Essay Sample on Police Brutality

Trampling young adults gushing tears from pepper spray and gas clouds; we vividly remember every U.S state protesting the brutality of George Floyd in the Summer of 2020. American Law Enforcement was put fourth to protect Americans; but chose to gun down and subjugate innocent people of color. American Law Enforcement aren’t properly trained to deter and de-escalate criminal offenses, leading to lives being taken on the vindictive of a traffic ticket. Police officers residing in the United States should have proper training in de-escalation and abuse of power.

Moreover, American police officers react out of illogical fear and the capability to overpower anyone with the righteousness of a badge and a Glock 22 on their waist. Abuse of power is a common indication for why many cops overreact or feel the need to use excessive force. (Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation 1 Oct.) states “Researchers estimate that the US National Vital Statistics System (NVSS), the government system that collates all death certificates in the USA, failed to accurately classify and report more than 17,000 deaths as being caused by police violence during the 40-year study period.” In addition, the U.S government fails to recognize the murders taken place, which could’ve been prevented with rationality and self-control taught to officers from day 1. Although there’s reasonable and self-regulated police officers, they fail to subject their comrades to the responsibility of their crimes. 

Furthermore, many cases involve police officers taking the lives of people for shoplifting and speeding tickets; when ideally, they’d be properly trained to restrain, control, and de-escalate. (BBC News.) detailed “Mr. Remington then fires nine shots from his gun at Mr. Richards, who slumps forward and falls from his wheelchair. He was then handcuffed. He was later declared dead.” Specified in the news article, a police officer fatally shoots a man in the back whose wheelchair bound. The article also includes that the man had a knife; still gave no reason to murder someone over stealing a toolbox. This is an exemplary of abuse of power since the man was disabled, although the officers were in fear of the knife, gave no justification to use extreme force as trained law enforcement officers. 

In addition, predominantly African American men are subjected to the highest rates of police brutality and are incarcerated significantly more often than other races. In my research stated (Dewan) “A joint investigation by news stations in Minneapolis and Denver counted more than 113 police prone restraint deaths since 2010, costing taxpayers $70 million in wrongful death payouts.” As exhibited, law enforcement has been using improper restraints resulting in the deaths of many; this being an example of police brutality and the incapability to restrain properly, being the results of inadequate training tactics from police academies. While police officers do go through extensive training, they fail to be trained properly minimize chances of extreme force.

Ultimately, Law Enforcement should have proper training in de-escalating and restraining civilians safely without excessive force. I believe that if police officers received proper training there’d be fewer fatalities and better trained officers. To achieve the chances of a decline in police brutality would be the restriction of officer’s firearms, extended training, an investigation in racism within the system, and restraint methods pertaining to all persons without risk of serious injury. All Americans deserve to be treated equally following democratic rule, and safety regulation amongst the public.