Running Head: FBI MANAGERS AND ETHICAL CODE OF CONDUCT 1

FBI Managers and Ethical Code of Conduct

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FBI Managers and Ethical Code of Conduct

Public Administrators are important public servants who are stewards of public resources.

A Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) manager is the primary custody in ensuring that the

citizens and the county is safe and secure. The organization is responsible for ensuring the

citizens are free from terrorism and intelligence matters about the security of the citizens in any

state. Ethical and legal requirements provide a framework for ensuring that the public receives

essential goods and the services as it pertains to external and internal security issues. As a good

steward of the people's security, the FBI manager is compelled to act ethically and hold highest

responsibility and accountability in ensuring that the office they occupy is given its due respect

for the good public image (The United States Department of Justice, 2017). The FBI manager

works together with other law enforcement officers to ensure that the country is safe, intelligence

information is accurately gathered and disseminated to relevant authorities for action and

therefore the office is entitled to the highest level of ethical and legal requirement of its

functionality.

Social Responsibility and Public Interest Intersection

Social responsibility entails fine-tuning the organization's interest from maximizing on

profit making to taking care of the society's needs. Developing a positive relationship with the

public in which the state in which the FBI unit is operating and running its affairs is essential in

achieving the government's security objectives. The social responsibility adheres to the interest

of the public beyond the legal requirement. The FBI is responsible for security maintenance of

the citizen from both external attack and hone security issues (The United States Department of

Justice, 2017). The intersection between the social responsibility and public interest is as a result

of the services provided by this institution is not only as per requirement but above the standard
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and basic needs. The citizen, therefore, expects the government to act on social and corporate

responsibilities which include going above the expectation and provide extra services for the

wellbeing of the people.

FBI Managers Responsibility to Stakeholders

The FBI manager is a government official with ethical and legal responsibility from the

immediate community in which he serves. The immediate stakeholders include the citizens,

office of the attorney general, other law enforcement agencies and the federal government. These

stakeholders require the manager to carry out his businesses in a regal and ethical manner. The

requirement ensures that the manager has the interest of the people he serves at first while

putting aside personal interest (The United States Department of Justice, 2017). When the two

contradict, the manager must ensure that he considers himself a public servant and then look at

the needs of the people as opposed to his needs and that of his immediate family otherwise

referred as personal interest.

The stakeholders require transparency in all activities that the FBI manager undertakes on

behave of the FBI or federal government. The general public expects the FBI manager to act in a

way that will not comprise the security nature of the state or discredit the organization's

responsibility as the public security custodian (FBI, 2016). The other security and law

enforcement agencies expect the FBI manager to disseminate critical information that will help

them join hands in their mission of security provision to the general public and specific entities.

Code Ethics and Oath of Office for FBI Managers

FBI managers are required to take the oath of office once they are appointed for such a

post. This oath and ethical codes of conduct make the manager responsible for his conduct
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(VOA, 2017). The oaths refrains that manager from receiving gifts and favors likely to discredit

his behavior, require him to obey the laws and regulation, refrain from disclosing classified

information he comes across to unauthorized parties and compliance to set ethical standards (The

United States Department of Justice, 2017). These requirements make that manager aware of

possible avenues to misuse of power and office which he must refrain. Confidentiality and

interaction with potential security threats must be guarded as a possible treatment to the national

security.

Executing Responsibilities Ethically

As an FBI manager, there are some ways I can ensure that my duties are performed

legally and ethically. First, understanding the ethical requirement for the office is essential in

providing that I refrain from all unethical activities (FBI, 2016). Secondly, following the set

laws, regulation and standing orders of the legislation will ensure that my actions are in line with

the legal requirement.

Avoiding favors and gifts that may lead to compromising my integrity will keep away

from the snares of unethical behaviors set by those wishing to violate the law and get away freely

(Energy.Gov, 2017). Lastly, consulting, listening to inner convictions and understanding that as a

security custodian to whom the public depends on will equip me with the intrinsic motivation for

appropriate office conduct.

Suggested Code of Ethics FBI Managers

I suggest that the FBI manager should refrain from activities that will undermine the

public confidence on their ethical standpoint. Activities I recommend that are unethical for an

FBI manager include public politics and political affiliation, partiality in decision making when

handling investigations and exposing witnesses unnecessarily. On the same note, FBI managers
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should be able to make decision and support ideas based on merit evidence and data. Ensuring

that all investigation and law enforcement activities follow the laid down procedure is paramount

for the FBI manager who wants to execute his mandate legally and within the ethical

requirements.

Consequences of Failure to Conduct Ethically

There are consequences for failure to uphold the highest level of integrity while holding

such a principal office. First, the public will lose trust in you as a security steward of the public.

Secondly, FBI managers are subject to ethical audits which may result in removal from office

(Energy.Gov, 2017). Lastly, abuse of office through unethical behaviors is an offense that one

can be charged at the court of law with heavy penalties. FBI managers should, therefore, uphold

the highest level of integrity.

References

Energy.Gov. (2017). Ethics - Fourteen Principles of Ethical Conduct for Federal Employees |

Department of Energy. Retrieved from https://www.energy.gov/hc/services/benefits/new-

employee-orientation/ethics-fourteen-principles-ethical-conduct-federal

FBI. (2016). Informing FDR: FBI Political Surveillance and the Isolationist-Interventionist

Foreign Policy Debate, 1939-1945. The SHAFR Guide Online. doi:10.1163/2468-

1733_shafr_sim120080046

The United States Department of Justice. (2017, July 21). Ethics Handbook for On and Off-Duty

Conduct. Retrieved from https://www.justice.gov/jmd/ethics-handbook

VOA. (2017, May 12). Roles, Duties of Attorney General, Assistant AG, FBI Director. Retrieved

from https://www.voanews.com/a/roles-duties-of-attorney-general-assistant-ag-and-fbi-

director/3849614.html