help with writing a commentary essay
help with writing a commentary essay
Over the recent years, this country has witnessed many cases of police brutality and/or killings. It has become a controversial topic among communities and friends that have witnessed these police acts take place in front of their homes. Officers are faced with many threaten situations everyday forcing them to make split second decisions and to expect the worst and hope for the best. Police officers are given the power to take any citizens rights away and even their lives. When officers are put in these predicaments, one major concern is the amount of discretion an officer’s use is when to use lethal force. When officers use deadly force in confrontations with individuals, whether it may or may not be necessary, is strongly reviewed and addressed by both the police department and the community.
Police brutality or killing is wrong, as police officers are meant to protect people, their property, and society from harm, not cause further damage and stress. There is a time and place for lethal force if needed when apprehending a suspect. Police officers should be properly trained so they do not resort to extreme measures, but make rational decisions. Officers are trusted and expected to respect the community as a whole and enforce the law. The rules and code of ethics within the police force should be maintained at all possible times. They are to follow strict guidelines in how to handle encounters from escalating into something much more serious. If officers are abusing their power to resolve issues, it brings liabilities that cannot be taken lightly with the department and the community. The important thing for officers to do is to understand the circumstances when lethal force can be used and the times when it cannot be used. Usually the high crime rates tend to revolve around low-income minority areas and officers tend to assume that minorities in the area are guilty. Although it is not fair to judge, without probable cause or knowing that the person is known to be violent and heavily armed, that’s when lethal force can be justified if the suspect disobeys all commanding orders from an officer.
II.
Police work is very stressful and involves many violent and dangerous situations. It appear race plays a key role in many of the police brutality and killing situations. The Rodney King beating of March 3, 1991, in Los Angeles, Calif., was one of the first to be filmed and documented by the Los Angeles Times. King, a black man was hit by 56 baton blows and kicked several times by cops. This is one of the first cruel and inhumane horror of police brutality. Police officers are legally permitted to use force, and the public expects them to do so when appropriate. But is excessive force needed for unarmed criminals. Police officers have their reasons, sometimes what they are facing might be a threat to their life or others around them. Another and more recent case, the shooting of Michael Brown occurred on August 9, 2014, in Ferguson, Missouri. Brown, an 18-year old black male, was fatally shot by Darren Wilson, a white Ferguson police officer. The disputed circumstance- is the shooting of an unarmed man justified. News reports indicated Brown stopped running away from the officer and turned to face Officer Wilson. Wilson fired at Brown, striking Brown twelve time and fatally killing him. Once again witness report was differ from the police department report. Police reports indicates that Wilson shot Michael Brown in self-defense. Another shocking incident of police shooting, involve the recent shooting of Laquan McDonald which occurred on October 20, 2014, in Chicago, Illinois. CNN news reporters reported that McDonald, a 17-year old black male armed with a knife with a 3-inch blade, was shot 16 times by Chicago Officer Jason Van Dyke. Footage of the shooting was captured on a police cruiser’s dashboard showing McDonald running away from the officer’ cruiser. The officer was later charged with first degree murder. Once again the conflict involve, an officer shooting and killing an unarmed man because he felt his life was endanger. The footage show McDonald running away from the officer’s cruiser, but police sources say McDonald was a very serious threat to the officer and the shooting was justified. A witness had stated that the shooting was unnecessary because a number of officers were present and they had control of the situation. The fact is there are many cases in the United States relating to police brutality and killing with the defense that their lives in danger.
III.
Police brutality and killing is a very big problem, especially against minorities and need to be addressed. It appear officers are sometime manipulating situations and/or hiding behind the comments that their lives are threaten and/or endangered. If it were not for cameras, and bystanders witnessing the brutality and killing that cops do to people, many cases wouldn’t be known today.
IV.
As has been noted, there are many cases of police brutality and killings, reported by various T.V. stations, CNN, MSNBC, and news reporters, Elliot McLaughlin of Chicago, and Brian Smith of Baltimore. Not enough is being done; the lack of community efforts are being made to help. The misbehaving cops need to be move from the police force. Police beatings can be seen as a downfall in a community, causing the public to loose all faith in what a police department stands for and represents. It would be hard to get the trust and a good feeling back from a community, after a police department starts abusing power and using it for more than enforcing the law. Police brutality and killing is becoming a bigger issue. It should have stopped with the Rodney King incident, but it hasn’t, it has only gotten worse. Just to mention additional cases of brutality and killing by cops involve the death of Eric Garner, after New York police officers placed him in a chokehold, the shooting of Tamir Rice-a 12 year old boy In Cleveland, Ohio, and Freddie Gray of Baltimore died while in police custody.
Is this the question you were looking for? If so, place your order here to get started!