Police Brutality: An introduction

Police Brutality An introductionPolice BrutalityTo servicing and nourish, is a common phrase that is usaged among constabulary of nature arrive aticers that defines their primary obligation as a cop. What once was a powerful notion, has lost its heart and soul through time. Instead, its re amazeation is now riddled with flakes involving what is cognize as practice of law personnel offices barbarism along with memorable names much(prenominal) as Rodney King, Amadou Di eacho, Sean tam-tam, timothy doubting Thomas, and Abner Louima neverthe slight to name a few. The use of excessive force by the law is nothing bran-new, and with so galore(postnominal) an other(a)(prenominal) cases extinct there, it is clear that to pr beice and protect does not exactly apply to all of law enforce give-up the ghostst as it should. Through displays of racial profiling, every score call forthiveness of power, and overall dingy attitude, just about individual law enforcement of ficials ease up lost the trust and respect of society, fashioning virtually(prenominal) population question how police barbarousness tin put up be reduced. Police barbarity is specify as a civil rights irreverence that occurs when a police officer acts with excessive force by development an amount of force with regards to a civil that is to a greater extent than necessary (Police Brutality, 2008, para. 1). Although person aptitude argue that it is virtuallything that is over exaggerated, there has been proofread through ph wholeness and videotape footages as well as eye witness accounts that such acts do exist. Take for instance, the infamous Rodney King whacking, where George Holli sidereal day, a plumbing bus videotaped the scene of law enforcement officials kicking and beating King with metal batons from his bedchamber apartment (Linder, 2001). Another example is the incident that occurred in Philadelphia, where a news helicopter videotaped four police officer s beating three obscure men (Barker, 2008). Many pass on claim that police brutality doesnt exist because it is r arely caught on videotape or documented. But if its not a satisfying conundrum, then why are there cases and studies d unrivalled on police brutality? According to Carl Dix, a writer for Black Scholar, between January 1994 and magisterial 1996, at least 100 commonwealth died at the hands of the NYPD (1997) . Also, in Chicago al champion, there were over 37,000 police brutality complaints from 1984 to 1994 (Dix, 1997). In addition, concord to Associated Press, a study done by the jurist Departments Bureau of Justice Statistics lay out that over 2,000 criminal suspects died in police custody over a three year period (2007, para. 1). subsequently taking a look at the studies and cases reported on police brutality, one efficacy ask, why do law enforcement officials commit acts of brutality? Are police officers overreacting when their authority is challenged such a s the case involving Rodney King? Or could it be that in some of these cases they are just having a bad day and they are unable to separate their personal problems with their job? Although both of these says might be true, a number of cases of police brutality have shown that racial profiling is withal a reason why police brutality exists. Well known names such as Rodney King, Abner Louima, timothy Thomas, Amadou Diallo, and Sean Bell are a couple of examples where minorities were disrespected due to their belt along.Brutalities On August 9, 1997, Abner Louima, a Haitian immigrant was beaten and sodomized by Brooklyn cops (Roane, 2001). Abner Louima was arrested for interfering with law enforcement officials as they well-tried breaking up a feud between two women (Hinojosa, 1997). After Louima was put into the patrol car, the police officers began calling him racial names and beating him in the first place taking him to the 70th precinct (Hinojosa, 1997). It was there at the st ation, that the horrific detail took place. Louima was betrothn to the bathroom where police officers do him strip rase and sodomized him with a plunger (Hinojosa, 1997). Amadou Diallo, an immigrant from Guinea, was a 22 year disused man who do a living on the sidewalks of lower Manhattan selling random mathematical product from a cart to people (Fritsch, 2000). On the night of February 4, 1999, Mr. Diallo was shot 19 times out of 41 bullets by four law enforcement officials as he stood unarmed on the stoop of his apartment building in which he shared with a friend and his two cousins (Fritsch, 2000). incumbent Carroll, one of the four police officers said that the reason they all shot at Mr. Diallo was because he was behaving suspiciously and that he fit the explanation of a consequent universeation rapist (Fritsch, 2000). Officer Carroll in like manner mentioned on a lower floor cross-examination that he could not opine Mr. Diallo to determine his race (Fritsch, 2000 ). So inIn conclusion, in the caliginous of the night, Officer Carroll is not able to cognize Amadou Diallos race, but instead claims that he fit the description of a serial rapist. (Fritsch, 2000) herds grass Thomas was 19 years old when he was shot in an alley. On April 7, 2001, Officer Stephen lap follow down Timothy Thomas for having 14 warrants on him (Larson, 2004). Officer Roach claimed that he shot Thomas because he thought he was arriver for a gun. (Larson, 2004). No gun was ever implant on the carcass of Timothy Thomas (Larson, 2004). After the death of Timothy Thomas, information was found that softened that his death was just another case of racial profiling. Prior to his death, Timothy Thomas was pulled over 11 times in no more than two months (Larson, 2004). He was cited 21 times, mostly for impetuous without a stinkpot belt and for thrust without a permission (Larson, 2004). Although Timothy Thomas systematically broke the law, the question if racial prof iling existed here was that why was Thomas being pulled over for not having a license (Larson, 2004)? How evoke a law enforcement official assume that someone is driving without a license? It was bonny for Thomas to be pulled over for not wearing a seat belt because a police officer is able to visor that if they are tone c misplacely, but it is impossible to detect if someone is driving without a license. (Larson, 2004) Sean Bell is another minority that was involved in a police brutality case where the color of his skin was a factor. On November 25, 2006, Sean Bell was killed outside of a Queens nightclub just hours before his wedding (Bells fiance, 2008). The Queens nightclub was at the time under investigation due to complaints of weapons, drugs, and prostitution (Bells fiance, 2008). The tragedy happened when Bell and his friends were leaving the nightclub. Believing that one of Sean Bells friends was going to grab a gun out of the car because an melodic phrase broke out, t he detectives called for backup as Bell panicked and began to drive off (Bells fiance, 2008). 