The Police Brutality: Using of Force in Law Enforcement (Coursework Sample)

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Police Brutality
Police brutality can be defined as the use of any excessive force by law enforcement officers to achieve a particular purpose. In the United States, many people have suffered as a result of the police using excessive force. Innocent people have been injured while others died at the hands of police officers, many of them were unarmed persons. Drastic amendments are required regarding public safety to stop this menace. Therefore, it is important to examine the extent of police brutality and its effects. It is unfortunate that many cases of police brutality involve ethnic minority populations such as African Americans and has resulted in various demonstrations by the public (Black America in Uproar over Police Brutality, 1).
Several interviews conducted as part of the primary research revealed various opinions and views on police brutality. Gregory Andrews was my first interviewee; he was among the many victims of police brutality. In 2010, Gregory was assaulted by the Chicago Police in an unprovoked attack. Though he survived the incident, he says that the events of that day left him scarred for life. He filed a lawsuit against the city and police that took three years in the Chicago law courts. The police department did not want to take responsibility for their officers’ actions though they eventually agreed to a settlement agreement.
Joe Cruz was also attacked by an off-duty police officer in a bar after a minor misunderstanding. Although Joe tried to calm the situation, the officer was not ready to listen and brutally assaulted him in front of certain witnesses. He charged for assaulting a police officer but later on released as a result of a public outcry for justice. Nevertheless, he said that the experience was both upsetting and humiliating. The officer was never reprimanded for his actions.
Jack Davidson an entertainer by profession also had a lot to say regarding police brutality. Davidson has never experienced any form of police brutality while leaving in New York. However, he acknowledges the existence of police brutality, especially on ethnic minorities. In his opinion, police officers are more likely to harass an African American, who has committed a minor traffic infraction than they are to antagonize him.
Christine Johnson is a sibling to a victim of police brutality. Her unarmed brother was shot to death by police officers in 2002. The police report stated that her brother was reaching for a weapon though no evidence was found to support this statement. The case was filed in court and settled five years later after a prolonged court dispute. In her opinion, the justice system is partly to blame for the ongoing police brutality that exists.
Kim Sharpton, a son of a police officer, believes that the U.S has a police brutality problem. He said that social media and smartphones have enabled people to catch them in the act. Sharpton stated that the shooting of an unarmed African-American by a police officer in North Charleston was an example of the power of technology. Consequently, the officer was charged with murder. He stated that police brutality was often as a result of racial profiling and that through the use of technology such officers are easily charged than they were a few years back.
However, Sheriff Adam Richards explained that police brutality is more about perception than reality. He went on to say that public opinion is often influenced by the media. As a result of the media’s coverage on police brutality, people begin to believe that there exists a problem in law enforcement. The Sheriff emphasized that the public thus viewed the issue as a bigger problem than it is.
Officers involved in cases regarding the use of excessive force often get away with it as seen over the years in many cases. Though favorable settlements are made to the victims, the perpetrators are not reprimanded nor are they questioned. Unfortunately, such officers are often promoted or transferred to a more influential post (Curry). Such cases will only increase in number if officers are not held accountable for their actions.
Police brutality is mostly experienced by ethnic and social minority classes such as Gays (Credle 2). Such classe...