Police Brutality Argument Paper
Police work is a dangerous job, and police are more than likely to be put into situations when excessive force is needed. But, sometimes police use excessive force for their own personal reasons, such as, racism. The issue of police officers using excessive force may or may not be of great concern, but it should be looked into by both the police and the public. Because some officers use excessive force in situations when it is not needed, police brutality should be addressed.
Some may feel as if excessive force is needed when dealing with the so-called criminal. The majority of these people are stuck in the mindset that all police officers are here to help and the amount of force is based upon the victim. This is an example of what people on the opposing side have to say. Author Lan Loft stated on police brutality; “Policeman have a difficult but very important role within our society - to 'serve and protect'. The very nature of their position at the front-line means they often find themselves in the most violent of situations. Such dangerous situations rely on instinct and even self-defense to keep situations from getting out of hand.”(Loft). This statement may be partially true, but does self defense require an officer to take a situation to the extreme? Another opposing statement was made by author Summer Tyme. “Never having been a police officer, I can only go by what I have seen on the news, law enforcement shows and my own personal experience in my community. I think they are given a hard enough job without being accused of police brutality each time some criminal gets a bruise.”(Tyme). This authors’ statement is a prime example of the mindset I explained earlier in this paragraph. It also gives me all the more reason to express reasons for having views against police brutality.
I am against police brutality and feel that excessive force is not always needed. For the people who are opposing of this topic, here is a startling fact. “In Tampa Bay, Florida,
Some may feel as if excessive force is needed when dealing with the so-called criminal. The majority of these people are stuck in the mindset that all police officers are here to help and the amount of force is based upon the victim. This is an example of what people on the opposing side have to say. Author Lan Loft stated on police brutality; “Policeman have a difficult but very important role within our society - to 'serve and protect'. The very nature of their position at the front-line means they often find themselves in the most violent of situations. Such dangerous situations rely on instinct and even self-defense to keep situations from getting out of hand.”(Loft). This statement may be partially true, but does self defense require an officer to take a situation to the extreme? Another opposing statement was made by author Summer Tyme. “Never having been a police officer, I can only go by what I have seen on the news, law enforcement shows and my own personal experience in my community. I think they are given a hard enough job without being accused of police brutality each time some criminal gets a bruise.”(Tyme). This authors’ statement is a prime example of the mindset I explained earlier in this paragraph. It also gives me all the more reason to express reasons for having views against police brutality.
I am against police brutality and feel that excessive force is not always needed. For the people who are opposing of this topic, here is a startling fact. “In Tampa Bay, Florida,
Cited: Sumithomas-20. What arguments are aginst police brutality. <http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_arguments_are_against_police brutality>. Berands, Neal, and Joanne Buggey. Brutality: Recognizing Sterotypes. Greenhaven Press, 1994. Tyme, Summer, and Lan Loft, and Ted Sherman. Understanding Opposing Viewpoints on Police Brutality (2002): 1-1. <http://www.helium.com/items/807164-understanding-opposing-viewpoints-on-police-brutality>.