police abuse of power essay

Police Abuse of Power

This essay will explore the issue of police abuse of power. It will discuss the forms it takes, its implications for public trust and civil rights, and the measures being taken to address and prevent such abuses. Also at PapersOwl you can find more free essay examples related to Cyber Crime.

How it works

Police brutality refers to systematic misuse of authority and powers through the unwarranted infliction of bodily or psychological pain to civilians by law enforcers during their official duties. The routine enforcement of law using excessive force against unarmed civilians and the correctional misuse of facilities to manipulate, inflict, injure or subject a civilian to torture amounts to police brutality. Militarily prisons and federal penal correctional facilities, through the personnel operating the facilities, can practice police brutality through extreme subjection of pain and torturous acts with attempts to solicit information or evidence form an inmate.

Police brutality falls into two facets: physical and emotional torture. Physical torture, primarily involves excessive force through inflicting bodily harm and subjecting the victim to environments and circumstances that aims at inflicting discomfort and causing bodily pain.

Psychological torture involves denial of basic needs, abuse, and subjection to processes that are emotionally destabilizing. Though physical damage results in mental suffering and systematically alters the comfort of the victim. During the periods of the slave trade, the great force and physical execution of the slaves heralded the eternal evil of police brutality. The continuous attempts to champion a police brutality-free society is proving difficult since it is a tradition rooted in humiliation, subjugation, and belittling of other races and religions perceived as ‘social misfits’ or ‘lesser’ persons in society.

Notably, the transition of the slave society into enlightenment and glamor for equality, freedom and, democratic rights to vote in the 19th and 20th century ushered in another systemic and tragic emergence of systemized and legally enforced police brutality against civilians . The police acted under expressed orders in most cases during the civil rights movement era, and this resulted in thousands of unarmed civilians falling to the brutal torture of police. During the civil rights movement, police brutality was routine practice a way of suppressing the demonstrators. Despite the massive campaign against the constant torture and execution of innocent civilians, the system of cruelty increased and became more comprehensively evil.

Worthy to underscore is that police brutality was and is never meant for the weak and the local civilians but rather anyone going against the government/system during the movement era. A Majority of the leaders of the Civil Rights Movement were continuously victims of brutality, and some ended up assassinated in the process. It can be argued that the Civil Rights Movement era was the extreme moment of police brutality in the United States.

Police brutality, famously known as ‘savage cruelty’ against innocent civilians, continually receives condemnation across the country. Much legislation and governmental departments were established to combat the vice. Despite the efforts of a majority of police to protect the civilians, a rogue officers’ acts under orders of their own, still engaging in the act of brutalizing and terrorizing their victims. Rogue police officers perpetrate the act of brutality under the “”color of law.”” When cornered by the same law, they maneuver the system and cover-up their criminal activities4.

The ‘Black Lives Matter movement is the rebirth of a Civil Rights Movement era in America. The state of political, economic and social injustices black society feel subjected to has crossed the line. With police brutality still gaining noticeable attention nowadays in the United States, it begs the question: what are the triggering factors of police brutality and what are the legislative frameworks that seek to protect the civilians from this injustice and what is the statistical evidence of the situation in the United States within the last four years?

To successfully answer the research question, application of qualitative and quantitative assessment of the situation is necessary. The use of the two methods of research analysis is introduced to have more evidence and data to increase the support for my argument. The strength of this dual approach is that the models will systematically exhaust all the evidence that is quantifiable and at the same time show the degree of the situation in the United States. The only downside to the dual-approach is the inability to exhaustively consolidate all the pieces of evidence and harmonize the cases to create the needed answer.

Research on police brutality is an exciting yet convicting discourse since it seeks to descriptively lay bare the state of the long-hidden effects of racism and create a harmonized view and idea that as a country citizens can act upon the issue to entirely eradicate the vice of brutality.

After a critical appraisal of the previous similar researches surrounding police brutality, the answers converge to one point: there is little or no goodwill among the ruling class, the judicial system and the police force to wholly combat the vice. The state and level of negligence especially by the political class give the other arms of government the room to relax and overlook the excesses of police brutality. Additionally, the answers seem to continually point an accusing finger to other dominant races in the country for failing to stand-in for the minority races and demand justice for the victims.

The continuous abuse of public rights in any society is in all measures an act of incivility. Over the years, The US holds respect for its civility, home of democratic principles and human rights protection and equality. As a champion of the global respect for human rights, it is unfortunately barbaric for us to overlook the constant inhuman nature of the police force upon the minority groups in the country. Through a systematic and critical analysis of the state of police brutality in the United States of America, the essential aspect of the study is a race as the basis of the skewed cases of police brutality experienced in the United States. Furthermore, the analysis seeks to create a discourse that descriptively assesses the milestones, the setbacks, the legal, social, civil and religious framework that can significantly address the situation. With the help of statistical evidence, an argument and analysis of the position will establish the level of decline or increase of the cases in the past five years.

Police brutality associatively involves several factors such as religion, political affiliation, race, and socio-economic status. The competition is the most critical source of police brutality in the United States. The existing statistical evidence shows that a majority of the victims of police brutality are both African American and Latin American. The subject of understanding in this racial profiling is by crime, immigration illegalities and other activities that can warrant police intervention. Over time, the black community of the US has borne the brunt force of the brutality since the emergence of slavery through to the Civil Rights Movement era to date.

The worrying rate at which the black community experiences racial profiling for both real and imaginary crimes is alarming despite the USA being considered the most mature democracy and home of civility. Forceful detention and torture are common cases experienced by the black community especially the youth and young adults. Notably, racial profiling as a basis of police brutality is statistically substantiated based on the number of black persons in the prisons wrongfully detained or the justice system’s delay in hearing their case. Police brutality is directed to powerless groups without political protection, without economic strength to legally counter the misfortunes and experiences subjected to the black community over the years.

