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Frederick Smith

Mr.Kirkpatrick

ENG 112

19 April 2019

Causal analysis: The Cause Of Police Brutality

Police brutality is a nationwide issue around america that many people debate on whether

violent attacks on civilians are justified. This sparks more than just a debate in the community

that it affects. It sparks things such as protest more violence in the community and retaliation

towards the police that affects the community there supposed to protect. To understand why this

is such effects on the community, and the reason it's so nationwide you need to know the

meaning and history of police brutality. Stated by ​Gale Company that police brutality is “​Police

brutality​ is the use of excessive force by law enforcement personnel in their encounters with

civilians”. Excessive force such using things like a baton, Taser, gun, or police vehicle. Also

stated by ​ ​Gale Company “ Police brutality can also involve psychological intimidation, verbal

abuse, false arrests, and sexual abuse”. The cause of police brutality is the lack of training.

Police brutality has been prevalent in modern society since the 20th century with early in

into the 20 century they were called lynchings. These acts of prejudice against african americans

has stretched over hundreds of year of oppression. Police brutality became more and more notice

ranging from the 1960s to the 1990s. One incident of police brutality would change the course of

how people view america and how society in america view the police. Stated by Donna Batten in

“1991 RODNEY KING was driving his automobile when a highway police officer signaled him

to pull over to the side of the road”. Also stated by Batten was “King, who had been drinking,
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fled, later testifying that he was afraid he would be returned to prison for violating his parole”.

With the next ensuing events King was pulled over after a high speed chase and stated in the

viewpoint by Donna Batten he was struck more than “50 times”; from the 4 cops who pulled him

over. This incident being spread nationwide and touching the african american communities

sparked more than just police brutality. It sparked riots in california also protest and violence

within the communities african americans lived in.

The results of this was the four officers not being in indicted and was ruled not guilty

which questioned a lot of things in america. Things questioned like race, racism, and police

brutality in the communities throughout the united states, stated by Donna Batten. This would be

the start of police encounters being broadcast more into the public. With the advances in

technology in today's 2019 people have been able to take a look into what causes these

altercations and possibly a solution. Even though this is happening this does not shy away from

the hundred plus incidents over the past five to ten years of police altercations with civilians.

These major shootings has caused a lot of controversy in the united states.

The recent shootings in america has caused more talk within communities talking about

the justice system and a way to deal with police officers. Major names such as ​Terence Crutcher,

Philando Castile, Samuel DuBose, Sandra Bland, Freddie Gray, Walter L. Scott, Akai Gurley,

Laquan Mcdonald and many more. Such as Walter L. Scott being shot while being unarmed in

north charleston in 2015 reported by local news later on national news by “CNN”. Scott was

pulled over on april 4th, 2015 “​brake light was not functioning” s​tated in an viewpoint by a

company called Gale. Also stated by Gale company “Scott fled on foot which led to the officer to

pursue scott to a pawn shop”. The next events led to Walter still trying to flee from the officer
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running away from the officer. The officer tries to “restrain walter with a taser gun” stated in the

viewpoint. Walter continued to flee according to the viewpoint. Stated in the viewpoint by Gale

company “ the officer retrieved his pistol and fired eight shots at Scott, who was hit

approximately five times”. One of these bullets hit Walter L. Scott in the heart which

immediately killed him. Although he fled from arrest he was still unarmed and trying to get away

from the officer with his back turned from the officer. This is what made it a unjustified murder

in the eyes of the public.

My evaluation on the situation is scary and concerning to live in america knowing

officers who are meant to protect us can harm or kill us at any moment in time. Knowing that I

am prejudge before being pulled over by a police officer is life changing. Also knowing that

most officers lack the training to talk to civilians is dangerous. The cause of this is already

enough to be a problem but the most damage is the effect of the problem. The damage it does to

the community and the people that live within the community.

I think the situation is very serious because it affects the way we live in america and how

people feel about the police. People may not trust in police officers and the system that they go

by. Also with being safe in the environment that people live in or raise their children in and they

may expose their children to the communities problem. Another reason it has become very

serious is the violence in the community that it presents no change. As things of people rioting in

their own community destroying stores that people use to live their daily lives.

The critical part and importance of this situation that keeps growing in america is fixing

the problem of police officers using their power to abuse citizens. Fixing the problem as in

completely stopping police brutality or finding a way to justify it with having consequences to
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this problem. People want justice for those who have been killed or harmed for simply doing

nothing. Without the feeling of justice regarding this huge problem in america things in america

will get worse because there is no resolve to the issue.

“​Over the last 20 years Congress has encouraged the U.S. military to supply intelligence,

equipment, ​and training to civilian police” stated by Greenville Press. Police Officers have been

trained military tactics to handle civilians in situations not needed for. This training was taught

because of the growing drug epidemic in the united states. Greenville press states “this led to the

emergence of S.W.A.T”. A title meant to handle situations that police officers could not handle.

Although drugs in america is a big topic this does not explain the ability to not train officers to

talk to civilians.

Stated in a opposing viewpoint collection called Gale “1,147 civilians killed by police in

2017, officers faced criminal charges in only thirteen incidents—approximately 1 percent of the

total”. Although this is two years ago the number of shootings that occur is outrageous that only

13 out of 1,147 shootings where worther of charges put against them. Also stated by Helen

Cothran that “About 225 out of 1,000 Memphis police officers have undergone 40 hours of

training” when dealing with people of mental illness or civil situations. The lack training with

being able to talk to civilians in casual situations can cause officers to use misconduct of force

within the altercation. If officers did not lack this important part of training 1,147 shootings

would not have occured in 2017.

