Just months ago, an unarmed man was killed by an officer in Charleston, South Carolina as he ran away from him. The officer fired multiple rounds hitting the man at least 7 times, killing him. In my opinion, because the man was older than the officer, had not committed a violent crime, nor was he trying to harm the officer, he did not pose much of a threat in this occurrence. It has become more and more common for this to happen.…
One of the main conflicts occurring in the United States today deals with police brutality and the relationship between police officers and their communities. Two Books Argue the Case for Police Reform From Within, an article in the New York Times, stated that approximately one-thousand people in America are killed annually at the expense of police officers. This number is shocking to many due to the fact that the amount of violent crime and deaths of on-duty police officers has decreased greatly and continues to do so. This article talks about how police enforcement abuses their powers and how they are thought to have too much power which leads to this abuse. It discusses cases that deal with the Fourth Amendment right of American Citizens and where police have used deadly force in instances that it was not necessary, leading to a movement known as Black Lives Matter.…
Officers are supposed to protect us instead they are just killing people in an instance.…
During arrests, during searches, and while they pass laws that aren't just. There have been many incidents of violent behavior towards citizens and even deaths due due police brutality during an arrest. On October 24th, 2004, Frank Jude was viciously beaten after leaving a party. As he proceeded to leave the party, two off duty officers accused him of stealing one of their wallets. Jude was repeatedly punched and kicked all over his head and body. He was also stabbed in both ears with pens and even an on duty officer began stomping on his head, leaving him unconscious and in really bad condition. When police arrived, he was not helped, but on the contrary, he was put in handcuffs and was asked questions at the scene instead of calling an ambulance to tend to his wounds. Later, he was escorted in a police vehicle to a hospital where he refused to speak until the police left. Even though these were off duty officers, they still demonstrated abuse of power because no has the right to beat and threaten another person because they are suspicious of something and they don't even have proof to back up their statements. Even the officer that was on duty, decided to beat up Jude instead of coming to his aid. When police arrived, they also decided to handcuff him instead of calling an ambulance to help him out. Police officers now believe that the authority given to them by the fact that they are police…
Seeing this happening begins a collective fear of our law enforcement which can lead to mistrust and separation of hope. According to an L.A. Times article, in Inglewood, a city located inside of Los Angeles County, California, residents were beginning to get tired of treatment by police and began to call and complain to the U.S. Department of Justice in order to demand reform. A Times investigation found that Inglewood officers repeatedly resorted to physical or deadly force against unarmed suspects (Kim et al.). When further investigation was demanded and started, they noticed that “The agency's rules on using deadly force are vague and inconsistent with U.S. Supreme Court guidelines” (Kim et al.). This demonstrates that there is a clear correlation between outdated reforms and the excessive use of force.…
In today's society the Police Department's face a plethora of issues pertaining to protecting and serving in today society. Aside from the fact that there's always that fear in the back of their minds that they may not go home to their love ones. Police officers make that move to protect and serve, and with today's issues it leaves a lot of people wondering who is going to protect and serve them. One of the many issues that Police Department's face today is trust, a lot of communities have lost faith in the police department due to the community feeling as though they use excessive force, without assessing the situation before exerting lethal force. The fact that there has not been justice…
Technology has helped solve many cases where police officers were accused of excessive force. Most importantly cameras provide proof of how many police officers have been accused of excessive. The cameras are not only been used to take selfies but have been used to catch how police officers over use their power against people with less power. Not only cell phone cameras from witnesses have helped catch police brutality but police officers own dash cameras in their own police car and video surveillance in the jail cell have also helped prove police excessive force. A video camera from a cell phone caught how the Hammond, Indiana police officers used excessive force on Jamal Jones. Dash cameras have also been used in cases of excessive force by police officers like the case of John Hill. In jail cells there are cameras but this particular camera caught how the Chicago Police used excessive force…
