police in America, 4/e

Samuel Walker, University of Nebraska
Charles M. Katz, Arizona State University-West

Police Problems

Police Corruption

Multiple Choice Quiz

Choose the best answer:


1	According to Lawrence Sherman, how long have we had corruption?
		A)	Since World War II.
		B)	Only during the 1920s.
		C)	Since the 1960s.
		D)	For as long as there have been police.
		E)	For just a short period of time in this country.


2	What was found about some officers in the Rampart Division of the Los Angeles Police Department?
		A)	They were really all members of the IAD.
		B)	They set an example for other police officers.
		C)	They maintained no contact with alleged drug dealers.
		D)	Some of its members were involved in criminal activity.
		E)	Their activities received very little publicity.


3	Corruption on the part of the police
		A)	cannot be limited.
		B)	seldom takes place.
		C)	is limited only to small departments.
		D)	imposes high costs on the police.
		E)	is not noticed by the public.


4	What was the effect of the Rampart scandal?
		A)	We do not know.
		B)	More individuals who were arrested by the officers associated with the Rampart division had their sentences increased.
		C)	Drug activity was eliminated in Los Angeles.
		D)	The prosecution of certain individuals was made more difficult.
		E)	There was decreased media coverage of police activity.


5	Corruption
		A)	is no longer present in our police departments.
		B)	is only of one kind.
		C)	is easy to eliminate.
		D)	affects few people.
		E)	can be controlled to some extent.


6	What do public opinion polls indicate about the police in comparison to other occupations in terms of perceived honesty and integrity?
		A)	The police rank very low.
		B)	The police rank high.
		C)	It is impossible to rank professionals.
		D)	The police should not be ranked.


7	The most common form of police corruption involves
		A)	sexual favors.
		B)	drugs.
		C)	gratuities.
		D)	large cash payments.
		E)	hiring a police officer’s relative.


8	How extensive was payment for promotion in New York City during the nineteenth century?
		A)	It did not exist.
		B)	Just a little.
		C)	It could not be determined.
		D)	It only applied to one rank.
		E)	It was quite obvious.


9	Historically, the most serious police corruption has involved
		A)	only large police departments.
		B)	only police departments after the 1980s.
		C)	only chiefs of police.
		D)	regular payoffs to protect an ongoing illegal activity.
		E)	an occasional small gratuity such as a cup of coffee.


10	What is noted about the level of corruption in a police department?
		A)	It is the same in each department.
		B)	It varies from department to department.
		C)	It can easily be eliminated.
		D)	It usually has no consequences.
		E)	A small level of corruption has no connection to other levels of corruption.


11	The most popular explanation of police corruption is
		A)	the rotten-apple theory.
		B)	that most people attracted to policing are morally inferior.
		C)	that poor salaries are paid to police officers.
		D)	that there is little negative effect on the public.
		E)	the belief that United States citizens see no wrong to it.


12	The rotten-apple theory
		A)	is appealing.
		B)	has no advantages.
		C)	does not appeal to private citizens.
		D)	adequately explains most police corruption.
		E)	is the only explanation of police corruption.


13	What is the effect of a political culture on a police department?
		A)	Usually none.
		B)	We do not know.
		C)	It cannot be determined.
		D)	It heavily influences the level of corruption.
		E)	Very little.


14	The most important organizational variable in reference to police corruption is
		A)	Leadership.
		B)	Opportunity.
		C)	Type of assignment.
		D)	Location of the department.
		E)	Level of stress.


15	In his classic study of the police subculture, Westley (1970) reported that officers were willing to lie to cover up an illegal act by another official. What do recent studies suggest about this?
		A)	A great deal of change has taken place regarding the matter.
		B)	No change has taken place.
		C)	Very little has changed in the last thirty years.
		D)	There is a change only if there is an FBI investigation.
		E)	We are not able to determine if there has been any change regarding this matter.


16	How did the Mollen Commission find that most corrupt police officers start out?
		A)	As uneducated individuals
		B)	Mentally deficient.
		C)	Corrupt.
		D)	Ignorant of the law.
		E)	Honest and idealistic.


17	The moral corruption of an officer begins with
		A)	a huge financial gain.
		B)	a close encounter with organized crime
		C)	relatively minor gratuities.
		D)	being in a severe adverse financial situation.
		E)	before one becomes a police officer.


18	Controlling police corruption
		A)	has never been attempted.
		B)	is extremely easy.
		C)	is extremely difficult.
		D)	is only attempted in large police organizations.
		E)	is unrealistic.


19	The major obstacle facing anti-corruption investigators is
		A)	obtaining credible evidence.
		B)	receiving outside help.
		C)	gaining public support.
		D)	media coverage.
		E)	obtaining financial resources to conduct the investigation.


20	The underlying causes of corruption
		A)	are simple.
		B)	are complex.
		C)	are the same in each department.
		D)	can never be identified.
		E)	are easily eliminated.

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