Police Brutality in New York and New Jersey - Research Paper Example

Why Surveillance will Deter Police Brutality in New York and New Jersey It is common knowledge all over the world that the police ought to be the custodians of the citizens of a country through the maintenance of law and order (Peffley and Hurwitz 111). The police ensure that this is done by apprehending criminals and citizens who conduct themselves in a disorderly manner. However, there have been rampant claims of the police using excessive and often unreasonable force in their line of duty. Such unwarranted use of excessive force against innocent citizens amounts to police brutality (Barak 71). More often than not, police brutality comes in the form of use of profane language, threats of violence, field searches, approaching an innocent citizen with a drawn firearm, and to the extreme, physical violence against victims (Champion 58). Although police brutality is a commonplace occurrence in the entire United States, it is worth noting that New Jersey and New York are particularly conspicuous with such acts due to their strategic importance (Holmes and Smith 87). In as much as the law allows the use of reasonable force by the police in apprehending suspects, the governments of New York and New Jersey should install the relevant surveillance systems to reduce the many incidences of police brutality Despite the fact that the law on procedures of apprehension is very clear, some police officers still prefer to use excessive and more often unreasonable force in dealing with suspects or innocent citizens (Holmes and Smith 87). The law protects all citizens, including suspects and the police officers have to comply with such laws in maintaining order within their areas of operation (Shedd 43). It means that officers who appear to have violated the fundamental rights of the citizens in the course of their duties should face the same law that is fair to all (Johnson 521). Under all circumstances and occasions, officers should conduct themselves with utmost decorum and professionalism because the use of any excessive force by such officers could turn detrimental (Champion 58). In most cases, police officers who engage in brutal acts against the citizens do so in groups or individually with the aim of intimidating their victims. In this respect, they use a number of methods to perpetrate inhumane acts on their victims, depending on the situation and the nature of the individual (Barak 71). Sometimes, such rogue officers can use profane language or abusive language towards their victims even if their victims are submissive to their demands. Additionally, police brutality can come in the form of threats to violence or even actual physical violence to either suspects or innocent passers-by (Peffley and Hurwitz 111). Perhaps this is the worst form of police brutality, considering that all citizens and non-citizens in America are protected from any physical harm by the constitution. Another form of police brutality is the brandishing of firearms as a police officer approaches a suspected criminal or curious onlooker (Shedd 43). Due to the widespread cases and claims of police brutality, especially in New York and New Jersey, there is need to install proper surveillance systems that would monitor the activities of police officers while on duty (Greeneand Wrightsman 134). It would particularly work for the benefit of the two governments and the public at large, especially considering that the citizens of America are the victims of such unlawful acts (Johnson 521). For years, residents of New York and New Jersey have been lamenting about unending brutality by the police from the local divisions. It only means that the relevant authorities have to do something that would control the outrageous behavior of some officers within the police force (Champion 58). While cases of police brutality mar the entire police force, it is worth noting that not all police officers are ruthless in their conduct and some have dealt really well with the cooperating citizens (Huffington Post). It must be understood from the outset that the police are there to protect the citizens otherwise their role becomes irrelevant without continual interaction with the public. It is so because a vast majority of the criminal elements tends to masquerade and find refuge within the public (Champion 58). Barak states that some officers in New Jersey have reported their colleagues who have perpetrated brutal acts in the past. Nonetheless, one ought to be very courteous when dealing with police officers since not all police officers come out of training with the required professional ethics (72). Concerning courtesy towards the police, the law requires all citizens to obey police orders at all times no matter what the situation might be. Subsequently, it is worth mentioning that the citizens are susceptible to brutality since the police know very well that no one is watching them when he or she behave in a ruthless manner (Greeneand Wrightsman 134). Meanwhile, the law requires the public to be obedient to all police officers and to respond adequately to any signs of brutality (Shedd 44). In case of police brutality, a person is supposed to submit to the rogue officer and seek legal redress as soon as possible. It is so majorly because most of these rogue officers will always perceive uncooperative suspects as being unruly thereby applying excessive force on their victims (Holmes and Smith 87). Perhaps the necessity to have the New York and New Jersey police officers under surveillance is for the reason that over 120 people died in those states because of police brutality. If indeed, police brutality can result into the deaths of innocent citizens of America, then monitoring and accountability has to be in place (Huffington Post). It can only be implemented if there is enough surveillance on the police officers during their hours on duty in order to ascertain their conduct (Champion 58). In the same year, over 6000 police officers were arraigned in various courts and charged with gross misconduct, a majority of them having used excessive force on their victims. Although other forms of police brutality such as verbal abuse, cause trauma to the public, physical violence is the most painful and gross form of police brutality and it is the commonest (Barak 71). Several studies indicate that the badge that the police officers hold has a significant effect on their attitude in the sense that they think that they are above the law. Since no one is above the law, relevant statutes ought to be implemented to monitor the conducts of various police officers in the field (Shedd 43). It will not only change their perception