Discrimination and Racial Profiling in Police

Police brutality is one of the biggest problems in the United States. Police officers aren’t doing their jobs appropriately. People are being shot and killed by police officers. The confrontations the police officers get in to can sometimes get violent. These confrontations can lead to guns being drawn and victims being shot. Police misconduct is viewed as any inappropriate behavior on the part of any law enforcement officer that is either illegal or immoral or both. Law enforcement agents should behave to a standard that supports the average civilian. Police brutality comes from an abuse of power granted to the police by the government. Police brutality is usually drawn on by confrontations that lead to overreaction in certain situations drawn on by panic. Police using brutal and excessive force in the United States is a crucial dilemma and must be stopped and prevented. Often police officers can build up negative feelings towards certain races, sexes, or religions. Officers get hostile with people and can lead to violent encounters. Race also consistently plays a key role in police brutality in the United States. Law enforcement have even exposed minorities to bad discriminatory treatment. They also have many times physically abused minorities. Mistreatment is not always physical but sometimes non-violent harassment and humiliating people. Police have been known to be bias by detaining drivers for driving in certain areas or for driving a specific type of vehicle.

The problem with racial profiling against minorities is that it creates distrust between racial minority communities and the police which leads to tension. African-American and Latino Men are victims to this. Police use excessive force in African-American and Latino communities. Actions can be taken to prevent police brutality. The internal affairs departments can be improved and renewed in each police precinct. Internal affair departments are the most responsible for handling the situations and problems of police misconduct. A possible solution to improving internal affairs would be to re-valuate leadership roles. Internal affairs must conduct precise and thorough investigations to make sure human integrity is upheld. Internal affairs must use early warning systems to expose and handle the officers that cause problems and are fully operational in all police departments. Disciplinary actions against officers responsible for brutal force should be firm. Review activities such as body cameras should remain focused and documented each time a review is conducted.

The price of this solution is not that difficult due to the fact that it only involves better effort in management of a system that is already active. Police departments should revise and reevaluate its training exercises in order to provide a solution to brutal force that is present in our communities. New training methods should be provided on situations that usually lead to brutality. Officers should be educated and/or re-educated on how to correctly operate pepper spray and other lethal devices. They also need to learn how to engage in post chase arrest, and how to handle a situation in a non-violent way against mentally ill citizens. The effects of the newest police weapon technology, such as pepper spray, should be thoroughly investigated and reviewed before being available for use by police officers. Training should offer many scenarios in different circumstances. They should also utilize ways to deal with the effects of weapons such as the taser and pepper spray used by police, including proper medical assistance.

Trainers should be chosen carefully to make sure a more effective training policy can be implemented. Complaints and allegations of any kind of misconduct should be considered and reviewed when choosing these new trainers. Police departments must avoid choosing police officers with a history of violent behavior to serve as trainers as this can lead to problems. This solution can be achievable and will help discourage police abuse. Cost of the revision of training is small because it just requires new training methods. A background check should be conducted to ensure that the police departments do not hire potentially violent police officers. Also, a tracking system should be implemented in conjunction with the background check.

This tracking system will prevent terminated problem officers from being assigned to a new position at another precinct. Police departments should be required to submit relevant information to a tracking office when an officer is fired for human rights abuses or when a police officer quits before a decision is made regarding the officers misconduct. Recruiters must be required to check with the same tracking office before any applicant. An officer found guilty of police misconduct in any way violent or non-violent should be decertified. Desertification can be described as the process of making any certificates or licenses the officer holds invalid. Officers who have been decertified cannot be employed as police officers again until they are re-certified. These solutions should be very effective because it filters out many potential problem officers.

There are countless reasons why police brutality should be stopped as quickly as possible. For example, the Rodney King beating of 1991 left the nation shocked as Americans seen police brutality first hand. These are just the major examples of police using force to use illegal tactics when apprehending suspects. The second reason Police misconduct should be stopped is because people are also dying. The police have a nasty reputation, especially among minorities, yet officers are doing very little to help improve public relations. The solution to problem of police brutality must begin with the officers themselves doing there best to fix their image. Law enforcement must make an effort to show that they trying to protect the community and show that they are not looking to beat or harass people. Public relations may be the key to the solution of police brutality because resistance by citizens will be minimal. A good relationship between law enforcement and minorities will help relations with the public in a big way and in the long run. The problem with Police misconduct is that it is a very difficult and complex problem.

However, with the right solutions and measures taken intact with this situation can be resolved. Police brutality is one of the most severe and troublesome civil rights infringements in America. The misconduct of police officers, such as, physical abuse, unlawful shootings, and verbal assault must be prevented and put to an end. Police precincts across America should function as a force that handles situations in a professional and civilized manner and protect the people, not harm them. The issue of police brutality is becoming more crucial as society grows and witness police brutality on the news. The purpose of this research paper is to give my insight on police brutality. Police brutality must be stopped. Countless innocent people are being effected each day cause of police brutality.

Discrimination also plays a role in this. Racial profiling is a ongoing issue where I live. No innocent person should be harmed by police. Justice should be awarded to those who have been victim to police brutality. Police officers shouldn’t be let off charges there guilty of. I have witnessed many police officers get off charges they were guilty of. The law system needs to change. Police officers are being trained to kill. Stricter laws need to be put into effect to help stop police brutality. The police are here to serve and protect. Police officers aren’t doing there jobs right.