The use of a war model of policing is the main reason for police brutality’s reemergence and zestful application in racially profiled societies of the US. The application of a war model of policing results in the occurrence of fatalities and unnecessary deaths or injuries among civilians. Police view the combat against crime as a fight and war against the criminals or perceived evildoers in society and equate them as enemies. The full-force commonly experienced in war zones is the basis of the indiscriminate brutalities both across the innocent and the perceived criminals. These forceful acts of police create a society that directly views the police as enemies, not law enforcers4. Evidence has it that, police officers who have had an experience with war or subjected to war are 50% likely to exercise brutality on civilians compared to nonveterans.

From some angles, academia has found the systemic cruelty by the police a subject of study and established theories that try to explain this phenomenon.

Threat hypothesis theory and community violence hypothesis theory are some of the most popular arguments trying to solve the mystery underlying the actions of police descriptively 5. Threat hypothesis theory proposes that police use force with a direct or indirect response to a potential threat from a group/racial or social class considered as a possible threat factor to the social order of society.

The inculcation of this attitude of ‘fire for fire’ response among the police, systematically explains why, during demonstrations and peace picketing, the police view demonstrators as a threat to the coexistence and social order of society. The theory exemplifies that, police profiling along racial lines indicates that, the higher the cases of police brutality cases meted on a particular race, the higher the chances that that specific race was associated with social disturbances, economic sabotage, and law-breaking.

The weak points of the threat hypothesis theory

The theory has several downsides. Firstly, the approach in all measure is one-sided, supporting one known evil act (police brutality) against a potentially unverified evil (threat to social order). The point of argument of the theory is to justify the repulsive response and justified actions of brutality by police against mostly innocent civilians by profiling and to associate them to social misfits or threats to the social order and lawfulness.

According to the theory of community violence hypothesis, the idea postulates that the police use forces in direct responsiveness to the levels of existing or potential violence in the community posed by the threatening groups or directly raised to the police. The theory explains that the higher the threats a social misfit group pose on the society, the higher the police offensive power to counter the elements1.

Arguably, there is the sense in the argument that it underlines the principle and foundations of the theory, but the indiscriminate exercise of this force against the threat groups and by extension society is never justified in any case. There are many cases in which the siblings, parents and innocent friends of the perceived misfits are subjected to traumatizing experiences of police brutality in attempts to respond to crimes in equal measure unselectively.

Notably, the two theories lack the fundamental aspects of human life, the sanctity of human conscience and political and legal responsibility for its citizens by the government. The one-sided argument of the theories tries to substantiate that police brutality is the only underlying strength that can combat crime or alleviate threats to social order. The justified application of ‘fire to subdue fire’ as evident in the theories is the basis for the frequent cases of police brutality since the antagonists will never have a roundtable or common ground to make the right decisions.

Furthermore, to refute the foundational beliefs of the theory, the theories failed to capture the institutional protection and defense of human sanctity, freedoms, and responsibilities that police have over the wayward members of the society. In this context, the police fail to set the limits of applying the law and thus create an environment that civilians perceive police as evil and police see the civilians as agents of social distress and disruption of the socio-economic order.

Attempts have been extensively made to combat the excesses of police brutality. Through civil rights movements, agitators of protection of human rights and the legal systems of the country have developed comprehensive measures to assist in combating the cases of police brutality. The combat made on the various aspects surrounding the police subculture and the aberrant psychology that is a familiar character occurring when a person assumes total and absolute control over the welfare of others and authoritatively have complete control of their well-being.

Despite the new attempts to control the excesses of the vice, many doctrinarians have developed to justify the acts; the defense posted are; the discretion and the burden proof as some of the reason for the fragmented judicial pursuits of police misconduct. Doctrines such as federalism, separation of powers and burden proof are the significant aspects that have contributed to the slow-pace approaches in achieving a better, social-friendly and responsive police force that seek to create harmony and protect the rule of law in clear and dignified manner. This point is noted especially in societies with less privileged communities.

Besides the doctrines, other factors have stepped-down on efforts made to reduce police brutality. They include; the systemized training of the police force, the police management and the culture that has undergone generational transfer from time immemorial in the police force. Criminal justice is one major asset to the process of sanitizing police brutality since the system discourages the legal policies and prosecutors pursue police misconducts and vigorously institute punitive measures against the erred officers. Notably, the political system is quicker and more responsive to the police than to the civilians and systematically select the response to the brutality distressed depending on the community, social class and economic unit of the distressed3. Other factors that notably contribute to a slow response to the vice of police brutality is the aspect of a political culture that creates a society that does not respect other races.

With a political class that publicly demeans and under-values other races, the entire system follows suit in undermining the politically disadvantaged communities or races. Without a solidly substantial social change in society, there is little evidence of successfully interrogating the excesses of police brutality and systemizing the principles of accountability and law against the perpetrators of the cruelty without political, social and legal support of the existing structures of police accountability and confinement of their actions.

The onset of reforms and attempts to contain the effects of police brutality was the passage of the Volstead Act of 1919 popularly known as the National Prohibition Act. The basis of the doctrine was to establish the needed mechanism to contain the long-term negativities of police practices. Other notably legal jurisdictions that have been passed over time in the country with the sole purpose of fronting resistance to police brutality include; The Hoover Administration Act, the Law Observation and Enforcement (Wickersham Commission) established to contain lawlessness in law enforcement. During the clamor of the Civil Rights Movement, the responding increase of police brutality led the federal government to pass the ‘Third Degree Act’ against physical brutality on protesting civilians. Despite the many laws and Acts of the federal government, the cases of police brutality have increasingly become a civil disturbance that is negatively painting the American police workforce bleakly in the international media.

Since 2015, statistics on police brutality and excessive force still ranks black Americans as the most vulnerable group of Americans The national census shows that blacks’ account for 13% of the American population but, 26% of the deaths by police are black people. Thus, indicating a substantial proportion of black society under the threat of police brutality.

The graph further indicates that the black community accounted for 24% of the deaths in 2017. Blacks, being ranked the majority among the victims of police brutality, reinforce the belief that police racially profile black people and goes to the extent of indicating how grave the situation is rooted in the black community. Whites make up the majority of the population and only account for 41% of the entire cases of police brutality.

