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Responses.docxBreanna Valdes
DBQ 10
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Police must use force in certain situations in order to ensure that suspects who resist arrest or act with violence toward the police are detained. While the use of force is avoidable in situations where de-escalation tactics can be used instead, unfortunately, officers are not always able to de-escalate situations. “At times, when officers are required to make an arrest they must employ the use of force in order to get compliance“ (ABC News, 2014). Police officers are heavily scrutinized for every misstep that they take, however, they are placed in high-stress situations as a day-to-day aspect of their jobs, and therefore should be treated with more understanding. Obviously, officers that are corrupt and clearly display actions that point toward abuse of power should not be regarded with sympathy, however, most officers do not fit in the category of power-hungry individuals.
Police brutality, on the other hand, can be avoided. "...police brutality is excessive force, but to a more extreme degree, and includes violence that does not support a legitimate police function" (Novak et al., 2020). By enforcing the correct course of action that officers can take in hypothetically difficult situations, and guiding officers to react without their pride and prejudices, police departments can potentially avoid instances of police brutality by establishing right from wrong. The crucial difference between the use of force and brutality is the violence that does not serve to benefit any sort of investigation or detainment of a suspect.
Minority communities believe that police use excessive force on a regular basis because the media is constantly displaying instances of excessive that occur throughout the entire country. The United States is a very large country, therefore, since the media has most recently been interested in displaying instances of police brutality there are a plethora of cases where unnecessary force is exemplified. When instances of excessive force are highlighted every time that they occur, there is no wonder why minority communities come to the conclusion that there is an issue with police brutality, especially considering how a good majority of the instances are against individuals of color.
To consider that there is a war against police might be a stretch, however, I do believe that there is an unnecessary focus on police brutality. Instead of focusing on the unnecessary force that some officers display, there must be a change of focus in order to truly result in a positive change for the societal trust in police officers to make the right decision. “I’m not arguing that excessive force by police doesn’t exist. And I’m not suggesting that protesters stop asking for criminal justice reform. But if we want change, we need a comprehensive political movement that emphasizes civic participation and more effective anti-poverty measures” (Dutta, 2014).
In conclusion, society must be more understanding of how difficult it must be to be in the police force. “… the rule of law must prevail and in order for that to happen somebody has got to be on the front line of defending that and that’s the American police officer” (MilWaukee PBS, 2016). Police officers deal with the worst situations every single day for a living, and while police departments can have bad people just like any other profession, most officers are simply trying to serve their community in the best way that they can.
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Gabriela Padron
Chapter 10: Discussion
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According to (Novak et al., 2019), the use of force is fundamental to police. Police officers are granted the legal authority to maintain order, demand compliance, stop and detain individuals (Novak et al., 2019). This authority is granted to protect innocents from dangerous individuals, whether by controlling the unruly and hostile, or even killing if necessary to protect human life (Novak et al., 2019). In other words, police are granted the use of force as it is necessary to maintain social order and preserve societal laws and norms. Without the use of force, police officers would not be able to stop dangerous felons nor protect innocents. The use of force is specifically justified in two ways. The first one is self-defense, in which individuals can use force to protect themselves if they believe their life is in danger (Novak et al., 2019). The second way is directly associated with the power police are given to address health, welfare, order, and safety (Novak et al., 2019). The use of force and coercion are a necessary balance that must exist to preserve order within society; if not, offenders and criminals would be preside. Furthermore, it must be mentioned that the use of force and coercion does not mean violent behavior on behalf of police officers, it refers to the fact that officers act on behalf of the state and they carry the authority to request for an individual to act in a particular way, and this authority must be recognized (Novak et al., 2019). As long as officers are acting within the bounds of the state law, regulations and due process, the use of force and coercion is necessary as well as inventible.
Police brutality is not the same as use of force or coercion. According to Novak et al., (2019), police brutality occurs when excessive force is used by the police. Often referring to a degree of violence which is unnecessary and does not align with the law and legitimate police function. Police brutality occurs when excessive force becomes more violent than necessary (Novak et al., 2019). An example would be the case of Rodney King, who was severely beaten by police officers with batons over 56 times, and kicked, even after he was incapable of resisting (Novak et al., 2019). Another example is the video presented by ABC News (2014) in which a man was held on the ground on a chokehold after he stopped resisting and was in handcuffs. Police brutality serves no purpose for proper police functions and therefore, it isn’t inevitable and can be avoided.
One of the main reasons why many members of minority communities believe the police use excessive force it is due to the mass media reports of police brutality and excessive force. According to (Novak et al., 2019), police brutality is less prevalent today than it was 20 years ago; however, the media continues to create this generalized villainous portrayal of all police officers. Bad people will exist in all fields of work, unless we are living in a utopian perfect society it will occur. As mentioned by MilWaukee PBS (2016), the media has become extremely biased against police officers, and not necessarily for the sake of victims of police brutality. Although it is important to shed light on crimes that would otherwise go unaccounted for, their current representation of police officers is biased and generalized. The constant exposure to these kinds of media will make a person believe there’s an epidemic of police officers using excessive force, especially when all the reports involve victims of minority communities.
I do believe there is a current war on police, not just by the media bur also members of the government. As I previously mentioned, although police officers should be held accountable for the crimes their commit, the media should not present the bad actions of certain officers as what the police stand for. Furthermore, I agree with Sheriff David Clarke, Jr., that many in the government have ignored the fact that police officers are on the front lines of maintaining law and order, and without them, chaos and crime prevails (MilWaukee PBS, 2016).
