Role of Perceived Ethical Leadership and Integrity in Willingness to Report Ethical Problems Among Police Employees

Perceived Ethical Leadership and Integrity

Abstract

Objective. The present study aimed to investigate the relationship between perceived ethical leadership, integrity, and willingness to report ethical problems among police employees. It was also intended to determine the role of demographic factors (gender, education, and job experience) in relation to study
variables.
Method. The sample comprised of 450 police personnel including both men and women with age range from 25-52 years. Measure of Ethical Leadership Scale (Brown, Trevino, & Harrisson, 2005), Integrity and Code of Silence Questionnaire (Klockars, Ivkovich, & Haberfeld, 2007), and Willingness to Report Ethical Problems (Hassan, Wright, & Yukl, 2014) were used. Results showed that perceived ethical leadership and integrity positively predicted willingness to report ethical problems. 
Results. Findings of multivariate analysis based on 2x2x3 MANOVA along gender, education, and experience indicated that women police personnel being highly educated, and having extended job experience indicated favorable perceptions of ethical leadership, higher level of integrity and more willingness to report ethical problems as compared to their counterparts. However, male police personnel with extended job experience reflected inverse relationship with study variables.
Implications. Findings of the present study might bear fundamental basis in augmenting understanding about ethical leadership practices in law enforcing personnel so as to maximize enhanced built-in checks for regulating malpractices in police system.