Police Brutality Needs to End Murder is defined as: the killing of another human being under conditions specifically covered in law. Police are supposed to enforce the law and bring peace to our streets. Although many of our nation's police force has used too much force and has led to some of the murder within America. Lately there have been many reportings of police brutality acts on innocent citizens. The amount of force police officers are allowed to use needs to be lowered to stop outbreaks with the police from happening. Police brutality has given officers a bad reputation for targeting certain races and killing for no reason. For example, in the article, “There is conflicting Information on Police Brutality,” author John Wihbey explains …show more content…
From the article, “Body Cameras Will Stop Police Brutality,” author Adam Schiff writes that a “study conducted of the Rialto, California, police department found that shifts without cameras experienced twice as many use-of-force incidents as shifts using the cameras.” Police officers without cameras have had more forceful encounters, but when police do have the cameras on, they know that if they use excessive force, it will be recorded. For instance, in the article, “Body Cameras Will Stop Police Brutality,” Adam Schiff states from the same Rialto, California study, “with half of the police department wearing cameras recording each interaction with the public, the department experienced an 88 percent reduction in complaints against officers.” When body cameras are worn, it demonstrates a commitment to transparency and accountability to help de-escalate potential tense interactions. A person that sees a police officer with a camera could pick out that they don’t intend to inflict harm unless you are actually a criminal. People on the streets won’t be afraid of police officers if they had specific boundaries like the cameras, which when citizens on the street see cameras on officers, they won’t be fearful of the …show more content…
In the article, “The Federal Government is Failing to Correct Police Brutality,” author Barry Sussman explains that “Dallas police gunned down Jason Harrison in his home after his mother called 911 requesting assistance with her son who had a history of mental problems. Harrison was holding a small screwdriver and despite officers' claims that he was "menacing" them with the screwdriver and that they were in fear of their lives, video released this week from an officer's body camera clearly contradicts these claims.” This shows that even though Mrs. Harrison wanted assistance with her son, they ended up killing him because of false claims that were caught on camera. The police could’ve done their duties and protect her if needed but clearly, they did more harm than help. Similarly, in the article, “The Federal Government is Failing to Correct Police Brutality,” Sussman writes, “The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) recently filed an amicus brief in the U.S. Supreme Court arguing that hundreds of disabled Americans are killed in police encounters every year.... It was filed in support of a mentally ill woman suing San Francisco police for shooting her five times.” It seems like the police would be protecting the disabled, rather than be the ones the disabled need to be protected from. These are the things
Although I should know by now, I cannot help but think that there has been an overwhelming amount of police brutality in recent years. Police brutality can be defined as, when a police officer uses more force than necessary. This issue has spread throughout the United States of America, and is putting the lives of our citizens in great danger. Police brutality is not only physical, but it can also be verbal attacks; and, in most cases, it is caused by false arrest and racial profiling due to police corruption. Police brutality has been and continues to be a major concern in society and it is used very loosely to any and all forms of police misconduct. Whereas, in reality, excessive force of police misconduct is what defines police brutality. The jobs of a police officer are too calmly resolve public disturbance and disputes. Police officers are supposed to protect citizens; instead they are hurting and using excessive force. It is not right and it is unjust for a police officer to hurt a citizen due to an assumption without any actual proof of criminal activity.
Police brutality is one of the most serious and divisive human rights violations in the United States and it occurs in every community. The job of a police officer is to maintain public order, prevent, and detect crime. They are engaged in a dangerous and stressful occupation that can involve violent situations that must be controlled. In many of these confrontations with the public it may become necessary for the police to administer force to take control of a situation. Sometimes this force takes the form of hand to hand combat with a suspect who resists being arrested. Not all police officers in communities are good cops. At least once a year the news is covering a story about a person
Body cameras are proven to make policemen act better while they’re are on duty. “Police officers "tend to behave a little better"(Kon, Body Cameras for Police Officers). if they know their behavior is being recorded on camera” stated author Tsin Yen Kon. Police will act better cause they know they are being “watched”. Just like when a student has a parent to sit in their class, they act very well, police do the same. Police will also act right, because they don’t want to lose their jobs or get fired because some careless mistake that they made while on camera. “When police officers are acutely aware that their behavior is being monitored (because they turn on the cameras), and when officers tell citizens that the cameras are recording their behavior, everyone behaves better” (Knickerbocker). Brad Knickerbocker, the author, explains how both sides of the camera, police, and criminal will have an effect on their behavior because they know that they are being watched, and recorded. When people know they are being watched, it is like they get scared, because they don't want anything to be used against them. Although cameras will make police act better, people will still think that police brutality will still happen.
