Use of Deadly Force
Police officers, or any type of law enforcement are here to protect us from any harm. Discretion is something that law enforcement uses and plays a major role in policing. Many people have their own opinion on whether police officers are doing their job the right way. Of course we all have our own views and what the “right way” is and how it differs from people to people. What I believe is that many police officers are not doing their job right due to the fact that there have been many cases in which it is demonstrated that police officers have taken advantage of their position and have used discretion in an inappropriate manner. I believe that police officers have taken advantage of their position and have used discretion …show more content…
Evidence to prove my point are cases and data such as the supreme court case of 1985 as well as data and research on the topic of deadly force. Tennessee v. Garner was a supreme court case that was held on March 1985 which stated that states should eliminate the use of deadly force. Garner was a 15-year-old boy who was trying to flee a burglary scene and in the process of doing so was shot and killed. The Garner case brought up a lot of chaos and concerns between the people and the police. The Garner case stated that, “Laws authorizing police use of deadly force to apprehend fleeing, unarmed, non-violent felony suspects violate the Fourth Amendment, and therefore states should eliminate them.” According to a journal written by Dr. Abraham N. Tennenbaum, in 1994 in The Journal of Criminal Law & Criminology, the editorial was based on a case in which a suspect was shot and killed by police officer stated that “Pistols are not used in self-defense, - but to stop the men who are running away. They are considered substitutes for swift feet and long arms.” In other words, pistols are being used by police officers so they won’t waste time running and chasing after the perpetrator. …show more content…
Smith is an article which talks about different topics such as people's opinions on police brutality, irresponsibleness, and research among other things. In March 1991, a Gallup poll was set up which asked the people if they have ever been physically mistreated or abused by the police. The outcome of this survey was negative. About 14% stated that they have been mistreated/abused by police officers, and 20% state that they know someone who has been mistreated by the police. Some people take their case on police brutality to court, some win and some don’t. Most people believe that the reason of why police officers don’t get convicted is not only because of their position as law enforcement but because their partners, department, and boss will have their back regardless of what happens. Basically the blue code of silence. The blue code of silence basically states that police officers stand together and protect their partners against any allegation of excessive force. Excessive force in my opinion is unreasonable and unnecessary. According to Alpert & Smith, (the writers of “How Reasonable is the Reasonable Man?: Police and Excessive Force,”) if a suspect is running away from the police officer then the suspect has posed no threat whatsoever to the officer or anyone around them. Also, if the suspect is fleeing the scene and the officer is able to catch up to the suspect then the officer should
Police officers, or any type of law enforcement are here to protect us from any harm. Discretion is something that law enforcement uses and plays a major role in policing. Many people have their own opinion on whether police officers are doing their job the right way. Of course we all have our own views and what the “right way” is and how it differs from people to people. What I believe is that many police officers are not doing their job right due to the fact that there have been many cases in which it is demonstrated that police officers have taken advantage of their position and have used discretion in an inappropriate manner. I believe that police officers have taken advantage of their position and have used discretion …show more content…
Evidence to prove my point are cases and data such as the supreme court case of 1985 as well as data and research on the topic of deadly force. Tennessee v. Garner was a supreme court case that was held on March 1985 which stated that states should eliminate the use of deadly force. Garner was a 15-year-old boy who was trying to flee a burglary scene and in the process of doing so was shot and killed. The Garner case brought up a lot of chaos and concerns between the people and the police. The Garner case stated that, “Laws authorizing police use of deadly force to apprehend fleeing, unarmed, non-violent felony suspects violate the Fourth Amendment, and therefore states should eliminate them.” According to a journal written by Dr. Abraham N. Tennenbaum, in 1994 in The Journal of Criminal Law & Criminology, the editorial was based on a case in which a suspect was shot and killed by police officer stated that “Pistols are not used in self-defense, - but to stop the men who are running away. They are considered substitutes for swift feet and long arms.” In other words, pistols are being used by police officers so they won’t waste time running and chasing after the perpetrator. …show more content…
Smith is an article which talks about different topics such as people's opinions on police brutality, irresponsibleness, and research among other things. In March 1991, a Gallup poll was set up which asked the people if they have ever been physically mistreated or abused by the police. The outcome of this survey was negative. About 14% stated that they have been mistreated/abused by police officers, and 20% state that they know someone who has been mistreated by the police. Some people take their case on police brutality to court, some win and some don’t. Most people believe that the reason of why police officers don’t get convicted is not only because of their position as law enforcement but because their partners, department, and boss will have their back regardless of what happens. Basically the blue code of silence. The blue code of silence basically states that police officers stand together and protect their partners against any allegation of excessive force. Excessive force in my opinion is unreasonable and unnecessary. According to Alpert & Smith, (the writers of “How Reasonable is the Reasonable Man?: Police and Excessive Force,”) if a suspect is running away from the police officer then the suspect has posed no threat whatsoever to the officer or anyone around them. Also, if the suspect is fleeing the scene and the officer is able to catch up to the suspect then the officer should