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ToriMyers
Ms.Simon
ResearchMethods
14January,2015

Outline
FactorsofPoliceBrutality:

ResearchQuestion
:Whatarethefactorsthatleaduptopolicebrutality?
Introduction
:Policebrutalityisgettingoutofhandinthissocietytoday.Itstakingthelivesof
innocentpeople,bothyoungandold.Lawenforcementisusingexcessiveforcewhenitsnot
necessaryandunfortunately,notpayingthepriceforit.
Thesis
:Peoplebelievethatracismisthemainfactorofpolicebrutality,butinothersituations
thereareadditionalfactorsthatleaduptoit,suchasalackoftrustbetweenpoliceofficers
andcommunitycitizensduetopoliceignoranceregardingvariousculturesofthecitizensthat
theyserve,policeusingtheirpowertobeabovethelawandlastlytheofficersseemtonot
usethepropertrainingthattheyaretaughtintheirprogram.
I.

Alotofcitizensarguethatracismisthefactorofpolicebrutality.
A. Racismjudgementonsomeonejustbecauseoftheirskincolor:discrimination
B. Racismissomethingthathasbeenaroundforyears,sincetheslaverydays
(since1619)
C. Raciallymotivatedcases
1. EmmettTillanunarmed14yearoldblackmalewhowaskidnapped,
abusedandshotby4whiteguys
2. RodneyKinganunarmedblackmalewhowasbeatenalmosttodeath
by4policeofficers.

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3. MichaelBrownan18yearoldyoungmaleblackandunarmedmale
whowasgunneddownbyawhitepoliceofficer
4. Coloredpeoplearemoreoftenvictimized.Policeofficersaresteady
carryingonthisterriblelegacyofracismtoday.
D.RacialProfilingisamajorconcernintodayssociety.Policeofficersassume
youareuptosomethingbasedonyourappearance,whichwillhavethemstop
youandharassyouiftheywant.
Source:
http://www.wisegeek.org/whatispoliceharassment.htm

It is their duty to enforce the law, but that does not give them the authority
to act lawlessly. They must also abide by the regulations outlined by the
government and accord people certain rights.There are some types of
questioning, searches, and arrests, however, which may be considered
harassment. When officers act contrary to law and abuse their power, they
are often guilty of police harassment.
II.

LackofTrust
A. Policeofficersdontunderstandthevariouscultureswithin
peopleinthecommunities.
B. TheNoSnitchingrulegetsinthewayofpeoplestandingupfor
whatsright.
1. Alotofpeopleinthestreetsknownottosnitch.Tellingandratting
peopleoutisabignono.
2. Peopleareafraidtocomeforwardandtellthetruthbecausetheyknow
somehow,somewayitsgoingtocomebackaroundonthemand

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someoneisgoingtoharmthem.Peoplewouldcomeforwardandtell
thetruth,iftheydidnthavetofearthattheirlifewillbeindanger.
Peoplethinkiftheytellthetruthtothepolicethattheywontjudgeorcometoaconclusionon
thesituationfairly.

Source:
http://www.democracynow.org/blog/2015/3/4/read_doj_report_on_civil_rights
C.Excessiveforcebeingabusivetoapersonwhenitsnotselfdefenseor
necessary.Excessiveforcecanbeusedwhenyoureallyneedtodefendyourself
againstwhoeveritisthatisusingitfirst.Nowadays,officersareusingthisalot,when
itsnottrue,soitshardtobelieveitandtrustwhattheysay.
D.Policebrutalityisacrucialthinganditseemslikeitwilltakealotmorethan
justcitizensmarchingorprotestingtomakeachangeintodayssociety.This
informationisimportantbecauseitsimportantforpeopletoknowwhatsgoing
onaroundthem,intheircommunitieseveniftheyarentbeinginvolved.Like
me,Idontpayattentiontothingslikethatonthestreetsbecausetheydont
happentomeandImwellawareofmysurroundings,butthingsmorethan
policebrutalitycanhappentoanybodyatanygiventime.Beingawarewhen
youareoutonthestreetsinveryimportant,butalsocanbeveryscary.The
streetsisnojokeandnooneshouldhavetolosetheirlivesbecauseofit.

III.

PoliceOfficersareignorantofvariousculturesfromthecitizens.
A. Policeofficerswilllookatonegroupofracewalkingorjustbeing
togetherandassumethattheyaregoingtocommitacrimeorhavethe
thoughtthattheyregoingtodosomethingterrible.

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B. Dependingonthesituation,nowignoranceisexcusableforthepolice
departments,theycantakeadvantageofitandabuseit.
Source:
http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2014/12/15/3603686/supremecourtifyoureacopmistakesa
boutthelawwontstopyourdrugbust/

IV.

AboveTheLaw,FeelingPowerful
A. Sincepoliceofficerscarrygunsandotherusefulweaponsthatprotect
them,theyfeelliketheycandowhatevertheywanttocitizens.
B. Holdingweaponsandfeelingpowerfulsincetheyhaveweapons
changestheirattitudetowardsthecitizensandthewaytheyacttoeach
other.
C. Officerdowhattheywanttodo,insteadofwhattheyaresupposetodo.
D. Officerscanstopyouinyourtracksandharassyouifyoulook
suspicioustotheminanykindofway.
Source:http://www.exposingtruth.com/policeofficersactingabovelaw/

V.Policeofficershavebeentrainedtodocertainthingsonthestreetsatcertaintimes.
Examples,
1. FirearmSkills
2. HumanRelations
3. Ethicsandintegrity
(Source:
http://www.cops.usdoj.gov/Default.asp?Item=2618
)
4. Investigations
5. Juvenilelawandprocedures

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A.Policebrutalitycanhappentoanyone,butmostlyAfricanAmericansarethe
target.
B.Somethingneedstobedoneaboutthepolicebrutality.Theoutcomesare
terribleandnothingisbeingdoneaboutit.Officersaregettingawaywith
actionsthattheyarecausinganditisntright.