The Dove Spa was a massage parlor, which the police suspected was operating as a

Question

The Dove Spa was a massage parlor, which the police suspected was operating as a prostitution enterprise, but they had no direct evidence to prove it. The police department decided to initiate an undercover operation in which a plainclothes detective entered and asked for the services of one of the women working there. The woman, of course, did not know he was a police officer, or was wearing a hidden microphone. For $100 and a $35 tip, she fondled the officer’s genitals. The same officer went back to the massage parlor four more times. Over a period of five months, the same officer also visited the massage parlor in another town and allowed the women, who were Chinese immigrants, to fondle him in exchange for cash. This was done in an apparent effort to investigate suspected prostitution and human trafficking. Ultimately, 30 police officers raided two businesses and arrested six people—four alleged prostitutes and two alleged pimps. The undercover methods were defended by the police, but were criticized by legal experts and women’s advocates as “excessive, unnecessary, and misapplied” to an investigation that involved suspected human trafficking.

Evaluate the moral permissibility of police officer’s actions in conducting this investigation using the critical thinking skills listed below:

-Isolate and evaluate the relevant facts on both sides

-Identify the precise moral question to be answered

- Apply ethical principles to the moral question based on an objective evaluation of the facts, only then drawing a conclusion.

Explanation / Answer

-Isolate and evaluate the relevant facts on both sides

The massage parlor has been operating in the pretext of offering massage services but it was offering prostitution which was illegal. They were also involved in human trafficking which was illegal and unethical too. The police had the responsibility of preventing illegal activities and undercover operation was part and parcel of the police and military operations. The police officer didn’t do that questionable act for his selfish motive but for the prevention of a crime.

-Identify the precise moral question to be answered

Do police officers are supposed to get involved in the crime to identify the crime? Why didn’t they directly start an investigation?

- Apply ethical principles to the moral question based on an objective evaluation of the facts, only then drawing a conclusion

The Utilitarian ethical principle suggests that any action will be considered right or wrong with its outcome. If the outcome maximizes the utility, stopping the illegal act of prostitution in this instance, bringing happiness to many and reducing harm to people, it’s considered to be a moral or ethical act.

The massage parlor was bringing harm to the people who worked there and to the society. So, the outcomes of their actions are immoral and unethical. They were also illegally bringing girls from different countries for prostitution which was an act of immorality.

The police officers on the other hand, needed to act in a way, they will get enough proof to close down the prostitution, which was possible only through undercover. Their actions are considered good because it brought maximum good to the society and reduced harm to those involved in those activities.

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