about their jobs and the public at large, but it will also have a positive impact in their conduct (Jacobs 217). Besides, every government official ought to have some sense of accountability, including members of the disciplined forces. Instead of using physical force and then asking questions later, all the police officers ought to embrace the opposite in order to be fair to everyone within the society (Peffley and Hurwitz 111). Although various witness protection agencies exist in the United States, it is worth noting that many cases of police brutality go unreported due to fear of retaliation, victimization, and mistreatment (Greeneand Wrightsman 134). For this reason, a more potent and comprehensive mechanism of bringing rouge police officers to book ought to be in place. Owing to this scenario, a number of rogue police officers, especially in the United States have taken advantage to continue with their dishonest and unprofessional practice (Huffington Post). It is so despite the illegal nature of brutality in the U.S. constitution and, therefore, the only way to combat such a menace is to institute proper mechanisms that would deal with the matter decisively (Champion 58). A good example of police brutality that changed the nature of operations in the State of Tennessee is Officer Frank Phillips, who used physical violence on his victim. In a perfect piece captured by an onlooker on camera, the Officer allegedly tried to strangle a helpless and handcuffed college boy, who did not demonstrate any signs of confrontation in the first place (Huffington Post). The good news was that the Officer was fired and the Tennessee Police Division promised to put proper measures in place to ensure the surveillance of all Police officers within its Jurisdiction (Shedd 44). Specifically, the Sherriff determined that it would provide body worn recording devices to document the audio and video footage of all officers during their time of duty. This strategy will provide tangible evidence in case of claims of police brutality (Barak 73). It would only be fair that the Police Divisions of New York and New Jersey follow suit in order to bring back professionalism to the disciplined forces. Certainly, Tennessee Police Division showed a good example in firing the brutal officer and promising major reforms in the police force as far as surveillance is concerned (Shedd 43). Furthermore, The Justice system of Tennessee moved expeditiously to deal with the matter in charging the two accused persons, who included the police officer and the student reveler (Champion 58). Similarly, New Jersey and New York governments should put an end to the ever-rising cases of police brutality, especially in the 21st century when human rights are at the center stage of democratic, religious, and social talks (Jacobs 218). Since there are no proper legislations dealing with police brutality, most police officer who abuse their victims normally go scot-free or pay some petty fines and have jail terms of between five and ten years (Holmes and Smith 87). Perhaps a more appalling fact is that some of the brutal acts by the Police normally lead to the death or complete incapacity of the victims of such acts. Other brutal acts by the police have had long-term psychological impact on the victims, for example rape and physical assault (Greeneand Wrightsman 134). In this regard, it is only sensible that police be made to face the full force of the law which they purport to be enforcing in their line of duty. This way, the police officers who are prone to brutality will have to watch their ways or else risk dismissal and heavy judicial punishments (Peffley and Hurwitz 111). The only way to ensure that police brutality reduces, especially in New York and New Jersey, which have recorded exceptionally high cases of police brutality, is through surveillance of the police officers. Since New York and California are at par as far as police brutality is concerned, there is the urgent need to get rid of such a menace before the situation grows out of control (Barak 71). With the increasingly advancing technology, tracking the activities of various officers is easier than it was a decade ago. Certainly, technology can aid in the fight against police brutality by providing both video and audio surveillance systems that can be monitored from a central system (Champion 58). Owing to rampant cases of Police brutality, particularly by the New York Police officers, the citizens are rapidly losing confidence in the New York Police Division police officers at large (Jacobs 217). In this regard, it is worth noting that all the Officers in New York and by extension, New Jersey, ought to be under continuous surveillance in order to distinguish the rogue police officers from the genuine ones (Peffley and Hurwitz 111). This strategy will not only restore public confidence in the police force, but it will also ensure justice and fairness in case of allegations of police brutality. People in the United States will not fear the brutal police officers, as they will be confident of a concrete legal redress in case they become victims. In addition, police officers will conduct themselves with decorum because they will be sure that the surveillance systems record every move they make while on duty (Greeneand Wrightsman 134). Despite the fact that the police officers have every right to apprehend a suspect, the same officers ought to understand that all suspects are treated as so until proven guilty in a court of law. When police officers commit extrajudicial killings, it is tantamount to taking the law into their own hands (Shedd 43). The main reason of separating powers within the government is to enable each arm of the government to execute its mandate effectively and within the law (Champion 58). The introduction of surveillance systems to monitor the actions of police officers will effectively hence ensuring that they act professionally at all times and in accordance with the law. Surely, no brutal police officer will go unpunished for their acts if the surveillance systems are in place (Holmes and Smith 87). Some people within the society, government, and police departments may argue that the installation of such surveillance systems will limit the rights and freedoms of police officers (Shedd 44). It is not true to insinuate that putting police officers under surveillance is tantamount to punishing such officers. Essentially, the police force is under public service and by this virtue, all police officers ought to be accountable to the public through their actions (Champion 58). Therefore, the surveillance system ought to cut across the board from the public servants in the financial sector