Ever wonder if police officers know what its like to be a citizen under jurisdiction, with the same sense of distrust and sense of unfaithfulness in the individuals who are supposed to protect? People must also realize that citizens will never know what it is like to be police officers. They take too much crap from people who don't appreciate their services. Police officers also have their personal lives to worry about. That is stress that a lot can't understand, let alone coupe with. There are a lot of officers that take their authority to a whole new level. These officers offer their lives in protection of its citizens, not just for a check, but also for a change. Bad apples spoil the bunch, yes, but can society blame and stereotype every officer of the law because of these people? Why do people run from the cops? The same reason people stick up their middle fingers when they confront us in the streets when they aren't looking, distrust. The Tim Thomas case, along with the mishaps of the Amadou Diallo situation are perfect examples of racial profiling. Is it right to do so? Some say that racial profiling helps the crime rate go down, while others strongly disagree. Rodney King exposed how corrupt the Los Angeles Police Department was, while the Rampart case proves that the Department still has made little to no progress. One still has to understand the police officers perspectives on how difficult this job really is.…
Sometimes police officers abuse their power to get what they want or to take control of the situation as they say. there is also the times when the suspect that is being pulled over or ect. tries to turn thing around and make it seem that the cop is in the wrong.thats why there should be laws put into effect to control the situation. body. If police would all wear body cameras it would solve the problem.…
Cops are supposed to keep us safe, maintain order, and preserve the peace. However, this has not been the case for years. On the news, practically every day we hear of police brutality. We hear the cries of the family lamenting their loss, whether be it a man woman or child. Yet while this loss of life takes place, the murderer’s judgement is not always favorable. Will the brutal officer be punished? Was Darren Wilson charged for killing Michael Brown, an unarmed man? No! Justice was not served! Justice did not take place! A man responsible for pulling the trigger on an unarmed man, shooting his body six times, with bullets piercing his skin all over until it was devoid life. Brown may have been a criminal, his last moments should not have been ugly, so painful, so sad. We observe…
Over the past decade, police brutality has covered major headlines because officers have acted out in ways that have made citizens question their motives. The Law Dictionary defines police brutality as “the use of excessive and/or unnecessary force by police when dealing with civilians”. Things such as unjustified shootings, deadly chokings, and rough treatment have all added to the constant problem of police brutality mainly, in the black community. Annoyingly, the police officers responsible for the killings and abuse are not held for long before they are discharged to their normal routines. Since many people believe that the issues of police brutality is based on race, officers should be…
Police brutality has been witnessed recently over the years in America. The topic has been controversial among communities that have seen brutality in front of them. I understand that police officers face many threatening situations everyday forcing them to make split second decisions and to expect the worst and hope for the best. Police officers are allowed and have the power to take any citizens rights away. One…
Some say that police shootings are unjustified. While it is true that some police attack people unfairly, it is not fair to say that all shootings are unjustified. Police get a call and they chase after the criminal in question or whoever fits the description of the call. After they have located the criminal, the police attempt to arrest and when the person being detained resists arrest, things get harder to do and sometimes require possibly lethal force. There are also people…
Take the case of Freddie Gray who was a black man who was fatally wounded in police custody. Gray while in police custody asked for medical attention many times. The police officers ignored him and strapped him up in the back of a police van. Later that day an ambulance is required at the police department about an unconscious man. Gray arrived at the hospital and was diagnosed with shock trauma after he suffered with broken vertebrae. Gray stayed in the hospital for a week until he passed away from his wounds. Another example case is the case of Michael Brown, an unarmed black teenager who was shot down in Ferguson, Missouri. Brown was stopped by Officer Darren Wilson, a white Ferguson Police officer. Several reports say Brown was shot with his hand up in surrender. Officer Wilson shot Mr. Brown ten plus times in what he says were self-defense. This police officer who's had training is afraid for his life by an eighteen year old teenager. That is not believable that police officers are so called trained professionals but are trigger happy when they are faced with an unarmed black…
America is a very diverse place where people from all over the world choose to reside. With all of these different cultures blending together into one melting pot, we have to learn how to live with each other. For all these cultures to be able to dwell together, there needs to be order, rules, and guidelines established into the community. Without people that can fulfill those duties in a country there would be no kind of structure within the United States. The people who we count on to enforce these rules in the United States are the police. The citizens hold the police on a higher scale than regular civilians hold each other to. This takes places because civilians view the police in the United States on a pedestal because; they are the enforcers…