Police Brutality Research Paper
Police Brutality
Amy McKinnon
Baker College
English Composition 102
October 27, 2014 United States police play a very important role in the lives of U.S. citizens today. Their duty is to serve and protect us from harm, but often times this may not be the case. Americans are made to believe that these officers will serve and protect us, when in all reality police are more interested in enforcing the law and making arrests. The police often overstep their authority and begin acting as if they are above the law. Police brutality has become an ongoing topic amongst American citizens for quite some time now. Police often use excessive force physically, which often times results in death or severe injury to citizens. Police have …show more content…
The police are supposed to protect and serve, but are more likely just to over enforce the law and make as many arrests as they can. Many officers also use racial profiling against people, this is demonstrated in some of the most recent white cop/ black man shootings. Black males ages 15 to 19 died at the hands of police at a rate 21 times the rate of white males of the same age. (Lott Jr., 2014) Some people may argue that police don 't use racial profiling because the rate of crime is higher in black men. Among blacks, teenage crime is much more of a problem. Black male teenagers were nine times more likely to commit murders than similarly aged white males, not two to three times as likely. (Lott Jr., …show more content…
On September 14, 2013, Jonathan A. Ferrell was shot and killed by North Carolina police officer Randall Kerrick after a wreck in Charlotte, N.C. Ferrell was unarmed. Police said Kerrick was charged with voluntary manslaughter. (AP/Florida A&M University) That night Jonathan Ferrell knocked on the door of a woman after he was allegedly involved in a car accident. The woman called the police and made a report, the police who were responding to the call found Ferrell nearby. The report stated that Ferrell ran towards the officers, who tried to stop him with a taser. The police then stated that Ferrell continues to run toward them, when officer Randall Kerrick fired his gun, hitting Ferrell several times. Ferrell died at the scene. A police statement Saturday said the investigation showed the shooting was excessive and "Kerrick did not have a lawful right to discharge his weapon during this encounter." (Press, 2013)
With the rise of police brutality and fatality of U.S. citizens Americans are protesting against this violence. People have a right to assemble together to promote and protect human rights through peaceful protest or the expression of their views. States have a responsibility to ensure that people are able to demonstrate peacefully and express their views without facing threats, intimidation or violence. (Humanrightshouse.org,
Amy McKinnon
Baker College
English Composition 102
October 27, 2014 United States police play a very important role in the lives of U.S. citizens today. Their duty is to serve and protect us from harm, but often times this may not be the case. Americans are made to believe that these officers will serve and protect us, when in all reality police are more interested in enforcing the law and making arrests. The police often overstep their authority and begin acting as if they are above the law. Police brutality has become an ongoing topic amongst American citizens for quite some time now. Police often use excessive force physically, which often times results in death or severe injury to citizens. Police have …show more content…
The police are supposed to protect and serve, but are more likely just to over enforce the law and make as many arrests as they can. Many officers also use racial profiling against people, this is demonstrated in some of the most recent white cop/ black man shootings. Black males ages 15 to 19 died at the hands of police at a rate 21 times the rate of white males of the same age. (Lott Jr., 2014) Some people may argue that police don 't use racial profiling because the rate of crime is higher in black men. Among blacks, teenage crime is much more of a problem. Black male teenagers were nine times more likely to commit murders than similarly aged white males, not two to three times as likely. (Lott Jr., …show more content…
On September 14, 2013, Jonathan A. Ferrell was shot and killed by North Carolina police officer Randall Kerrick after a wreck in Charlotte, N.C. Ferrell was unarmed. Police said Kerrick was charged with voluntary manslaughter. (AP/Florida A&M University) That night Jonathan Ferrell knocked on the door of a woman after he was allegedly involved in a car accident. The woman called the police and made a report, the police who were responding to the call found Ferrell nearby. The report stated that Ferrell ran towards the officers, who tried to stop him with a taser. The police then stated that Ferrell continues to run toward them, when officer Randall Kerrick fired his gun, hitting Ferrell several times. Ferrell died at the scene. A police statement Saturday said the investigation showed the shooting was excessive and "Kerrick did not have a lawful right to discharge his weapon during this encounter." (Press, 2013)
With the rise of police brutality and fatality of U.S. citizens Americans are protesting against this violence. People have a right to assemble together to promote and protect human rights through peaceful protest or the expression of their views. States have a responsibility to ensure that people are able to demonstrate peacefully and express their views without facing threats, intimidation or violence. (Humanrightshouse.org,