Police Brutality, are the police abusing their authority

Police Brutality; are the Police Abusing their Authority
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Police Brutality; are the Police Abusing their Authority
Executive Summary
Police brutality is increasing in the US, and this is evident with the increasing number of videos that are circulating countrywide. Laws and ethical standards exist that govern the use of force by law enforcement officers. However, with the increased levels of violent crimes and violent criminals, the police justify their actions indicating that they are protecting themselves from such criminals. Surveys indicate mixed and complex attitudes regarding the perception among police officers on the use of excess force by officers with one group supporting the use of force and another against the action. This research provides an insight into the police perception of using force and provides a comparison with the laws governing the use of such force hence determine whether they are abusing their authority.
Problem Statement
Police corruption and abuse of authority in the United States have been a persistent practice since the onset of policing. However, these were exacerbated especially in the 20th century due to the drug epidemic that arose in the period. Annually, the incidents of abuse of authority through violence and other forms of police brutality are high with an increasing number of video evidence circulating in the whole country (Weisburd, Greenspan, Hamilton, & Bryant, 2001). Police brutality has today been generalized to all the police among citizens; however, it is only a few officers that are their authority. Community disturbances that result from the use of excessive force are on the rise. While the police are still respected in the country, the increased incidences of brutality have resulted into increased frustrations among the citizens. Community disturbances that originate from police brutality are today plaguing the American community. Law enforcement is vital as a societal function and its effectiveness is hampered when there are tensions among the community and the public this force is supposed to serve. This may result into development of mistrust towards the conduct of the police or the police may begin to be targeted by the citizens.
Research Objectives
* To find out the laws and ethical considerations regarding the use of excess force in the police force.
* To determine the reasons why police engage in brutality.
* To find out the reasons why police use excess force.
* To establish whether the police abuse their authority.
Literature Review
The building and maintenance of the community’s trust is the cornerstone of successful policing and law enforcement, and this takes a lot of continuous efforts. However, the ethical work of many of the county’s police is undone by the unethical acts of the officers (U.S. Department of Justice, 2009). This scenario is today familiar: where an officer attempts to arrest an individual and then fatally shoots the individual. The news spreads around through the community that the killed person was unarmed then large crowds gather and rock throwing begins resulting into injuries and several arrests. The following day the community leaders charge the unjustified nature of the shooting. This is followed by an increased demand for the immediate arrest and indictment of the officer; a request the chief declines and the prosecutor does not indict the officer due to insufficient evidence. Demonstrations then follows for several days; increased police patrols and more arrests and the reaction simmers down and the police and public settle down in an easy truce that results into public mistrust of the police (Community Relations Service, 2002).
Police brutality is the abusing of authority through the infliction of excessive forces by those personnel that are involved in various aspects of law enforcement while performing their official duties. Police brutality is often applied within the context of inflicting physical harm; however, it may also involve psychological harm by using intimidation tactics that are beyond the scope of officially sanctioned procedure (Dempsey & Forst, 2010). Police brutality today has shifted from being an anecdotal and becoming a systematic problem. The reasons for th...