The comparative approach to determine the percentages of police brutality cases across the various American races is to try to establish the existence of racial profiling. Racial profiling is the chief factor contributing to police brutality; it is primarily evident through the statistics below that, the Black minority followed by the Hispanic community are the primary targets of police brutality.

Cite this page

Police Abuse Of Power. (2019, Dec 05). Retrieved from https://papersowl.com/examples/police-abuse-of-power/

"Police Abuse Of Power." PapersOwl.com , 5 Dec 2019, https://papersowl.com/examples/police-abuse-of-power/

PapersOwl.com. (2019). Police Abuse Of Power . [Online]. Available at: https://papersowl.com/examples/police-abuse-of-power/ [Accessed: 29 Apr. 2024]

"Police Abuse Of Power." PapersOwl.com, Dec 05, 2019. Accessed April 29, 2024. https://papersowl.com/examples/police-abuse-of-power/

"Police Abuse Of Power," PapersOwl.com , 05-Dec-2019. [Online]. Available: https://papersowl.com/examples/police-abuse-of-power/. [Accessed: 29-Apr-2024]

PapersOwl.com. (2019). Police Abuse Of Power . [Online]. Available at: https://papersowl.com/examples/police-abuse-of-power/ [Accessed: 29-Apr-2024]

Don't let plagiarism ruin your grade

Hire a writer to get a unique paper crafted to your needs.

Our writers will help you fix any mistakes and get an A+!

Please check your inbox.

You can order an original essay written according to your instructions.

Trusted by over 1 million students worldwide

1. Tell Us Your Requirements

2. Pick your perfect writer

3. Get Your Paper and Pay

Hi! I'm Amy, your personal assistant!

Don't know where to start? Give me your paper requirements and I connect you to an academic expert.

short deadlines

100% Plagiarism-Free

Certified writers

AT THE SMITHSONIAN

The long, painful history of police brutality in the u.s..

A 1963 protest placard in the Smithsonian collections could almost be mistaken for any of the Black Lives Matter marches of today

Katie Nodjimbadem

Last month, hours after a jury acquitted former police officer Jeronimo Yanez of manslaughter in the shooting death of 32-year-old Philando Castile , protesters in St. Paul, Minnesota, shutdown Interstate 94. With signs that read: “Black Lives Matter” and “No Justice, No Peace,” the chant of “Philando, Philando” rang out as they marched down the highway in the dark of night.

The scene was familiar. A year earlier, massive protests had erupted when Yanez killed Castile, after pulling him over for a broken taillight. Dashcam footage shows Yanez firing through the open window of Castile’s car, seconds after Castile disclosed that he owned and was licensed to carry a concealed weapon.

A respected school nutritionist , Castile was one of 233 African-Americans shot and killed by police in 2016, a startling number when demographics are considered. African-Americans make up 13 percent of the U.S. population but account for 24 percent of people fatally shot by police. According to the Washington Post , blacks are "2.5 times as likely as white Americans to be shot and killed by police officers."

Today's stories are anything but a recent phenomenon. A cardboard placard in the collections of the Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History and Culture and on view in the new exhibition “ More Than a Picture ,” underscores that reality.

The yellowing sign is a reminder of the continuous oppression and violence that has disproportionately shaken black communities for generations—“We Demand an End to Police Brutality Now!” is painted in red and white letters.

“The message after 50 years is still unresolved,” remarks Samuel Egerton, a college professor, who donated the poster to the museum. He carried it in protest during the 1963 March on Washington. Five decades later, the poster’s message rings alarmingly timely. Were it not for the yellowed edges, the placard could almost be mistaken for a sign from any of the Black Lives Matter marches of the past three years.

"There are those who are asking the devotees of civil rights, ‘When will you be satisfied?" said Martin Luther King, Jr. in his iconic "I Have a Dream" speech at the 1963 march. His words continue to resonate today after a long history of violent confrontations between African-American citizens and the police. "We can never be satisfied as long as the Negro is the victim of the unspeakable horrors of police brutality."

"This idea of police brutality was very much on people’s minds in 1963, following on the years, decades really, of police abuse of power and then centuries of oppression of African-Americans," says William Pretzer, senior history curator at the museum.

Modern policing did not evolve into an organized institution until the 1830s and '40s when northern cities decided they needed better control over quickly growing populations. The first American police department was established in Boston in 1838. The communities most targeted by harsh tactics were recent European immigrants. But, as African-Americans fled the horrors of the Jim Crow south, they too became the victims of brutal and punitive policing in the northern cities where they sought refuge.

In 1929, the Illinois Association for Criminal Justice published the Illinois Crime Survey . Conducted between 1927 and 1928, the survey sought to analyze causes of high crime rates in Chicago and Cook County, especially among criminals associated with Al Capone. But also the survey provided data on police activity—although African-Americans made up just five percent of the area's population, they constituted 30 percent of the victims of police killings, the survey revealed.

"There was a lot of one-on-one conflict between police and citizens and a lot of it was initiated by the police," says Malcolm D. Holmes , a sociology professor at the University of Wyoming, who has researched and written about the topic of police brutality extensively.

That same year, President Herbert Hoover established the National Commission on Law Observance and Enforcement to investigate crime related to prohibition in addition to policing tactics. Between 1931 and 1932, the commission published the findings of its investigation in 14 volumes, one of which was titled “Report on Lawlessness in Law Enforcement.” The realities of police brutality came to light, even though the commission did not address racial disparities outright.

During the Civil Rights Era, though many of the movement's leaders advocated for peaceful protests, the 1960s were fraught with violent and destructive riots.

Aggressive dispersion tactics, such as police dogs and fire hoses, against individuals in peaceful protests and sit-ins were the most widely publicized examples of police brutality in that era. But it was the pervasive violent policing in communities of color that built distrust at a local, everyday level.