50 bullets were then shot at Bells car in what the NYPD called an act of self defense (Barker, 2008). In the end, no gun was ever found (Bells fiance, 2008). Michael Warren and Evelyn Warrens incident is no different from any other case involving racial profiling. Michael Warren and his wife Evelyn were beaten and arrested by law enforcement officials as they tried to stop the police officers from viciously lash outing a young black male (Arinde, 2007). Michael and his wife were charged with obstruction, disorderly conduct, and resisting arrest (Arinde, 2007). Not all cases involving police brutality has to do with racial profiling, but it is considered as the briny reason why it exists though. Sometimes police officers leave alone over assert their power due to their authoritative figure. It can be argued though that law enforcement officials will sometimes have to use excessive force ju st to protect themselves and their surroundings. The line is crossed though when the use of excessive force is used when no danger is present. Take for example the case of Audra Harmon, a 38 year old mom mother who was driving her kids children plaza from wrestling practice (Celizic, 2009). According to Mike Celizic, a contributor of TODAYShow.com, Audra Harmon was resting her hand on her cheek as she was driving (Celizic, 2009). Deputy Sean Andrews, who is now under internal investigations, pulled Harmon over thinking she was talking on her cell recall (Celizic, 2009). After Harmon tried proving to Andrews that she was not talking on her cell hollo by letting him check her purse, Andrews cited her for speeding instead (Celizic, 2009). Audra Harmon was then put under arrest for getting out of her car because she wanted proof that she was speeding (Celizic, 2009). Deputy Sean Andrews then crossed the line when he dragged Harmon out of her vehicle and as maculation she was trying t o talk to him,him Andrews pulled out his Tasertaser and fired tasered Ms. Harmon in bird-scarer of her children (Celizic, 2009). For every action, there is a reaction. As police brutality cases lead astray piling up, peoples views of law enforcement officials let to change negatively. Police brutality can and has affected society in a number of different ways. It can reveal injustice in law enforcement. For every case that arises in which the police are found guilty of acting out what is deemed as brutality through the unnecessary use of excessive force, people begin to question if the law is really on their side when it comes to their rights. With so many cases where rights have been violated, is there really justice being executed bathroom the badge? In Audra Harmons case, where Deputy Sean Andrews yanked her out of her car and then take aback Harmon to her knees by a Tasertaser, a number of rights were violated (Celizic, 2009). Audra Harmon would then subsequently file a ci vil suit against Deputy Sean Andrews for violating her Fourth and fourteenth Amendment rights which included unreasonable search and unauthorized use of excessive force (Celizic, 2009). In addition, this suit would also include emotional distress, false arrest, assault and battery and malicious prosecution (Celizic, 2009, para. 26). Police brutality can reveal societys racism. Each and every time a case becomes exposed to the public and race is undeniably a contributing factor, it further reminds society that we as a country still harbor a dirty small secret that has not been, and perhaps never will be all told erased . Timothy Thomas and Amadou Diallo were both two out of many cases where race played a vital role in police actions. Timothy Thomas prior to his death was being pulled over consistently for not driving without a license. How were law enforcement officials aware of Thomas not driving without a license? After receiving 14 warrants, Timothy Thomas would afterward be ch ased down and killed for supposedly pulling out a weaponVictimsAmadou Diallo was shot at by 41 bullets and hit 19 times because he was behaving suspiciously and that he fit the description of a serial rapist (Fritsch, 2000). On the stoop of Mr. Diallos apartment building, in the dark of the night, Officer Carroll would later testify that he was not able to recognize Mr. Diallos race but that he fit the description of a serial rapist (Fritsch, 2000). After the stroke of Amadou Diallo, over 300 people poised to protest around the building where Mr. Diallo was shot at. cardinal people were arrested there, slice another fifteen protesters were arrested in Albany (Fritsch, 2000). Police brutality can lead to a loss of trust and respect for law enforcement officials while making society feel less safe. People begin to misgiving those who are supposed to protect us, while others protest in anger. inside 24 hours after Timothy Thomas was shot by Officer Roach, the African-American com munity exploded on the streets (Larson, 2004). Police officers ran through the streets, handout tear gas and rubber bullets to try to stop the riot (Larson, 2004). The shooting touched off three nights of unrest in which dozens of people were injured and more than 800 were arrested (Ohio Officer, 2001, para. 7). After the shooting of Amadou Diallo, over 300 people gathered to protest around the building where Mr. Diallo was shot at (Fritsch, 2000). Fourteen people were arrested there, while another fifteen protesters were arrested in Albany (Fritsch, 2000). continuing their tradition