C455 Task 4 - Grade: Pass PDF

Preview

Summary

English Composiion I – C455Task 4TASK 3 Topic – Causes of police brutality in the USPolice brutality, in recent years, has become one of the top causes of death and/or injuries in the US. Contrary to what many may believe, this is not a new naional problem. Rather it has been brought to the forefron...

Description

English Composition I – C455 Task 4

TASK 3 Topic – Causes of police brutality in the US

2 Proposal Argument Essay Police brutality, in recent years, has become one of the top causes of death and/or injuries in the US. Contrary to what many may believe, this is not a new national problem. Rather it has been brought to the forefront due to the digital age that we are currently in. There are many facets to police brutality that have been solved but there are two that are still unsolved – lack of accountability and militarization. To solve these police brutality issues – lack of accountability and militarization- the police force must promote accountability and to revise the use of SWAT (Special Weapons and Tactics) teams. To promote accountability the executives of the police force should began at the root of the problem – the “Blue Wall of Silence”. The “Blue Wall of Silence” “has been a significant issue for policing for many years”. To discourage this behavior it must first be confronted. At times it may seem as if the issues are improving but when major issues arise, such as the death of a civilian, investigations into many incidents have shown that this is still a relevant ongoing issue. The “Blue Wall of Silence” makes incidents that are serious and would normally require corrective action to be taken not exist. This distortion of the truth creates both a legal and a moral problem. To eliminate the problem, it is imperative that officers recognize the “unethical and immoral nature of the phenomenon” [ CITATION Dar11 \l 1033 ]. In any other major field, such as healthcare, refusal to report, lying or ignoring fraudulent activities are punishable with fines and/or even jail time. Many large companies have policies regarding reporting workplace violence. So why is it that violence at the hand of the people that took an oath to protect us is constantly being overlooked and once reported why are not all parties involved- the perpetrator and witnessing officials- not held to the same standard? A nationwide awareness campaign, in addition to training, should be completed in every police station in the US for officers. Once

3 Proposal Argument Essay completed, each and every person with a badge should be held accountable– perpetrator and witnesses – and the person that “whistle blows” should be rewarded for their actions. This should also be made a part of the oath that is taken when one completes the academy. In August of 2017, Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced an executive order lifting the ban on the transfer of some “military equipment, like grenade launchers and bayonets-to local police departments. This move caused concern from civil rights groups and criminal justice experts.” During this same time, it was decided to place restrictions on certain equipmentweaponized vehicles and aircrafts, grenade launchers, high-caliber firearms, and bayonets -available through the “1033 program”; while other equipment – “Humvees, helicopters, and M-16 assault rifles - were allowed under certain conditions”[ CITATION Tan17 \l 1033 ]. This is the type of weaponry is typically used by SWAT teams across the US. The SWAT team mission is “to enhance the performance and professional status of law enforcement personnel by providing a credible and proven training resource”. The ultimate goal is “to improve public safety and domestic security through training, education and tactical excellence” [CITATION Nat18 \l 1033 ]. A study of more than 800 SWAT team deployments, performed by the ACLU, “found 79 percent were executing a search warrant, typically in a drug investigation, while 7 percent dealt with hostage crises, barricades, or active shooters – the scenarios for which SWAT teams were originally invented”. That same study revealed that “ 36 percent of SWAT deployments for drug searches, and possibly in as many as 65 percent of such deployments, no contraband of any sort was found"[ CITATION Sea19 \l 1033 ]. Based on the mission and training SWAT, it can be concluded that these officers are trained for high-risk incidents, such as terrorist attacks or mass shootings. If a suspect is “known or believed” to be heavily armed, a location for

4 Proposal Argument Essay an arrest is heavily bulwarked or poses a hazard are some of the criteria for requesting SWAT. Does the report of a person dancing naked in the middle of an intersection reportedly on drugs or a report of drug activity in a neighborhood plagued by crime fall in this published “threat matrix”? No, however it becomes a “threat” because patrolling officers are “in fear of their lives” so the threat is very high. The National Tactical Officers Association in conjunction with police executives should come together to revise the term “high-risk” means and when SWAT should be deployed. The thought of many is law enforcement should go back to the days when there was no SWAT and operate as such. It is important that lack of accountability and militarization be brought to a halt in law enforcement. As being an important part of policing, accountability and de-militarization of law enforcement signals that the law enforcement and the justice system cares about not only the lives of the community, but their actions. Shedding light on the “Blue Wall of Silence”, rewarding whistle blowing and going back to the teachings of the old would not only bridge the gap between police officers and their community but allow all officer to do what most of them dreamed of – To Serve and Protect.

Works Cited Burbank Police Department. (2019). Specialized Units. Retrieved from Burbank Police Department: https://www.burbankpd.org/specialized-units/specialized-weapons-andtactics-swat-team/

5 Proposal Argument Essay Misra, T. (2017, August 31). The Local Figh to Demilitarize the Police. Retrieved from CityLab: https://www.citylab.com/equity/2017/08/how-cities-can-reject-military-equipment-forpolice/538209/ National Tactical Officers Association. (2018, April). Tactical Response And Operations Standard for Law Enforcement Agencies. Retrieved from National Tactical Officers Association: http://ntoa.org/pdf/swatstandards.pdf Piccoli, S. (2019, June 19). No-Knock Raids Statistics: 5 Eye-Opening Facts, Figures on No-Knock Warrants Read Newsmax: No-Knock Raids Statistics: 5 Eye-Opening Facts, Figures on NoKnock Warrants. Retrieved from Newsmax: https://www.newsmax.com/fastfeatures/noknock-raids-swat-facts-figures/2015/06/19/id/651434/ Stephens, D. W. (2011, June). New Perspective in Policing. Retrieved from NCJRS: https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/234052.pdf...