The effects of these shootings in communities are tremendous most people believe they

are targeted rather than just being stopped. With environment that these minorities are in these

issues concern their lives and also their family lives. Police brutality affects the communities
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with oppression and violence. With people relation to police officers and also rioting stated

earlier in the paper. The positive effect on the community is protesting and trying to make the

community safe from police violence. “Community activists and law enforcement groups have

launched initiatives to cultivate trust between police and the communities they serve” stated by

Gale company viewpoint. Also stated by them was Police enforcement was reaching out in parts

of the communities to gain trust. These are the positive effects of police brutality that should

continue to happen to make it better. The negative effects outweigh the positives with more kids

being targeted because of their skin. Also because of the things they may wear or the culture they

represent. Stated by Barry Sussman that “ignoring police misconduct is outrageous to the

american justice system and idiotic”. The more the justice ignore unlawful shootings is the more

police officers will continue to should without regard towards the law.

Even with the lack of training and the way officers prejudge a person before they initiate

a conversation with a person people still think most police officers are in the right. Also people

think police have to use force to establish dominance to keep people in line. Stated by Paul davis

that “As of June 30, the report reveals that 65 law enforcement officers were killed in the line of

duty, a rise from 50 officers killed in the line of duty during the first half of 2016”. To some

people in america this advocates for police officers to use violence and weapons giving to them.

Weapons such as a baton, Taser, gun, and these weapons can injury or kill a person. These

people find it acceptable for police officer to use excessive for on civilians.

Paul Davis also states “In my view, there is nothing more dangerous than a cop killer”.

Paul also continue to state “The criminal, terrorist or political activist who is willing to take on

an armed police officer and murder him or her will not hesitate to kill anyone, anytime,
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anywhere. Paul is implying that people who are willing to murder a person of authority is willing

to murder anybody. This viewpoint on police brutality is rational but view by many other people

in society and feel the same exact way on the situation. There are other reason people believe

cops should use force without penalty in america.

People believe without force or violence in the line of duty people would cause anarchy

in the streets. With riots, killings, and people being robbed or taken advantage of , also crime

rates will rise and become uncontrollable. This will cause for the use of police force by using tear

gas or taser guns to impair people who need to be arrested. This adds on to their argument of

why police need to use force with their. Another reason is people resisting arrest or trying to

harm the officer arresting him and her. Paul Davis also discusses the watts riots in 1965 with

Mr.Wambaugh. Mr.Wambaugh started “The Watts Riot in 1965 taught me that the threat of

overwhelming force works to quiet things down”.

The cause of police brutality in america is the lack of training that police officers have to

interact in civil situations. Also the lack not being able to talk to all races and creeds without

prejudging them before the altercation. This cripples america in being able to protect their

citizens, or having the trust of the police. The police that is supposed to protect and serve in each

city or state and not harm without reason. The effects of this is people in the community being

scared or intimidated by the police. Also scared of being persecuted, shot, and even killed by an

officer especially in communities of minority. The concern of parents raising their children and

exposing them to society issue of how they can be prejudge and harm because of what they look

like. This problem will continue to grow and spread throughout the country until the government

solves the issue. Without this issue being solve police brutality will continue to thrive and exist.
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Works cited

Waldman, Adelle. "Ineffective Handling of the Mentally Ill Causes Police Brutality." ​Police

Brutality​, edited by Helen Cothran, Greenhaven Press, 2001. Opposing Viewpoints.

Opposing Viewpoints in Context,​

http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/EJ3010156240/OVIC?u=centralp&sid=OVIC&xid=63d9

efc1. Accessed 5 Apr. 2019. Originally published as "Police Struggle with Approach to the

Mentally Ill," ​Christian Science Monitor​, 17 Mar. 2004.

"Police Brutality." ​Opposing Viewpoints Online Collection,​ Gale, 2018. ​Opposing Viewpoints in

Context​,

http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/EMNQRZ438811059/OVIC?u=centralp&sid=OVIC&xid=bc

7b14f6. Accessed 5 Apr. 2019.

Sussman, Barry. "The Federal Government Is Failing to Correct Police Brutality." ​Police

Brutality​, edited by Michael Ruth, Greenhaven Press, 2016. Opposing Viewpoints. ​Opposing

Viewpoints in Context​,

http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/EJ3010156275/OVIC?u=centralp&sid=OVIC&xid=7af1246

1. Accessed 5 Apr. 2019. Originally published as "Feds Fail to Address the Epidemic of Police

Violence," ​opednews.com,​ 23 Mar. 2015.

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Wihbey, John. "There Is Conflicting Information on Police Brutality." ​Police Brutality,​ edited by

Michael Ruth, Greenhaven Press, 2016. Opposing Viewpoints. ​Opposing Viewpoints in Context,​

http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/EJ3010156257/OVIC?u=centralp&sid=OVIC&xid=7af1246

1. Accessed 5 Apr. 2019. Originally published as "Excessive or Reasonable Force by Police?

Research on Law Enforcement and Racial Conflict,", 8 Apr. 2015.

"Police." ​American Law Yearbook 2015:​ ​A Guide to the Year's Major Legal Cases and

Developments​, Gale, 2016, pp. 170-174. ​Opposing Viewpoints in Context​,

http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/CX3627300064/OVIC?u=centralp&sid=OVIC&xid=ae4323

44. Accessed 19 Apr. 2019.