USE OF DEADLY FORCE

Do Law enforcement use deadly force more often against minorities

Do Law Enforcement Use Deadly Force More Often Against Minorities

With crime statistics on the rise, Police officers put their lives on the line everyday. And, the rise in criminals with automatic weapons more deadly than those carried by police has added to the stress. Another contributing factor may be official policy, and the actual practice in police departments. While recruits may be taught one thing at the academy, experienced partners can quickly undo many things learned at the academy. As Hubert Williams, president of the police foundation put it, "the problem is that sometimes training formally says one thing1and the actual operation of the department says another" (Police Brutality A 15). There is also the change in the way police officers perform their duties after world war two. Before the war, police officers used 5 to patrol the neighborhoods on foot, but after the war police departments introduced the police cruiser. So, instead of walking through neighborhoods they were driving through.

This was a more impersonal method of policing. When they walked the beat they became more personally involve with the community they patrolled, and by being personally involved with these people there was a better likelihood of finding informal, LA. or nonviolent ways of dealing with problems.

Since doing this research, I have come to the conclusion, that police brutality is in fact a reality. How extensive is the problem? And what can we to solve it? First of all, We should for a moment try and put ourselves in their shoes, and realize that by its very nature police work is violent. Police officers are authorized by Jaw to exercise force to restrain, arrest, and calm disturbances. So, when do we now when excessive force has been applied? When is it self-defense or excessive force? Sociologist William A. Westley found that officers morally justify the use of illegal force that they thought was necessary. " Asked when they thought a policemen was justified in roughing up a men only 31% gave an answer that was legally acceptable ( Ostrow B 12). So obviously they don't now either, they feel justified anytime force was used. And I don't really blame them.

Who knows what's going to happen every time they stop a car. It could be an everyday working person, or a murderer ready to start shooting. I am not justifying the use of force, but sometimes it's just necessary. We should also realize that the relationship between the public and the police is not a healthy one. Many policemen see the public as always being ready to question authority of any kind. By the same token the public see the police as overstepping their authority and as failing to realize that their authority is on loan to them. This attitude from both sides easily generates friction and resentment. We also have to see that officers have to make split second decisions on mostly difficult sometimes deadly situations, keeping in ...