Essay On Police Use Of Force

When examining the issue of police use-of-force, the issue of what conduct constitutes too much force must also be addressed. The legal assessment for excessive force is whether the officer reasonably believed such force was necessary to accomplish a lawful police purpose (McEwen, 1996). Another concern for many is the possibility of racial profiling among certain officers. Allegations of the use of excessive force by police officers have fueled the debate over possible racial profiling and have spurred law enforcement agencies to analyze their policies. “Because there are no universally accepted definitions of what is reasonable and necessary, it becomes necessary for jurors and jurists to make decisions on the presentations in each individual case” (McEwen, 1996, p. 6).
Recent police shootings and court decisions have caused police agencies to re-examine existing policies and training practices in an effort to become more compliant with perceived trends involving the use of deadly force and less lethal confrontations. The number one objective of any
Understanding situations under which any type of force is used and how to improve upon its future applications is an intricate process. Police agencies must continuously evaluate their performances in dangerous incidents, identifying missed opportunities to interrupt the need to use force. Accountability on the part of the officer and agency has to be part of this process. With that said, society must also recognize that in many dangerous and rapidly evolving incidents, officers perform brilliantly, demonstrating high levels of courage and restraint that make policing an honorable profession. The management of police use-of-force remains a primary issue in law enforcement. Many challenges remain that will require years to overcome, but successful steps have also been