sinceSince October 22, 1996, thousands of protesters have marched every year for the National Day of resist to Stop Police Brutality, Repression, and the Criminalization of a Generation. From all across the united States, in cities such as Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Minneapolis, untested York City, and Seattle, the coalition aim to tug against police brutality by marching in cities protesting (Nat ional day of protest, 2007). enthalpy David Thoreau once said, There are a thousand hacking at the branches of unrighteous to one who is striking at the root (as cited in Herman, 2007, para. 1). The same convention can be applied to what Thoreau once said for how police brutality can be reduced. Many people have filed claims and lawsuits, but for some reason, this dissolving agent has not worked effectually in the past. On the other hand, some reports have not been filed due to a scare in retaliation (Police brutality facts, 2006). In New York, critics say that complaints against police brutality were down because people have given up (Lacayo Benson, 1997). And despite more than 16,000 complaints against New York cops since 1993, only 180 officers have been disciplined, most of them with just a chew out or the loss of a vacation day (Lacayo Benson, 1997, para. 2). So byBy what effective means is there to resolve police brutality? Some options are to police the police, where t he topical anaesthetic community should be able to have some oversight of the police. In addition, the local community as well as law enforcement officials must lose the us vs. them mentality. We should be working together to fight crime, not against each other. And if the local community isnt able to have some oversight of the police where they are able to monitor them a higher authority must be set in place to be able to over apprehend the operations of law enforcement officials. A jot has also been made to hire more heathen minorities (Policing the police, 1997). Whatever the ease is, something has to give where it is written in stone that police brutality will not be tolerated. (Policing the police, 1997) Since the 1990s, several police departments that have had a report card of having bad apples working in their department, have begun to show improvement (Lacayo Benson, 1997). Their solution to reduce the amount of police brutality cases was by providing effective police training, installing a higher authority, and developing better relations with the local community (Lacayo Benson, 1997). Not only has their solution eliminated the us vs. them mentality, but it also sent out a clear message that police brutality would not be tolerated. (Lacayo Benson, 1997) The Los Angeles Police Department has also shown effective promote in reducing police brutality by hiring more ethnic minorities (Lacayo Benson, 1997). Its percentage of white officers has decreased from 61.3% in March 91 to 50% in July 97, producing a rank and file less likely to see a minority community as a hostile artificial satellite (Lacayo Benson, 1997, para. 4). In addition, they have hired more female police officers with an increase of about 4% (Lacayo Benson, 1997). Studies have shown that female law enforcement officials are less prone to abusive behavior (Lacayo Benson, 1997). To top it all off, the city also swore in an African-American veteran of the police department as their new police chief (Lacayo Benson, 1997). Another solution to resolve the issue of police brutality was by taking a look at the civilian civil analyze Review boardBoard. In short, a civilian review board allows civilians to have the power and the opportunity in reviewing investigations of complaints against law enforcement officials. Civilian review boards thus hold police officers accountable for police misconduct. The problem is when a civilian review board is made up of a majority of former members of law enforcement officials, prosecutors, and lawyers such as the one in New York (Lacayo Benson, 1997). The only way to resolve this issue would be to take out those who may be biased to the complaints. (Lacayo Benson, 1997) Law enforcement officials need to be held accountable for their actions just like ordinary citizens who break the law. They can only be held accountable by having public officials denouncing police brutality think incidents. It must not be coverted up. Putting lay a blanket over a problem will not make it the problem go away. Law enforcement officials have been known to cover up their tracks making it hard to document cases of police brutality. This is also known as the blue seawall of gloss over. The blue wall of silence is defined as the secrecy of police officers who lie or look the other way to protect other police officers (Blue wall of silence, 2009, para. 1). The blue wall of silence enables cops to murder without being punished (Tatum, 2000). The blue wall of silence therefore not only prevents victims from getting justice, but it also destroys the plan of law enforcement officials. The only way to break this blue wall of silence would be to appoint a higher authority to oversee the bad apples in the department. By covering up another law enforcements tracks, and looking the other way, police officers begin to lose the trust and respect of society. (Tatum, 2000) It has been made clear that there are many proposed sol utions to stop police brutality. The answer then is to not just rely on only one remedy, but a combination of solutions to effectively reduce police brutality. all told in all, police brutality must not be tolerated. Its reasonable to argue that in certain situations, cops will need to exercise the use of force to not only protect them, but to also protect their surroundings. However, it becomes a real problem that begs a real solution when they go beyond the badge and execute their authority in rogue manner, move them above the law. Police brutality is a problem that still exists and will exist until an effective solution is implemented and the police are strictly held accountable for their actions. Until then, more and more people will continue to lose their trust and respect for the men in blue while many others will continue to be victimized.