Police Brutality and the Use of Force

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Recommended: The duties and responsibilities of police officers

There are very few careers with as high demands for an ethical standard as law enforcement. Although there are many careers, which require a dedication to doing the right thing, it is undeniable that there is a tremendous degree of responsibility and expectations placed on the police officer. While most professions allow for careful thought and planning, a police officer is often thrust into a situation with little advanced intelligence about what is occurring. Often an officer is involved in a situation which has the potential to turn violent. Relying on training allows the officer to successfully navigate a variety of situations.

After a few years on the job, even the rookie police officer is aware that they live and work in a “fishbowl”. There is remarkably little the officer can be involved in which does not have the potential to be displayed in the media. Quite often media exposure does not account for the few seconds the officer had to determine how to handle the situation. The police officer is under constant scrutiny, more so then any other profession. This could be due to the cynicism of the public as they hope to catch the officer “screwing up” or looking for a strong example and a good leader. A police officer needs to be above reproach both on and off duty.

Unfortunately, a small percentage of officers draw a large amount of negative attention to the profession. These “bad apples” bring a negative light to entire police departments and cause long term damage to public trust. A vast majority of police officers make strong ethical decisions every day and are hardworking dedicated professionals who strive to serve the public.

Research / Analysis

Americans throughout history have be...

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...Retrieved from http://www.fbi.gov/stats-services/publications/law-enforcement-bulletin/october-2011/focus-on-ethics

Johns, E. (n.d.). Police Brutality: A Lifelong Learning Process. Retrieved from http://www.fdle.state.fl.us/content/getdoc/bf52c8f8-b78d-40fd-ad88-c3e425c47b28/johns.aspx

Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards. (2010). Instructor Guide. Retrieved from http://www.michigan.gov/documents/mcoles/SC_Instructor_Guide_2010_1_318288_7.pdf

Paxson, P. (2004). The Rodney King Beating. Media literacy: thinking critically about visual culture (pp. 54-55). Portland, Me.: J. Weston Walch.

Police Use of Force in America 2001. (n.d.). International Association of Chiefs of Police. Retrieved from http://www.theiacp.org/Portals/0/pdfs/Publications/2001useofforce.pdf

Kwon, J. (2011). Towards a Theoretical Understanding of Police Brutality. Verstehen, IX

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