to the police officers. It will essentially ensure that there is fairness in the public sector, particularly when it comes to matters pertaining to accountability (Peffley and Hurwitz 111). Since the offences committed by the police force, particularly in New Jersey and New York in the past one decade are of criminal nature, it is imperative that such police officers face concrete criminal proceedings that will ensure that justice is served (Greeneand Wrightsman 134). As the sayings go, ‘justice delayed is justice denied , and that the victims ought to see ‘justice being served , only watertight evidences can lead to convictions, especially in criminal proceedings (Jacobs 217). The only way to ensure that the rogue police officers face the full force of the law like any other suspect is by documenting any evidence of such acts. This way, no police officer who has acted in a brutal manner will be able to evade justice as has happened in the past (Barak 70). Perhaps one major advantage of the surveillance systems that many critics, including the police officers, do not know is that no individual will be able to give false witnesses against the officers (Peffley and Hurwitz 111). The systems will be able to record all the events automatically thus allaying any fears of biasness or false evidence. Besides, all the suspects will be able to prove their cases in court in case of police brutality, especially when the systems indicate that they did not show any signs of resistance to the police officers (Shedd 43). Moreover, the installation of surveillance systems on police officers will ensure that only warranted cases reach the courts, as the police will not be able to falsify evidence in order to prosecute their victims (Champion 58). According to the Huffington post, approximately 99% of all the police brutality cases do not undergo investigation due to corrupt systems. Usually, the authorities at the police department dismiss such cases on either frivolous grounds or lacking sufficient evidence to proceed to full trial (Greeneand Wrightsman 134). In this respect, the victims of police brutality in New Jersey State normally feel disillusioned by their police department and the whole justice system. It would have been better if onlookers could be able file watertight cases against the brutal police officers but usually, their observations do not amount to adequate evidence that can be used against the rogue officers. If the current systems were working properly, the New Jersey Police department (NJPD) would have prosecuted at least 50% of the cases (Peffley and Hurwitz 111). Since the current systems have failed to reduce incidences of police brutality in the United States, it is only sensible that new methods be introduced to curtail the escalating cases of police brutality (Greeneand Wrightsman 134). In essence, the New York Police Department is among the police departments taking the lead in police brutality followed closely by New Jersey, although California’s case is worse off (Holmes and Smith 87). Recent compilations of police brutality indicate that despite the current measures that are aimed at reducing the crime, police brutality is on the rise, particularly in the United States (Shedd 43). Not only is the number of cases rising but also the magnitude of offences perpetrated by various officers. For instance, the NYPD officer that sodomized a detained victim with a broken broomstick is a clear indication of the extent to which certain rogue officers are willing to go with their inhumane acts (Barak 76). Finally but more importantly, police officers will be able to send any distress calls to the call center even if their normal communication systems are not working since there will be an additional installation (Champion 58). Fundamentally, the police departments will be able to know when an officer is in danger or in need of help and backup when the said officers are under surveillance. The threat could result from uncooperative suspects or real criminals who are on the run (Holmes and Smith 87). Thus, various coordination centers can be able to organize for backup in case of emergency. This is just an additional role that the surveillance can provide to the police departments (Peffley and Hurwitz 111). In conclusion, police brutality is normally traumatizing to the victims and therefore, it should be eliminated if not reduced to a minimum level, through the surveillance of police officers. In the past one decade, the states of New York and New Jersey have experienced exceptionally high rates of police brutality, possibly due to the many cases that go uninvestigated. Since the police departments who are supposed to prosecute cases of police brutality throughout potential cases on frivolous grounds and due to insufficient evidence, a more accurate method of collecting evidence if need arises, if necessary. Apparently, the surveillance of the police officers will provide comprehensive evidence to the courts for the prosecution and trial of rogue police officers who engage in brutal acts against innocent American citizens. The evidence will be especially concrete if both audio and video footage are available to prove that the alleged officers actually committed the crimes. In the end, the use of surveillance systems in the police force will reduce incidences of police brutality in New York and New Jersey. Works Cited Barak, Gregg. Battleground: Criminal Justice. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press, 2007. Print. Champion, Dean J. Police Misconduct in America: A Reference Handbook. Santa Barbara, Calif: ABC-CLIO, 2001. Print. Greene, Edie, and Lawrence S. Wrightsman. Wrightsmans Psychology and the Legal System. Belmont, CA: Thomson/ Wadsworth, 2007. Print. Holmes, Malcolm D, and Brad W. Smith. Race and Police Brutality: Roots of an Urban Dilemma. Albany: State University of New York Press, 2008. Print. Huffington Post. 99 Percent of Police Brutality Complaints Go Uninvestigated In Central New Jersey: Report. 7 January 2014. Web. 28 April 2014. Jacobs, David. "Edge of the Knife: Police Violence in the Americas." Contemporary Sociology 26.2 (1997): 217-8. ProQuest.Web. 29 Apr. 2014. Johnson, David T. "Making News of Police Violence: A Comparative Study of Toronto and New York City." Contemporary Sociology 30.5 (2001): 521-3. ProQuest. Web. 29 Apr. 2014. Peffley, Mark, and Jon Hurwitz. Justice in America: The Separate Realities of Blacks and Whites. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2010. Print. Shedd, Carla. "Race and Police Brutality: Roots of an Urban Dilemma." Contemporary Sociology 39.1 (2010): 43-4. ProQuest.Web. 29 Apr. 2014. 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