One of the deadliest riots occurred in Newark in 1967 after police officers severely beat black cab driver John Smith during a traffic stop. Twenty-six people died and many others were injured during the four days of unrest. In 1968, President Lyndon B. Johnson organized the National Advisory Commission on Civil Disorders to investigate the causes of these major riots.

The origins of the unrest in Newark weren't unique in a police versus citizen incident. The commission concluded "police actions were 'final' incidents before the outbreak of violence in 12 of the 24 surveyed disorders.”

The commission identified segregation and poverty as indicators and published recommendations for reducing social inequalities, recommending an “expansion and reorientation of the urban renewal program to give priority to projects directly assisting low-income households to obtain adequate housing.” Johnson, however, rejected the commission’s recommendations.

Black newspapers reported incidents of police brutality throughout the early and mid-20th century and the popularization of radio storytelling spread those stories even further. In 1991, following the beating of cab driver Rodney King, video footage vividly told the story of police brutality on television to a much wider audience. The police officers, who were acquitted of the crime, had hit King more than 50 times with their batons.

Today, live streaming, tweets and Facebook posts have blasted the incidents of police brutality, beyond the black community and into the mainstream media. Philando Castile’s fiancée, Diamond Reynolds, who was in the car with her daughter when he was shot, streamed the immediate aftermath of the shooting on her phone using Facebook live.

"Modern technology allows, indeed insists, that the white community take notice of these kinds of situations and incidents," says Pretzer.

And as technology has evolved, so has the equipment of law enforcement. Police departments with military-grade equipment have become the norm in American cities. Images of police officers in helmets and body armor riding through neighborhoods in tanks accompany stories of protests whenever one of these incidents occurs.

"What we see is a continuation of an unequal relationship that has been exacerbated, made worse if you will, by the militarization and the increase in fire power of police forces around the country," says Pretzer.

The resolution to the problem, according to Pretzer, lies not only in improving these unbalanced police-community relationships, but, more importantly, in eradicating the social inequalities that perpetuate these relationships that sustain distrust and frustration on both sides.

'There’s a tendency to stereotype people as being more or less dangerous. There’s a reliance upon force that goes beyond what is necessary to accomplish police duty," says Holmes. "There’s a lot of this embedded in the police departments that helps foster this problem."

Get the latest on what's happening At the Smithsonian in your inbox.

Katie Nodjimbadem | | READ MORE

Katie was formerly the staff reporter for Smithsonian magazine.

Power Abuse in Police Officer’s Actions Essay

Moral behavior problems: inclination to criminal behavior.

The case study represents a classic instance of a police officer overstepping the boundaries set by the legal rules and regulations. Officer Gregory showed a complete lack of morality when misappropriated the belongings of the victim of a robbery. By taking the possessions, he practically committed a theft. In fact, silencing the issue, which I chose as the possible course of action, can also be considered a crime.

Similarly, the fact that Officer Gregory used his position to harass the woman stopped for speeding should also be viewed as a complete lack of a moral compass. He made it obvious that his personal urges were of greater importance to him than his official duties. Therefore, he overstepped the boundaries of the law.

Ethical Issues: Crossing the Line

The fact that Officer Gregory possibly bribed the Commander by giving him the watch that he stole, as well as him placing his things in the Commander’s car, shows that there might be an instance of bribery and complicity. Therefore, the choices that Gregory made were of benefit only to him and, possibly, the Commander, while the key stakeholders (i.e., the victims) were left without due assistance. Thus, from the tenets of the Utilitarianism, Gregory’s actions were unethical. Similarly, the fact that he allowed the other employee to shred the file with the pieces of evidence provided by his victim shows that he cares only for his wellbeing.

Inconsistencies with Legal Requirements

The issues mentioned above can also be viewed from the legal perspective. For instance, based on the standard requirements, the speeding issue ought to have been recorded. The officer, however, deliberately ignored the rule. Similarly, he was not supposed to touch anything on the crime scene, let alone take the victim’s possessions. Gregory, however, intentionally disobeyed the regulations, stealing the watch.

The issues mentioned above are related to each other directly as they have the same premise. Each of the crimes was predetermined by Gregory’s lack of understanding of ethics, morality, and law. Unfortunately, people like Gregory still work in law forces (Porter & Prenzler, 2016); thus, the current policing principles and the supervision of the staff must be more rigid.

Further Course of Action: The System That Failed

I have to admit that being an informer is not ethical for me, yet neither is watching power abuse and doing nothing. Therefore, I would first try to talk to Gregory to let him know that I have seen him crossing the law and that I disapprove of it. Furthermore, I would recommend him to confess to the authorities about his misconduct. Naturally, it would be naïve to expect that he will immediately feel remorseful about his actions and plead guilty. Quite on the contrary, it is assumed that Gregory will deny having anything to do with the situations mentioned above. Which is even more likely, he may provide a reasonable explanation for his actions.

Thus, in case Gregory refuses to admit his fault, I will have to tell him that I will need to inform the authorities about the problems that he caused and the instances in which he behaved inappropriately. It should be borne in mind, though, that, if told about my intentions, the law officer will most likely undertake the measures that will make my narration look not very trustworthy. Furthermore, Gregory may use his influence on the Commander to discredit me in the eyes of the department, thus, making my claims pointless. To avoid this situation, I will have to make sure that I have enough evidence to prove Gregory’s misconduct, as well as that there are no previous negative, questionable, or unresolved issues on my professional and personal record.

“Code of Silence” and the Police: One for All, All for One

Although the idea of taking the side of friends and coworkers might be interpreted as positive and even noble, it clearly distorts the concept of justice in a case in point. It seems that the code of silence remains a popular idea among the members of contemporary police departments. Indeed, recent studies show that most legal authorities tend to cover for each other in case their partners overstep their powers (Porter & Prenzler, 2016). Therefore, there are substantial reasons to claim that the problem of official misconduct still is a topical issue.

Since the phenomenon of the code of silence has entirely injurious premises, its ramifications turn out to be truly dire. Specifically, the very existence of the code of silence destroys the fabric of ethics and morality. As a result, the members of the legal system are driven not by the core values of the department but by their needs, the personal gain being the primary one.

