Question

You are sitting next to a police officer in a restaurant. When the officer attempts to pay for the meal, the waiter says, “Your money is no good here. An officer just visited my son’s school and made quite an impression. Plus, I feel safer having cops around.” Again the officer offers to pay, but the waiter refuses to accept payment. The police department has a policy prohibiting the acceptance of free meals or gifts.

Determine the ethical dilemmas involved and what you believe is the appropriate outcome.

Answer 1

All organisations have set their ethical obligations and standards to run their organisation with ease and without any unwanted disturbances. Sometimes, we often are encountered with situations where some events lead us to a dilemma where a decision taken could be or couldn't be in accordance with the rules and ethics of the organisation.In this case too the police officer is stuck between obeying his orders and ethics towards the citizen's responsibility of not engaging in taking advantage or privileges for no reason while here he also needs to respect the waiter's utter sympathy and gratefulness reflected in his thought. Such dilemma is commonly faced by a lot of workers who are actually obeying their rules. In this case the favorable outcome should be the cop should not accept the waiter's request rather he should politely say thanks and promising him to be more vigilant and responsible for his and other's safety which is the duty of the cop and he will be always there to help , being grateful and concerned for all of his citizens and people.