ETHICAL LEADERSHIP AS A FACTOR OF EFFECTIVE MANAGEMENT IN LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES

Abstract

The article provides a comprehensive theoretical and applied analysis of ethical leadership as a leading factor in ensuring management effectiveness within law enforcement agencies. Modern challenges, characterized by crisis conditions, digital transformations, and high public expectations regarding accountability, require a radical shift from rigid hierarchical and authoritarian management models to value-oriented paradigms. The study examines the dual nature of ethical leadership in the security sector, which encompasses the attributes of both a “moral person” and a “moral manager”. The research determines that the influence of an ethical manager is systemic and transforms moral values into operational results through key organizational and psychological mechanisms: social role modeling, procedural justice, and psychological safety. It is substantiated that consistent ethical leadership acts as an internal protective buffer against deviant behavior, corruption risks, and professional deformation among personnel, breaking down destructive corporate subcultures like the “code of silence”. The practical significance of the study lies in identifying specific managerial tools to increase staff motivation, reduce turnover, and strengthen institutional trust. The author outlines structural barriers to implementing ethical management, including the militarized organizational culture and strict quantitative performance indicators. The article concludes that combining professional competence with high moral integrity is essential for operational stability under stress. Future research directions are proposed to study ethical leadership in relation to digitalization and gendersensitive public service competencies.