The following article discusses the U.S. justice department recent settlement reached, which regarded the Cleveland policie department excessive use of policing as well as treatment (here)
Cleveland has reached a settlement with the U.S. Justice Department over what federal authorities said was a pattern of unconstitutional policing and excessive use of force, the New York Times reported on Monday.
The results of a Justice Department investigation released in December found Cleveland police systematically engaged in excessive use of force.
Federal authorities said this month they would investigate police in Baltimore following the death of Freddie Gray, a black man who died of injuries he suffered while in police custody. Six officers have been indicted in Gray's death.
We have discussed the issue of inequality and this article gave a specific example of unconstitutional policing and excessive force. what are your thoughts on the article? Do you think the U.S. justice department settlement reached with the Cleveland police department can lead to other settlement cases in other states?
What I really take away from these recent police brutality events is that a very, very small percentage of our nation's police officer's have given the rest a terrible image. I do think that if these settlement cases do continue, they'll be very long and drawn out, as this is such an incredibly sensitive topic. I do not envy the jobs that these judges will have. But most of all, I can't believe we still live in a day and age where this is a problem. I thought the worst of this happened in the 60s. Apparently not.
ReplyDeleteWhat I really take away from these recent police brutality events is that a very, very small percentage of our nation's police officer's have given the rest a terrible image. I do think that if these settlement cases do continue, they'll be very long and drawn out, as this is such an incredibly sensitive topic. I do not envy the jobs that these judges will have. But most of all, I can't believe we still live in a day and age where this is a problem. I thought the worst of this happened in the 60s. Apparently not.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Aleksis, it seems a small percentage of police officers are making an awful image for the rest of the police force. Adding on to what Aleks was saying, I'm glad I'm not a judge that has to see these cases through but even more so I'm glad I am not a police officer in this country right now with the tainted reputation they have to endure.
ReplyDeleteIt's sad that such a small group can produce such a negative stereotype for the rest of the force; a group of people who aim to protect but their image can be damaged by some. Some of the power hungry officers use excessive force and create a poor reputation. To me, this type of event clearly indicates that inequality and racism exist today. While some neglect it, it is a reality.
ReplyDeleteI also agree that there are a few officers in each department that give the rest a bad reputation. It is unfortunate that police officers who really do care just about keeping citizens safe, no matter who they are or what they look like, are receiving negative connotations because of acts that fellow officers make. I think this does call attention to all police departments to make sure each officer knows the goal of their job and the rules in every situation. This also is a message to us citizens, that the majority of officers have are safety in mind and that's it, while there are a few with messed up morals; so, we shouldn't categorize them all together or judge all cops based on the actions of a few officers.
ReplyDeleteI have to agree with everyone else above that it is sad to see such a small amount of officers giving the majority a bad reputation. I completely agree with Cam's response that these officers who have created such a bad reputation have clearly showed that inequality and racism still exist today in our modern culture.
ReplyDeleteI believe nearly the same thing, which it's a small percentage of police officers (usually in well funded and bigger cities) abusing their power. However, I see the issue to be more along the lines of how police are reprimanded for their actions. In many cases officers are thoroughly protected through multiple institutions, and receive highly inadequate consequences. Police brutality needs to be punished hard, and any officer guilty of abusing his or her power needs to be immediately dismissed from the force, and tried in a civilian criminal court for their atrocious behavior.
ReplyDeleteI am going to have to disagree with you all on this one. I think that our current system of policing and mass incarceration is inherently racist. Just as we have identified ways that it is often tax laws, or lack of adequate regulations that allow and encourage corporations to be unethical, I strongly believe that the police and larger criminal justice system allows, encourages, and teaches officers and judges alike, racist values and actions.
ReplyDeleteFor my senior capstone, “Historical Readings on Ferguson” we traveled to Cleveland where we met with community members and activists there, and discussed some of the instances of police brutality. I saw the picnic bench where twelve-year-old Tamir Rice was shot for playing with a toy gun in a park by himself, the table lined with stuffed animals. The police had already been told that by the 911-caller that the gun might be fake, however because we live in a society where the black “thug” is a common cultural trope that makes white people and cops view black men as criminals, it was assumed he was up to no good, which apparently makes his death justifiable.
If you read the actual DOJ report on the Cleveland Police Department, you’ll find that race is not mentioned, not even once. It is not even considered as a factor, when it obviously is. Take the Brelo case mentioned in the article; you can almost be certain had the male been black and the female white, the cops never would have shot into the car because it very well could have been a hostage situation. You don’t shoot at hostages, but her being black caused cops to assume she was also involved and that both were up to no good, when in reality they were afraid of a police car that was chasing them down for no reason. Which when you live in a city where a 12-year-old black boy was shot by police, anyone who is black has every right to be terrified of the force. There car was shot at 137 times, that is clearly excessive use of force, especially in a situation where no crime other than fleeing the police has been committed, and they have no weapon.
Police departments, particularly in Florida, have been known to only use pictures of black people as shooting targets. These instances are only a part of how our current system of policing is systemically flawed. This by no means that every officer a racist, at least by common definition. However, our country was literally built on slavery, and we cannot yet claim to have escaped it. Police started in the US as slave patrols; historically and currently the police do not fairly “protect and serve” people of color.