FORCE: A LAW ENFORCEMENT ISSUE

JEROME JACKSON

THE ISSUE

• OFFICER INVOLVED SHOOTINGS HAS BECOME A BIG TOPIC IN NEWS MEDIA TODAY. LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES DO NOT DO A GOOD JOB IN THEIR HANDLING OF THESE INCIDENTS, AND EXPLAINING TO THE PUBLIC WHY THE INCIDENT CAME TO THAT RESULT.

USE OF FORCE AND MISCONDUCT

• ACCORDING TO THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF JUSTICE, USE OF FORCE IS THE “AMOUNT OF EFFORT REQUIRED BY POLICE TO COMPEL COMPLIANCE BY AN UNWILLING SUBJECT" (POLICE USE OF FORCE, 2012). THIS IS DIFFERENT FROM REASONABLE FORCE, BECAUSE REASONABLE INQUIRES A PERSON’S PERSONAL IDEA OF WHAT THEY DEEM REASONABLE.

SHOOTINGS AND MEDIA

• ACCORDING TO AN ASSOCIATED PRESS ARTICLE, THE FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATIONS CONDUCTED A STUDY OF OVER ONE HUNDRED SHOOTING INCIDENTS BETWEEN THE YEAR 2000 AND 2013. THESE WERE PRIMARILY MASS SHOOTINGS OR ATTEMPTS TO KILL MANY PEOPLE AT A TIME AND EXCLUDED GANG AND DRUG SHOOTINGS. (TUCKER, 2014)

SHOOTINGS AND MEDIA

• “ACCORDING TO THE REPORT, AN AVERAGE OF SIX SHOOTING INCIDENTS OCCURRED IN THE FIRST SEVEN YEARS THAT WERE STUDIED. THAT AVERAGE ROSE TO MORE THAN 16 PER YEAR IN THE LAST SEVEN YEARS OF THE STUDY. THAT PERIOD INCLUDED THE 2012 SHOOTINGS AT A MOVIE THEATER IN AURORA, COLORADO AND AT SANDY HOOK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN NEWTOWN, CONNECTICUT, AS WELL AS LAST YEAR'S MASSACRE AT THE WASHINGTON NAVY YARD IN WHICH A GUNMAN KILLED 12 PEOPLE BEFORE DYING IN A POLICE SHOOTOUT.” (TUCKER, 2014)

PUBLIC RESPONSE

IS THE MEDIA TO BLAME FOR THE INCREASE IN POLICE USE OF FORCE?

THE GENERAL PUBLIC WANTED TO SEE STRICTER GUN LAWS AND NEW POLICIES FOR POLICE OFFICERS INCLUDING RESPONSE.

LAW ENFORCEMENT RESPONSE

• LAW ENFORCEMENT ACROSS THE COUNTRY BEGAN TO REVAMP THEIR TRAINING AND POLICY. THEY ALSO BEGAN IMPLEMENTING NEW TECHNOLOGY TO ASSIST IN INVESTIGATION AND TO MAINTAIN POLICE INTEGRITY.

LAW ENFORCEMENT RESPONSE

• BODY WORN CAMERAS HAVE BECOME SO POPULAR ACROSS THE COUNTRY THAT SOME AGENCIES ARE SPENDING CLOSE TO A MILLION DOLLARS TO EQUIP THEIR ENTIRE DEPARTMENT WITH THEM. “IN SEPTEMBER, THE SPOKANE CITY COUNCIL APPROVED A $733,000 CONTRACT WITH TASER INTERNATIONAL FOR 220 BODY CAMERAS.

SURVEY QUESTIONS

• DO YOU FEEL THAT POLICE OFFICERS GENERALLY USE THE APPROPRIATE AMOUNT OF FORCE TO DO THEIR JOB?”

• DO YOU FEEL THAT NEWS MEDIA INFLUENCES YOUR OPINION ON OFFICERS USE OF FORCE?

• WHAT SUGGESTIONS DO YOU HAVE THAT YOU THINK COULD REDUCE OFFICER INVOLVED SHOOTINGS?”

RESULTS

What suggestions do you have that you think could reduce officer involved shootings?“I’m not sure. The government had tried to stop crazy people from having guns but that isn’t working. I don’t know how cops can stop it.”

REFRENCES

• POLICE USE OF FORCE. (2012, JANUARY 20). RETRIEVED FROM HTTP://WWW.NIJ.GOV/TOPICS/LAW-ENFORCEMENT/OFFICER-SAFETY/USE-OF-FORCE/PAGES/WELCOME.ASPX

• TUCKER, E. (2014, SEPTEMBER 24). FBI: US MASS SHOOTINGS HAVE INCREASED DRAMATICALLY. RETRIEVED FROM HTTP://WWW.POLICEONE.COM/ACTIVE-SHOOTER/ARTICLES/7595726-FBI-US-MASS-SHOOTINGS-HAVE-INCREASED-DRAMATICALLY/

• BRUNT, J. (2014, MARCH 10). WASH. CHIEF WEIGHS PROS AND CONS OF BODY CAMERAS. RETRIEVED FROM HTTP://WWW.POLICEONE.COM/PATROL-VIDEO/ARTICLES/6955826-WASH-CHIEF-WEIGHS-PROS-AND-CONS-OF-BODY-CAMERAS/