At a local level, the effects of silencing the problem will lead to even more deplorable abuse of power by the members of the identified police department. On a global scale, the tendency to suppress the discussion of the problem will lead to a reduction in social safety rates. By allowing the members of service to become corrupted, one will contribute to the overall drop in the quality of the services and an increase in the global corruption of the forces. Therefore, the code of silence must be abolished, and supervision of the legal institution members must be carried out to avoid similar problems in the future.

Police Code of Conduct and the Case in Point

Apart from breaking a range of ethical and moral principles, Officer Gregory also committed a series of crimes. Although these actions can be interpreted as a misdemeanor, they show graphically that Gregory has disobeyed the code of conduct accepted by the members of the department. Therefore, they must be viewed as a punishable offense and addressed in a proper manner.

Shoplifting

By stealing sunglasses and a candy bar from the store, Gregory showed complete disregard of the existing code. Although shoplifting is typically ranked as a petty crime (Federal Bureau of Intelligence, 2011), the very fact that it was committed by a law enforcement officer shows that it needs to be taken with due seriousness. The current code of conduct states it clearly that the members of the legal force are to comply with the current legislation at all costs: “Any act of corruption, in the same way as any other abuse of authority, is incompatible with the profession of law enforcement officials” (Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, 2016, para. 26). Unless the issue is addressed in an appropriate manner, the problem of police misconduct may take a more threatening scale.

Power Abuse

The current code of conduct states that “In the performance of their duty, law enforcement officials shall respect and protect human dignity and maintain and uphold the human rights of all persons” (Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, 2016, para. 6). By assaulting the woman that was pulled over for speeding, Gregory made it clear that he was in complete disregard of human rights.

Furthermore, the issue of violence against women needs to be brought up as one of the crimes of which Gregory can be accused. According to the existing code of conduct for police, there is a need to prevent the instances of sexual harassment (International Association of Chiefs of Police Model Policy, 2016). Therefore, by attacking the woman sexually, Officer Gregory violated the essential ethical principles of relationships between the law enforcement members and the U.S. citizens.

Similarly, the fact that Gregory stole several items from the victim of a burglary can be interpreted as a severe violation of the police code of conduct. The actions of Officer Gregory were inexcusable since they ran counter to not only the current code of conduct but also the existing legal regulations. Differently put, he committed a crime by stealing the victim’s possessions. Theft, in its turn, is a crime that Gregory must be charged for; moreover, the strategies to prevent further instances of power abuse must be designed.

Finally, the fact that Gregory may have used the help of an accomplice needs to be mentioned. As explained above, the intentions of Officer Gregory when he was taking his possessions and putting them in the Commander’s car could be interpreted in many ways. It could be assumed, for example, that Gregory was trying to either offer the Commander a bribe or hide the stolen items until further investigation. No matter what his intentions were, they indicated that there was a possibility of a connection between him and the Commander. In other words, the issue of complicity is implied in the identified scenario. The alleged situation also violates the existing code of conduct for police.

Federal Bureau of Intelligence. (2011). Crime in the United States . Web.

International Association of Chiefs of Police Model Policy. (2016). Police response to violence against women . Web.

Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. (2016). Code of Conduct for Law Enforcement Officials . Web.

Porter, L. E., & Prenzler, E. T. (2016). The code of silence and ethical perceptions: Exploring police officer unwillingness to report misconduct. Policing: An International Journal of Police Strategies & Management, 39 (2), 370-386.

Chicago (A-D)
Chicago (N-B)

IvyPanda. (2020, August 14). Power Abuse in Police Officer's Actions. https://ivypanda.com/essays/power-abuse-in-police-officers-actions/

"Power Abuse in Police Officer's Actions." IvyPanda , 14 Aug. 2020, ivypanda.com/essays/power-abuse-in-police-officers-actions/.

IvyPanda . (2020) 'Power Abuse in Police Officer's Actions'. 14 August.

IvyPanda . 2020. "Power Abuse in Police Officer's Actions." August 14, 2020. https://ivypanda.com/essays/power-abuse-in-police-officers-actions/.

1. IvyPanda . "Power Abuse in Police Officer's Actions." August 14, 2020. https://ivypanda.com/essays/power-abuse-in-police-officers-actions/.

Bibliography

IvyPanda . "Power Abuse in Police Officer's Actions." August 14, 2020. https://ivypanda.com/essays/power-abuse-in-police-officers-actions/.

“Shame” By Dick Gregory: What Does Gregory Mean by Shame?
The Life, Work, and Contribution of Gregory the Great
Role of Inner Desire in "Shame" by Dick Gregory
The Danger of Speeding
"Commodity and Propriety" by Gregory Alexander
The Dangers of Speeding in Residential Areas
Investiture Controversy: Pope Gregory VII vs. Emperor Henry IV
The Problem of Police Brutality: The Case of Gregory Gunn
“Behind the Curtain” by Gregory D. Booth
The Act of Mass Murder by Gregory Johnson
Policing in a Diverse Society: Issues to Address
Dubai Police and Expo 2020 Security Strategies
Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs
Ethics and Diversity in Policing and Law Enforcement
Blue Wall of Silence in Police Subculture

We use cookies to enhance our website for you. Proceed if you agree to this policy or learn more about it.

Essay Database >
Essay Examples >
Essays Topics >
Essay on Crime

Power Abuse In Law Enforcement Essay

Type of paper: Essay

Topic: Crime , Police , Criminal Justice , Law , Violence , Discrimination , Sexual Abuse , Victimology

Words: 1600

Published: 02/20/2023

ORDER PAPER LIKE THIS

For a long time now, police brutality has become a simmering debate over the injustices perpetrated by law enforcement officers. From the gunning down of an unarmed teenager Michael Brown to the excessively militarized response by the police, these events have disturbed old wounds. Furthermore, the demonstrations in the aftermath of Brown’s death and the lack of indictment of Officer Darren Wilson for the role he played in the shooting, the Fergusson events have created a strong public outcry the world over. There is more call for action than ever before on the need to eradicate police brutality. This essay, therefore, highlights the issue of police brutality. It also discusses the impacts of such abuse on the individual as well as the society. Moreover, it gives the opinions of experts with regard to the issue and proposes an alternative solution.