a) In a 2012 study, it was found that officers that were required to wear cameras while on the job were more cautious and their use of excessive force fell by 60 percent, while public complaints dropped by 88 percent. (Rory Carroll, 2013)
Police brutality is a topic that everybody confers to emphasize the burgeoning fear of the police. This comes in the form of excessive force which becomes a controversial topic for citizens and police alike. The nation has it’s own definition of what excessive force may be, as some believe using a Taser has the same intention as using a nightstick to apprehend scoundrels. Others may ascribe excessive force as a race crime; “In March 2015, the DOJ also issued a report detailing a pattern of clear racial disparities and discriminatory intent on the part of the Ferguson, Mo., police department”(Excessive or Reasonable Force by Police) resulting in uneasiness between the multiple groups regardless of their age; interestingly officers are also affected by the disparity of the community. The judgement they receive can actually affect how an officer decides to act because they
Disobeying and dishonest police officers are the ones that would have something to worry about because they can lose their jobs and potentially get time in prison for crime they have done that was caught on film. This is a positive as well because it will seek out negative officers. The majority of findings that can happen by requiring police officers to wear body cameras are positives rarely any negatives. It would not only show undeniable evidence but also make more police officers obey the law which has been proven by statics. Kaste states “The people who like body cameras always point to a Study done in Rialto, Calif, in 2012. Researchers found that officers who wore cameras used force less often — incidents dropped by more than 50 percent”(kaste). According to Kaste a study was done on police officers that used body cameras and it was ruled that officers that used body cameras used less force and the amount of incidents that happend dropped by 50 percent. Civilians as well if they know everything is being recorded by them they will think twice before doing anything that could get them into some sort of
With today’s advanced technology, police body cameras have proven to be very useful. They are crucial in putting an end to unnecessary police misconduct. In 2012, the Rialto Police Department in California implemented police body cameras and recorded the outcome. The results showed that “the number of complaints filed against officers fell by 88 percent compared with the previous 12 months. Use of force by officers fell by almost 60 percent over the same period” (Lovett). Without a doubt, police body cameras do the trick to prevent potentially dangerous situations from occurring. As William A. Farrar, the Rialto police chief once stated, “When you put a camera on a police officer, they tend to behave a little better, follow the rules a little better. And if a citizen knows the officer is wearing a camera, chances are the citizen will behave a little better.” I strongly agree with this statement because if the interaction between the officer and the citizen is being recorded, neither of the two will want to behave badly. The citizen knows that their bad behavior could result in consequences and the officer knows that their misconduct could result in punishment or even the loss of their job. The cameras record every detail that can be looked back on if there was a complaint filed against the officer that was wearing it. Clearly, police body
There are three main points supporters argue in this debate of why police should be mandated to wear body cameras. First, supporters state that police body cameras can help solve police brutality. The first police department in the United States to implement police body cameras was in Rialto, California, and according to Al Jazeera America, "The department saw an 88 percent decline in complaints against officers and use of force incidents plummeted to 60 percent" (Demetrius and Okwu 2). These supporters think if we were to implement police body cameras for all police departments in the United States, then these effects on police brutality could be attained nationwide. Second, supporters believe that body cameras will punish corrupt police
The officers provide protection for the community, and when they are put in danger they should feel like a camera or other device has their back. The article“Body Cameras Will Stop Police Brutality” talks about studies that have been conducted to show the effects of police body cameras. The author affirms, “Studies done in localities that have implemented body-worn cameras have shown a positive impact by demonstrating a commitment to transparency and accountability and helping to de-escalate potentially tense interactions” (1). As aforementioned body cameras have been touted as an effective method to help the defender if a cop has done wrong. Now body cameras not only defend one side but both. The use of body cameras can physically protect a police officer; in this instance the perpetrator is more willing to be arrested when he or she knows they are on tape. Additionally, author Tsin Yen Koh brings up the idea that a suspect behaves better on
Police brutality is a very big problem in America. There are many reports of Police brutality every year, Some of those cases the officer is fully responsible for his actions, and other times the victims played a part in antagonizing the officer. Police have misused their power for a while now, but recently it’s been more publicized. In this year alone, there has been an extreme jump in police brutality and the publication of it.
Most people think that the police are not biased and that their use of excessive force is closely monitored. That is not true. Today many of the police, within the minority, are subjected to killing or fighting innocent people. The new definition of the police department has turned into a department that only resorts to violence as a first priority. The Police Department’s use of excessive force has brought to the attention of the people after multiple cases has happened where the Police are out of control. Police Brutality basically means it is an excessive, unnecessary force when dealing with civilians. But Many police officers argued that they are not using an excessive amount of excessive force. And that the news are painting the
In 2015, it is estimated that the police killed about 1,200 people in the United States. Police brutality is the use of unnecessary or excessive force used by police when dealing with civilians. Today, social media helps spread the cases of police brutality at a rapid rate, causing children all around the world at an early age to develop hate towards law enforcement. Today’s stories seem to be receiving a larger amount of attention, because of this more people are a lot more aware. Too many civilians, it is absolutely heart wrenching to watch the people who are supposed to protect the civilians, take so many of them away from the world. Although many people believe police brutality is acceptable when
Over the years, the United States has faced many cases of police brutality. Officers are faced with many threatening situations everyday forcing them to make split-second decisions expecting the worse, but hoping for the best. Therefore, police brutality severely violates human rights in the United States. Police officers have one of the hardest jobs America has to offer. They have to maintain public order, prevent, and identify crime. Throughout history, the police community has been exposed by violence in some way or another. Police officers have been suspects in dangerous shootings, severe beatings, fatal chokings, and unnecessary killings. The history of police brutality is repeated, going through stages of violence, corruption, and
Over the years, police brutality has increased. According to statistics, "at least "865 Americans have been killed by police so far in 2015. As of that same date in 2014, 804 people were killed by police."
In 2015, Ready and Young did a research to explain how body cameras influence police-citizen interactions. They conclude that officers assigned to wear body cameras conducted less “stop-and-frisks” and made less arrests than officers who didn’t were the video cameras. They suggest that the reason of that was because they were more carefully and they didn’t want to take risks. They also issued more citations for ordinance violations, did more interactions with people and they perceived the camera as a helpful device while they were interacting with citizens. It seems that the camera-wearing officers and non-camera-wearing officers didn’t change their behavior when they had to give verbal warnings to citizens. The authors think that the fact of wear a camera that records all you do, can condition the behavior of the officers (The Hawthorne effect), making them act more carefully about criminal policy and procedures and being more