Doing The Right Thing. And Paying For It! 

The Ethics Roll Call,

Volume 8, No. 3 (Summer 2001) 

By Dan Carlson 

If you ask Eric Lehre how he feels about “doing the right thing,” be prepared for an earful. 

In June, 2001, things were looking pretty good for Lehre; after a 25 year career, he had attained the rank of Commodore in the Canadian Navy, and was in charge of naval forces in the Pacific. Things changed, though, when he learned he might be chosen to serve on a disciplinary panel hearing the case of a young sailor charged with using a government computer to visit “adult” web sites on theInternet. When he learned of the assignment, Lehre knew he had a problem. He also knew he was honor-bound to report it. 

Lehre immediately contacted his boss and admitted that he – like the young sailor –had visited some “Penthouse-style” web sites in the past. In his defense, he said hehad only visited the sites during off-duty time and using his own internet account. But like the accused, he had used government equipment (his assigned laptopcomputer) to access the web. As such, he recognized a conflict of interest, and asked to be excused from sitting in judgement in this case. 

At this point Lehre learned how people are sometimes treated when they “do the right thing” ... he was charged with “conduct prejudicial to good order and discipline” and relieved of his command. 

In treating him that way, Lehre’s bosses missed a great opportunity. They could have sent a powerful message about the importance of character by admonishing him for a technical breach of a regulation, while recognizing the good example he set for his people in stepping forward. Instead, a very different message was transmitted ... keep your mouth shut! 

Every year, about this time, an interesting thing happens around the Ethics Center as we begin the search for candidates for the Ethical Courage Award. The names of various people are discussed, but when those individuals are asked if they would like to be considered for that honor the most common response is “Thanks, but no thanks.” While disappointing, that is an understandable reaction. What it says is this: “I appreciate the thought, but when I stepped forward it resulted in a lot of stress and uneasiness both personally and professionally. Things are just starting to cool off, and I’d rather not stir them up again.” 

Cops are not ignorant. They have seen what happens to people who have stoodup for the “right thing,” and noticed that sometimes the results are not pretty. Consider, for example, the case of Perry Dunlop, recipient of the 2000 EthicalCourage Award. He is the former constable from Cornwall, Ontario, who –despite orders from his agency – had the courage to report a case of suspectedchild sexual abuse to the Children’s Aid Society. Almost a year later, PerryDunlop is still unemployed. He has tried to get back into law enforcement, butwithout success. As a matter of fact, he recently received a rejection letter from adepartment where he was being considered. He was turned down over concernsabout his “honesty and integrity.” 

Across the law enforcement profession, ethical organizations have bought into theimportance of rewarding acts of moral courage. That is a step in the right direction, but it is not enough. As a matter of fact, something even more essential must happen first. Simply stated, leaders must stand up and let it be known that ethical behavior is both encouraged and protected, and that people who step forwardwill be supported. Failing that, there should be no surprise when officers take stock of what has happened to people like Perry Dunlop, and decide they are unwilling to pay a similar price for doing “the right thing.” 

The English author and clergyman, Charles Caleb Colton (1780-1832) put it this way: "Physical courage, which despises all danger, will make a man brave in one way; and moral courage which despises all opinion, will make a man brave in another." Work at the Ethics Center over the past ten years has been rewarding in a number of important ways. Nothing has been more uplifting, though,than the interactions we have had with the multitude of physically brave – and morally courageous – men and women who populate the law enforcement profession.