Power Abuse in Law Enforcement

Generally, the society has granted law enforcement officers a lot of power over civilians. This power enables the police to maintain tranquillity and to keep the social order. Furthermore, they have an enormous amount of freedom to exercise their judgment regarding the laws to enforce at what time and against whom. However, some law enforcers begin to view themselves not only as enforcers but also as the law itself. This situation leads to excessive use of force by the officer involved. At times it also involves wrongful prosecution and even imprisonment of the innocent victim (Skolnick & Fyfe, 1993).

Types of power abuse

There are different ways through which police officers often abuse their powers. The presence of the officer- Officers often learn to display a “command presence.” Most of the time, they keep eye contact, they observe non-verbal body language and keep an authoritative stance. For this reason, an officer might intimidate a victim merely by his or her presence while standing with hands on the gun. To add on to that, if the officer gives “the look,” the victim becomes totally consumed with fear. Spill-over of authority- Officers typically give orders and directions that they expect to be followed. If a subject fails to comply, then he or she would face dire consequences. However, some officers seemingly cannot separate their professional life from personal life. In the event of conflicts in their personal lives, they might perceive it as a challenge to their authority, dominance or power. Such situations can lead to officers overstepping their mandates. Continuum in the use of force- In practice, law enforcers normally get training on the utilization of force continuum. They are required to only use the necessary amount of force to control a suspect or the situation. This continuum starts with the presence of the officer, verbal direction and light hand techniques. However, if the suspect is still resistant, they officer is allowed to escalate to strong hand techniques all the way to lethal force. In the case of abusive officers, they can resort to such techniques in the home. Such a continuum more often than not involves verbal, psychological, emotional, physical and even sexual violence. But most abusers normally use threats and intimidation to control the victims (Garner, Schade, Hepburn, & Buchanan, 1995) Power in the Criminal Justice system- Police officers working in the emergency services systems have connections with medical providers, social service providers, victim advocates, prosecutors and other court personnel. Such people have a lot of influence in the system and are very convincible. Furthermore, law enforcers have undergone training on how to behave not only at crime scenes but also within the courtroom. When an officer is in the wrong, it becomes very difficult to prosecute him. He has already established good rapports with officials within the criminal justice system, and the colleagues are more likely to give favorable witness in his favor. Surveillance- When a law enforcer identifies a suspect, he or she begins surveillance to gain information or to find probable cause for arrest. However, some officers stalk suspects. Stalking is a perversion of surveillance. Officers who stalk suspects physically, through telephones, or even electronically infringe on the victim’s right to privacy. It is better to allow the victim to have knowledge that he or she is being monitored. In that sense, victims will correct their behaviour to avoid punishment or disapproval.

Effect on the individual

Excessive use of force by law enforcers has many negative effects both on the physical and psychological health of the victim. When officers decide to batter a victim, it can lead to physical injury. Such injuries can involve breakage of bones, severe wounds, and injury to internal organs. Worse still, brain damage can occur. In extreme cases, victims have even lost their lives because of excessive beating. In case victims survive the physical abuse, they are left with a lot of psychological trauma. This trauma can lead to post-traumatic stress disorder which might lead to depression, drug abuse and alcoholism.

Effects on society

Furthermore, blacks are always stereotyped even by white civilians. They are views as high potential criminals. The situation leads to intolerance and hatred among the races, and in some cases, violence occurs. Another effect of police brutality is that it creates a culture of fear in the cities. Whenever people see law enforcement, they begin to freak out. As a result, they are less likely to interact or report some issues to the police out of fear of victimization (Franklin, Boyd-Franklin & Kelly, 2006).

Expert opinions

Mary Haberfeld is a former lieutenant with the Israeli national police. She has studied police brutality for a period of over 10 years and is a professor of criminal justice. She claims that there is no rise in police brutality. The number such occurrences have remained relatively constant. What has happened is that there is now more media coverage. This huge coverage is as a result of the proliferation of smartphones. With these devices, people can now record events as they happen and share them through social networks (El-Ghobashy, 2012). Lorrel Friddel, an associate professor of criminology at the University of South Florida emphasizes the issue of racial profiling. She claims that minority communities are generally stereotyped.

Actions as a society

As a society, police brutality is highly reviled. Many people including leaders have voiced concerns and the need for reforms against police brutality. However, governments have taken little strides in improving the situation. Current policies are not effective enough to ensure that errant officers are effectively punished. The law seems to protect officers who sometimes go unpunished. The most severe punishment most of them get is suspensions or loss of their jobs. They hardly ever go to jail. They larger community mostly resort to riots and protests. These have very little effect in curbing the situation. In fact the riots lead to more arrests and police brutality.

Alternative action

One alternative action that can help eradicate police abuse is through increasing the federal government’s supervision of police conduct. Currently, the state and local governments run the daily operations of police departments. More involvement of the federal government will ensure that properly trained officers are hired and meet required qualifications. The department of justice too should be more active in laying down expectations for officers’ conduct nationwide. It should also ensure that all departments comply with the set standards and thorough punishment applied to any breach. These laws can be very effective only if the program is well funded and adhered to.

Indeed, police abuse of the law has caused untold suffering to many. People have lost lives and scores injured. Communities have developed hatred towards law enforcement and other communities alike. The government needs to take quick action before the situation gets out of hand. Civilians also need to find proper avenues of airing their grievances without resorting to violent riots that cause loss of life and injury through police brutality.

