Free Essays on Police

Police Brutality By: Anonymous "But they didn't have to beat me this bad. I don't know what I did to be beat up." Rodney King, March 3, 1991. Police brutality has been a long lasting problem in the United States since at least 1903 when police Captain Williams of the New York Police Departmen coined the phrase, "There is more law at the end of a policeman's nightstick than in a decision of the Supreme Court." In the 1920's the Wichersham Commission had a number of instances of police brutality. Many of these included the use of the "third degree" (beating to obtain a confession). This is a very effective way to get a confession out of somebody. However, beating the accused could easily elicit a confession from a scared and innocent person. Also, this puts the accused person's life in danger. Police officers must make snap life and death decisions daily. Officers' work in an environment where death (theirs, their partners, and an innocent or guilty person) is one decision away. How does that constant fear effect an officer's perception? Unfortunately, many that are attracted to law enforcement are aggressive and prone towards violence as a solution. Police officers have a lot of power. With this power comes responsibility. Police brutality can be defined as the excessive or unreasonable use of force in dealing with citizens, suspects and offenders. A nationally known example occurred on the morning of March 3, 1991. Rodney King was pulled out of his vehicle and beaten by two Los Angeles police officers. The LAPD had originally given chase to Mr. King's vehicle due to a failure to yield. Officers fired a 50,000-volt Taser electric dart gun at Mr. King. They also hit King with batons. Mr. King, according to police officials, was hit approximately 56 times. Mr. King had 11 broken bones at the base of his skull. Also, the bones holding his eye in the right socket were broken (LA Times March 19, 1991 p. A20). ... Free Essays on Police Free Essays on Police â€Å"The 1980s witnessed improved professional status for the police officer in America. Educational requirements, communication skills, and technological support, enlarged the position and enhanced the image of the police officer considerably. It will always be recognized that the police force is on the cutting edge of violence and disorder, and must possess the skills to confront these matters effectively. The physician does this in the emergency room of a hospital; so must the police officer make wise decisions quickly and under much pressure.† (Opportunities, 6) Violence and disorder are important issues in our society. We have law enforcement people controlling these issues. These Enforcers of the Law risk their lives to protect us and ours. The Law Enforcers that we are most familiar with are PIGs (police). We see PIGs on our ways everywhere, and we try to avoid them, but they still come after us and we wonder why us, who gave them the authority to pull â€Å"us† over? â€Å"The 1980s witnessed improved professional status for the police officer in America. Educational requirements, communication skills, and technological support, enlarged the position and enhanced the image of the police officer considerably. It will always be recognized that the police force is on the cutting edge of violence and disorder, and must possess the skills to confront these matters effectively. The physician does this in the emergency room of a hospital; so must the police officer make wise decisions quickly and under much pressure.† (Opportunities, 6) Violence and disorder are important issues in our society. We have law enforcement people controlling these issues. These Enforcers of the Law risk their lives to protect us and ours. The Law Enforcers that we are most familiar with are PIGs (police). We see PIGs on our ways everywhere, and we try to avoid them, but they still come after us and we wonder why us, who gave them the authority to pull ï ¿ ½... Free Essays on Police Police Brutality By: Anonymous "But they didn't have to beat me this bad. I don't know what I did to be beat up." Rodney King, March 3, 1991. Police brutality has been a long lasting problem in the United States since at least 1903 when police Captain Williams of the New York Police Departmen coined the phrase, "There is more law at the end of a policeman's nightstick than in a decision of the Supreme Court." In the 1920's the Wichersham Commission had a number of instances of police brutality. Many of these included the use of the "third degree" (beating to obtain a confession). This is a very effective way to get a confession out of somebody. However, beating the accused could easily elicit a confession from a scared and innocent person. Also, this puts the accused person's life in danger. Police officers must make snap life and death decisions daily. Officers' work in an environment where death (theirs, their partners, and an innocent or guilty person) is one decision away. How does that constant fear effect an officer's perception? Unfortunately, many that are attracted to law enforcement are aggressive and prone towards violence as a solution. Police officers have a lot of power. With this power comes responsibility. Police brutality can be defined as the excessive or unreasonable use of force in dealing with citizens, suspects and offenders. A nationally known example occurred on the morning of March 3, 1991. Rodney King was pulled out of his vehicle and beaten by two Los Angeles police officers. The LAPD had originally given chase to Mr. King's vehicle due to a failure to yield. Officers fired a 50,000-volt Taser electric dart gun at Mr. King. They also hit King with batons. Mr. King, according to police officials, was hit approximately 56 times. Mr. King had 11 broken bones at the base of his skull. Also, the bones holding his eye in the right socket were broken (LA Times March 19, 1991 p. A20). ...