police brutality is justified
effects of the mediaThe media plays a big role in the fact that the public is afraid of the Police officers. Not only do minorities believe that Police officers are using unjustified force, but also that they are racist towards them. The public often does not value the efforts that police officers make to keep them and the city safe. Most of the time our perspective of the police depends on the opinion of others and mainly of the way the media portrays police officers. The more that the media portrays the police as an enemy, the more crimes will be committed and go unreported. The public opinion of the police department is mostly influenced by the media reports. “As compared to Caucasians, African-Americans and Hispanics are more inclined to hold negative views toward police conduct (Weitzer & Tuch, 2004).” Hispanic and African-Americans view police officers as a threat again them and not as help. However the responsibility lies in the hand of the media who twists stories to obtain more viewers. They make the cases seem wrong and often forget to say the part the criminal played in this story.
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eric garner's death
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Eric Garner is an extreme case in which Police brutality seems to be an overuse of force. The Police was accused of causing the death of an African-American man. However, many believe that Garner did not die due to Police Brutality, but because of his health conditions. In the article Eric Garner's Death and the Exasperation With Police Violence, Mychal Denzel Smith explains, “Garner weighed 350 pounds and had chronic asthma, diabetes and sleep apnea.” During his arrest they used a headlock to restrain him; “An initial autopsy report shows no damage to his neck bones or windpipe.” At the end of the day police officers that conducted the arrest were blamed for being responsible for his death. Even with medical proof that he was not choked, people still blame the police for his death.
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police brutality justified as self-defensePolice officers only attack the aggressor for self-defense; they are trained to protect civilians and themselves even if that includes risking the life of one individual in the exchange of the life of many, most of which are completely innocent people who do not deserve disruption of their peace. In the article St. Louis Police say they'll discipline officer who wore 'Wilson' name tag at City Hall protest, Denise Hollinshed explains, “Dotson said. "We spend a lot of time working on professionalism and building a bridge in the community.” Police officers should also have the right to be able to defend themselves against aggressors. Many people believe that police officers have been misusing their power, and they are using it to hurt civilians, instead of using it to protect them.
The public believes that police officers let their emotions and racism control their actions but that’s not necessarily the case because police officers have been trained to be unaffected by a person's color or race. In many cases the aggressor or the person showing resistance is one to have an illegal gun and the officer must ensure the safety of others and him/herself before that of the criminal, therefore leaving the officer with no option but to shoot the criminal or use physical force to stop him/her. Police officers will most likely shoot the criminal in a non-lethal place to just stop the criminal from running away and still ensure their safety. The officer has no other option but to actually use a weaponless tactic if possible to stop them. |
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SOURCES:
- Butcher Fredrick, Jefferis, Eric, and Hanley, Dena "MEASURING PERCEPTIONS OF POLICE USE OF FORCE." Police Practice & Research 12.1 (2011): 81-96. Academic Search Complete. Web. 26 Feb. 2015