Chan, J. B. (1997). Changing police culture: Policing in a multicultural society. Cambridge University Press. The book gives a historical insight on police brutality faced my earlier minority communities. It then gives some recommendation on how the police culture can be reformed to serve a multicultural society. El-Ghobashy, T. (2012). Lethal Force Is Defended in Shooting. WSJ. Retrieved 11 March 2016, from http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10000872396390444184704577587702029448014 This is an article that was posted in the wall street journal on August 13, 2012. It discusses how police brutality is covered up by the authorities. Furthermore it claims that the reason why more coverage is currently being achieved, is the technological advancements. These technologies make the sharing of information easier. Franklin, A. J., Boyd-Franklin, N., & Kelly, S. (2006). Racism and invisibility: Race-related stress, emotional abuse and psychological trauma for people of colour. Journal of Emotional Abuse, 6(2-3), 9-30. The journal highlights the issue of racism in the enforcement of justice. It also showcases how such selective abuse causes trauma for people of colour and the effects of the ordeal. Garner, J. H., Schade, T., Hepburn, J., & Buchanan, J. (1995). Measuring the continuum of force used by and against the police. Criminal Justice Review, 20(2), 146-168. This is a review of criminal justice. It gives an in-depth analysis of the continuum of force used by the police department. Also, it discusses the consequences of each step within the continuum and the general effect. Skolnick, J. H., & Fyfe, J. J. (1993). Above the law: Police and the excessive use of force (pp. 43-48). New York: Free Press.

Cite this page

Share with friends using:

Removal Request

Finished papers: 460

This paper is created by writer with

ID 272028042

If you want your paper to be:

Well-researched, fact-checked, and accurate

Original, fresh, based on current data

Eloquently written and immaculately formatted

275 words = 1 page double-spaced

Get your papers done by pros!

Other Pages

News annotated bibliographies, occultism research papers, transmission system research papers, electrical discharge research papers, peripheral vision research papers, institution research papers, liberation research papers, calculability essays, hopping essays, inclusiveness essays, mediatory essays, phosphagen essays, copd essays, axillary essays, pestel analysis essays, dermatopathologist essays, health management associates essays, appelbaum essays, avian essays, acetylcysteine essays, research paper on wilson jungner criteria for screening arterial hypertension among adults in the, the applicability of online education vs on campus education research paper examples, pharmacy profession related research on an area and make a specific plan research paper sample, function of government overview essay, course work on evaluation of advertisement of ikea, japanese military after world war ii essays example, properties research paper examples, free course work on brief introduction, free movie review on month date year, free museum visit essay sample, sample essay on structural functional theory, free essay on difference between the left and right hemisphere of the brain, free tales of the city essay sample, good example of essay on why isnt corporate crime a crime in the u s, good example of essay on issues in art history, sample critical thinking on humanities, day of the oprichnik by vladimir sorokin essay example, free the three concepts of management course work sample, english versus me essays examples, good term paper on art education curriculum in saudi arabia, free article review about sec investigates barnes nobles accounting, example of essay on influential persons in the humanities.

Password recovery email has been sent to [email protected]

Use your new password to log in

You are not register!

By clicking Register, you agree to our Terms of Service and that you have read our Privacy Policy .

Now you can download documents directly to your device!

Check your email! An email with your password has already been sent to you! Now you can download documents directly to your device.

or Use the QR code to Save this Paper to Your Phone

The sample is NOT original!

Short on a deadline?

Don't waste time. Get help with 11% off using code - GETWOWED

No, thanks! I'm fine with missing my deadline

Police Abuse and Power

There are many people who are aware of the police brutality that is going on. Police brutality is an act of misconduct done by a member of law enforcement. They use an extreme amount of force to physically, mentally, or emotionally attack a member of society. This is a ruthless act that goes on in our society that is serious and life-threatening for both the officer and the victim. Before entering law enforcement, officers have to be sworn in to protect and serve, but many of these officers have repeatedly abused their authority.

Officers who have abused their rights leave citizens with physical or emotional scars which will make them vigilant of law enforcement in the future. There have been many cases where some officers took it too far causing legal problems. Many officers who have abused their powers do not get fired, they get suspended or they are given probation. People see this as a minor punishment for such an unjustifiable crime.

Police abuse has come to the attention to the public. Citizens have to naturally worry about criminals, but now they must keep an eye out for those who are given the right to protect and serve. There are many reasons why officers decide to abuse their powers. Most of the time they pick on individuals who are from a disfavored race, class, or sexual preference. Due to all of the assaults from officers it has generally made their jobs a lot more dangerous. The public has become furious at how law enforcement can get away with almost anything. They think they should take matters into their own hands. An example of the type of abuse is when the SWAT team is called for minor things that police officers can do themselves. According to the report by the ACLU, local police is increasingly using the SWAT team to execute search warrants and drug searches which have led to devastating consequences.

The SWAT team is usually called in by police when they feel like the case is way over their heads. There has been many cases where the swat team has used deadly force when it was not necessary. An example is, in January 2008 SWAT officers killed 26 year old Tarika Wilson while she was holding her infant son. They were originally looking for her boyfriend on suspicion of drug dealing. They knocked down her front door and opened fire in her home. Tarika was just holding her baby when she was shot. Her 14 month old son was injured, but he survived.

Many people have agreed that the consequences of using the SWAT team in minor situations have proven to be severe. The Phonsavanh family had recently moved to Georgia and had become the face of alleged police brutality overnight. Police officers were looking for the Phonsavanh’s nephew for suspicion of making a $50 drug deal. The SWAT team barged in their temporary residence at 3 am. They threw a flash grenade into a room occupied by 4 small children, the grenade landed in the playpen of the youngest child. No drugs were found and no arrests were made that night, but the baby named Bou Bou who was in the playpen faced life-threatening injuries. He faced life-threatening injuries because the flash grenade exploded right next to him. The nephew they were looking for never even lived or stayed with them. That family has been scarred for life and will always be on alert for any type of law enforcement.

It is obvious that law enforcement has double standards when it comes to shooting someone. If the police were to barge into somebody’s home and shoot somebody even if they were not doing anything, it is usually ruled off as an accident or something else. Now, if the police were to barge into someone’s home late at night the residents might think they are intruders and get their firearm and shoot at the police without realizing who they are. If that were the case, they will most likely be charged for putting the police officer’s life in danger.

