excess force blog

Use of force

Our text states, “police officers are the only authority empowered to use physical force and it is used only as a last resort” (Banks p.27). How do police officers decide in a split second how much force is necessary? How do we as society establish what we think is adequate or excessive force?

The media is still reporting on excessive force used by some police officers. Recently, two Oklahoma Highway Patrol have been accused of using excessive force against a deaf man. During the traffic stop, the 64 year old man was struck in the face for not showing his hands when ordered to. It is alleged the driver fled the scene of an earlier car accident. The media reports there was a sign stating “Driver is deaf” posted on the driver’s side window. Again this is what the media is reporting.

The photos of Mr. Pearson is disturbing and I try not pass judgment. Without all the facts, I can only hope there is much more to this particular story and not just another excessive force story.  I still want to believe police officers are protectors of good citizens with and without handicaps and merely police presence alone will prevent excessive force. If the conclusion of the investigation proves these officers did react with excessive force, it will not be enough to just pull them off the streets. Again, just my opinion.

 I posted the video clip below.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/01/15/pearl-pearson-police-brutality_n_4603445.html

 

References:

 Banks, C. Criminal Justice Ethics. 2013. 3^rd edition. SAGE. Thousand Oaks, CA.

 

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/01/15/pearl-pearson-police-brutality_n_4603445.html

Week 2

Week 2

Police culture

The culture of a police department starts with the leadership of that organization.  New police officers are quickly introduced to that culture. I think it’s a culture of policy, violence, secrecy and teamwork.  The media leads society to believe police officers abuse their power with the use of force, profiling and at times being deceitful.  When this occurs good police officers are overshadowed by the bad and society immediately blame all police officers. As children, most of us trust and believe police officers are protectors. Once that trust is broken, it is hard to trust them again. Society begin to make assumptions about the culture of policing. The text talks about 3 dominant characteristics of police culture:

Cynicism. That is when police view all citizens with distrust. Basically viewing the average citizen fitting a type as being “a certain type”.

Force.  When a treat, either physical or verbal, force is to be used.  Force is a symbol of authority and it is very effective method of control.

Police being victims. Being a police officer sets them apart from the average citizen. Police officers are misunderstood, over worked and under paid.

I wanted to talk about this because recently I was stopped by a police officer for running a stop sign in what I believe to be a not so good area in Portsmouth. The manner in how I was approached and treated made feel offended and a little upset. I was thinking to myself I’m not a criminal so why is he acting in this way. Then I had to think about him as an individual doing his job. I had to realize where I was and the time of day it was. After I thought about that, I begin to understand why he had approached me in the matter he did. After I exchanged my information and explained that I had come to a complete stop, the traffic stop seem to head in a better direction. After reading the text about police culture, it allowed me to put that traffic stop in perspective. I still believe most officers enjoy their job and upheld the police code of ethics.  

 

Banks, C. Criminal Justice Ethics. 2013. 3^rd edition. SAGE. Thousand Oaks, CA.