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References:
ABC News. (2014, July 24). NYPD “chokehold” death raises questions over use of force [Video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/De9gyfbdlv4
Milwaukee PBS (2016, November 18). Exclusive: Milwaukee County Sheriff David Clarke, Jr. (full interview) [Video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/8j3x81EvZWI
Novak, K., Cordner, G., Smith, B., & Roberg, R. (2019). Police & Society (8th ed.). Oxford University Press.
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Sarah Tejera
Chapter 10 Discussion
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While police use of force and coercion may be inevitable in some cases, it is important to remember that not all instances of police violence are justified. Many cases of police brutality are due to officers acting outside of their authority or using excessive force when it is not necessary. One of the key issues at play is the lack of accountability and transparency surrounding police use of force. Officers who use excessive force are often not held accountable for their actions. This lack of accountability only serves to perpetuate the cycle of violence. Ultimately, it is important to have a thoughtful and nuanced conversation about police use of force. We must consider how the system is currently failing and work to find solutions to ensure that all community members are safe.
It is difficult to make a definitive statement about whether or not police brutality is inevitable. Several factors contribute to police brutality, including the individual personality of the officer, the culture of the police department, and the community in which the officer works. Additionally, the level of training and experience an officer has can play a role in whether or not they resort to excessive force.
Several factors contribute to police brutality, including the individual personality of the officer, the culture of the police department, and the community in which the officer works. Additionally, the level of training and experience an officer has can play a role in whether or not they resort to excessive force. For example, the NYPD chokehold death of Eric Garner in 2014 raised questions about the use of excessive force by police officers. In this case, the officer involved had a history of using excessive force and was subject to several complaints. Additionally, the culture of the NYPD at the time tolerated the use of excessive force. As a result, it is not surprising that the officer involved in this incident resorted to using excessive force, even though it ultimately resulted in the suspect's death.
Similarly, in 2016, Milwaukee County Sheriff David Clarke was interviewed about police brutality. In this interview, he spoke about the need for officers to be adequately trained and to have the necessary resources to do their jobs. He also talked about the importance of community relations and how a lack of trust between the police and the community can lead to incidents of police brutality.
Ultimately, whether or not police brutality is inevitable is challenging to say. Several factors can contribute to it, and it is often the result of a combination of factors. However, proper training and accountability can help to reduce the incidence of police brutality.
There are several reasons why members of minority communities may believe that the police use excessive force regularly. One reason is that they may have personal experiences or know someone who has had a negative interaction with the police in which they believe excessive force was used. Another reason is that they may see media reports of police using excessive force, which can create the impression that this is a widespread problem. Additionally, research has shown that minorities are more likely to be stopped and searched by the police, which can lead to feelings of harassment and mistreatment.
No, there is not a war on police. The term "war on police" is a misleading and dangerous characterization of the relationship between police and the communities they serve. There is a long history of tension and mistrust between police and communities of color, which some high-profile police shootings of unarmed black men have exacerbated. However, most police officers are not engaged in systematic violence against civilians, and the number of police officers killed in the line of duty has been declining for decades.
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Enchantae Brown
Chapter 10 Discussion
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“Force is central to the police role and, as such, is an inherent part of police-citizen interactions (Novak et al, 2020, p. 340).”
Police use of force and coercion is inevitable once you understand the different levels of force. The first three levels – mere presence, verbalization, and command voice – are experienced in almost every occasion and can be seen as acceptable use of force. Depending on the situation and the verbal interaction between the officer and the citizen, firm grips and pain compliance will enter. The last two levels of impact techniques and deadly force are the ones that society is most familiar with and the ones that come to mind when the words “use of force” are mentioned. These should only be exercised when a person is non-compliant, aggressive, and threatening. The Texas Code of Criminal Procedure (Texas Statutes, n.d.) states “in making an arrest, all reasonable means are permitted to be used to effect it. No greater force, however, shall be resorted to than is necessary to secure the arrest and detention of the accused.” Police use of force and coercion is inevitable when one detains a suspect, makes an arrest or when they are protecting another officer or third-party citizen. Unfortunately, determining what is the appropriate use of force can be subjective, but in most cases, limited use of force is used.
Police brutality is inevitable, but the number of cases can lessen overtime. Police brutality is often weaved in with excessive force, but it can also be defined as force that is greater than excessive and unwarranted. An example would be beating someone with a baton after they have been cuffed and are lying face down. In a study conducted by Barker, 40% stated they used excessive force at times and almost 50% stated they would rarely report another officer for using excessive force (p. 327). The officers in the study also stated they viewed perjury and drinking on the job as more deviant than excessive force. That coupled with the limited legal cases forged on police brutality (and the infrequent prosecution for those who have charges brought against them) plays a role on why it happens at the intensity that it does.
Nevertheless, police brutality is not as widespread as it may be believed and changes in policy regulating use of excessive force, deadly force and police brutality have had a positive effect on the decrease of use of force, without affecting police and citizen safety.
Minority communities view excessive use of police as a regular occurrence, and this can be true based on the lens you’re viewing it from. In most major cities, the greatest level of violence takes place in communities with a higher minority population, as such, police are seen more frequently in these areas. When police brutality is portrayed in the media, it is usually of the most extreme cases, where the citizen is a minority. Seeing this in comparison to how white individuals who are involved in similar situations or mass shootings are handled also leads to the believe that minority communities face harsher consequences by law enforcement.
There is not a “war on police” but there is a widespread call on police reform. Veteran police officer Sunil Dutta states that transparency, training, and sensitivity needs to be emphasized, and more effective less-than-lethal weapons need to be incorporated more by law enforcement agencies (Dutta, 2014). Having reforms that bans chokeholds to prevents deaths by those like Eric Garner (ABC News, 2014), reinvesting in community based programs and addressing the underlying societal problems to reduce violence can improve the relations between police and citizens.
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