At least 1000 people were killed by police officers in 2017. Some of those people were unarmed and they shouldn’t have been killed. This is terrifying to think about, police are allowed to take the lives of others, even if they do not present any type of threat. Police should think about the kind of impact they are having on the citizens. Citizens are now fearing police officers because of all the brutality that has been going on. People should be able to live in peace, not fearing those who are supposed to be protecting us. Police brutality needs to be addressed immediately and put to an end once and for all.

Cite this page

Police Abuse and Power. (2021, May 08). Retrieved from https://supremestudy.com/police-abuse-and-power/

"Police Abuse and Power." supremestudy.com , 8 May 2021, https://supremestudy.com/police-abuse-and-power/

supremestudy.com. (2021). Police Abuse and Power . [Online]. Available at: https://supremestudy.com/police-abuse-and-power/ [Accessed: 29 Apr. 2024]

"Police Abuse and Power." supremestudy.com, May 08, 2021. Accessed April 29, 2024. https://supremestudy.com/police-abuse-and-power/

"Police Abuse and Power," supremestudy.com , 08-May-2021. [Online]. Available: https://supremestudy.com/police-abuse-and-power/ . [Accessed: 29-Apr-2024]

supremestudy.com. (2021). Police Abuse and Power . [Online]. Available at: https://supremestudy.com/police-abuse-and-power/ [Accessed: 29-Apr-2024]

Police Abuse and Power. (2021, May 08). Retrieved April 29, 2024 , from https://supremestudy.com/police-abuse-and-power/

This paper was written and submitted by a fellow student

Our verified experts write your 100% original paper on any topic

Having doubts about how to write your paper correctly?

Our editors will help you fix any mistakes and get an A+!

Leave your email and we will send a sample to you.

Please check your inbox

Sorry, copying content is not allowed on this website

Please indicate where to send you the sample.

Essay on Abuse Of Power

Students are often asked to write an essay on Abuse Of Power in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Abuse Of Power

Understanding power abuse.

Power abuse means when a person who has authority uses it in the wrong way. This can be a boss, a teacher, a police officer, or even a parent. They use their position to control or harm others. This is not fair or right.

Types of Power Abuse

There are many types of power abuse. Some people use their power to scare others. Some use it to get things they want, like money or favors. And some use it to hurt people, physically or emotionally. All these are forms of power abuse.

Effects of Power Abuse

Power abuse can hurt people in many ways. It can make them feel scared, sad, or angry. It can also make them feel powerless and lose their self-confidence. In some cases, it can even lead to physical harm.

Stopping Power Abuse

Stopping power abuse is not easy, but it is possible. People need to speak up when they see it happening. And those in power need to be held accountable for their actions. This means they should face consequences if they abuse their power.

Power Abuse and Society

Power abuse is not just a problem for individuals. It can also hurt society as a whole. When those in power abuse their position, it can lead to mistrust and conflict. This can make it harder for society to function properly.

250 Words Essay on Abuse Of Power

Power abuse is when someone in a position of authority uses their power wrongly. This can be in a school, a workplace, or even in a country. It happens when the person in charge uses their power to make others do things they don’t want to do or to get what they want without thinking about the effects on others.

There are many types of power abuse. One common type is bullying, where someone uses their power to hurt or scare others. Another type is corruption, where someone uses their power to gain money or goods unfairly. Discrimination is also a type of power abuse, where people are treated badly because of their race, gender, or other factors.

Power abuse can cause a lot of harm. It can make people feel scared, sad, or angry. It can also lead to people not trusting each other or the person in power. In extreme cases, power abuse can even lead to violence or war.

Preventing Power Abuse

To stop power abuse, we need to make sure that people in power are held accountable for their actions. This means that they should be punished if they abuse their power. We also need to educate people about power abuse so they can recognize it and stand up against it.

In conclusion, power abuse is a serious problem that can cause a lot of harm. But by holding people accountable and educating others, we can help to prevent it.

500 Words Essay on Abuse Of Power

Understanding power.

Power is like a tool. When in the right hands, it can build great things. But in the wrong hands, it can cause a lot of harm. Power gives a person the ability to make decisions that affect others. A teacher, a police officer, a politician, or a boss at work all have power. They can use this power for good, like helping people, or they can misuse it.

What is Abuse of Power?

Abuse of power happens when someone uses their power in a bad way. This can mean making choices that help themselves instead of others. It can also mean using their power to hurt or control people. For example, if a boss threatens to fire an employee unless they do something they’re not comfortable with, that’s an abuse of power.

Examples of Power Abuse

Abuse of power can be seen in many places. In schools, a teacher might pick on a student because they don’t like them. In the workplace, a boss might give all the good tasks to their favorite employees. In politics, a leader might use their power to make laws that only benefit them and their friends.

When power is abused, it can hurt people and make them feel small. It can also cause fear and stress. If a teacher is always picking on a student, that student might start to hate school. If a boss is unfair, employees might feel unhappy at work. When a leader abuses power, people can lose trust in their government.

How to Stop Power Abuse

Stopping abuse of power is not easy, but there are ways to do it. One way is to make sure everyone knows what abuse of power looks like. Education is a powerful tool against abuse. Another way is to have rules that stop people from abusing their power. For example, a school could have rules against teachers picking on students. Lastly, people can stand up against power abuse. If you see someone abusing their power, you can speak up or report it.

Abuse of power is a problem that can happen anywhere. It can hurt people and make them feel scared or unhappy. But by knowing what it looks like and how to stop it, we can make our world a fairer place. Remember, power is a tool, and like any tool, it should be used with care.

That’s it! I hope the essay helped you.

If you’re looking for more, here are essays on other interesting topics:

Essay on Abandoned House
Essay on Aboriginal People
Essay on Aboriginal Health Issues

Apart from these, you can look at all the essays by clicking here .

Happy studying!