Police brutality, a myth? Or a manner of concern?
The police organization is arguably the most evident establishment of governance in America. A public institution delegated with the duty of applying and upholding the law. Within many communities, police officers adopt the role of communal “peacekeepers”, the role of a crime fighter, where accountability is of the essence. Yet, despite their “noble cause”, police officers have to often endure a momentous amount of public accusations and criticism over the issues of corruption, injustice, lack of effectiveness, and the citizen-favorite “excessive use of force” also known as, police brutality.
Police brutality is not a new phenomenon and yet it remains an existent complex, multilayered concern …show more content…
Where is the transparent line between brutality and (if there is such a thing) “necessary” brutality? According to the law dictionary, police brutality can be summed up in two words “excessive force”. With its most prevalent offense as physical. Sounds rather simple and straightforward? Wrong. The word excessive becomes subjective based upon each and every incident an officer is faced with. So a better inquiry, wouldn’t be to focus on how it is defined, but instead on how can such a phenomenon be combatted effectively and resolved/reduced? One thing is for sure, police brutality it isn’t going to improve with a slap on the wrist for the bully, and a band aid for the …show more content…
Once the departments, as well as the agencies supervising the departments, acknowledge that the problem comes down to more than just a few “bad apples”. And is accepted as a systematic issue, the régime will be in a position to implement programs to counter the unhealthy mindset. “Also, there should be stricter standards requiring individuals who want to join the force to submit to preliminary in-depth psychological testing” (Smith, Holmes 2008). Additionally, directives should be formed to research/investigate individual police departments instead of the system as a
The police organization is arguably the most evident establishment of governance in America. A public institution delegated with the duty of applying and upholding the law. Within many communities, police officers adopt the role of communal “peacekeepers”, the role of a crime fighter, where accountability is of the essence. Yet, despite their “noble cause”, police officers have to often endure a momentous amount of public accusations and criticism over the issues of corruption, injustice, lack of effectiveness, and the citizen-favorite “excessive use of force” also known as, police brutality.
Police brutality is not a new phenomenon and yet it remains an existent complex, multilayered concern …show more content…
Where is the transparent line between brutality and (if there is such a thing) “necessary” brutality? According to the law dictionary, police brutality can be summed up in two words “excessive force”. With its most prevalent offense as physical. Sounds rather simple and straightforward? Wrong. The word excessive becomes subjective based upon each and every incident an officer is faced with. So a better inquiry, wouldn’t be to focus on how it is defined, but instead on how can such a phenomenon be combatted effectively and resolved/reduced? One thing is for sure, police brutality it isn’t going to improve with a slap on the wrist for the bully, and a band aid for the …show more content…
Once the departments, as well as the agencies supervising the departments, acknowledge that the problem comes down to more than just a few “bad apples”. And is accepted as a systematic issue, the régime will be in a position to implement programs to counter the unhealthy mindset. “Also, there should be stricter standards requiring individuals who want to join the force to submit to preliminary in-depth psychological testing” (Smith, Holmes 2008). Additionally, directives should be formed to research/investigate individual police departments instead of the system as a