The Street Police Force as a Tactic of Maintaining Law - Case Study Example

Ethical Issues Related to Police Use of Force Introduction The word force means the quantity of effort needed by the police to force acquiescence by an unwilling subject. The police sometimes needs to use physical force in attempting to control a suspect from his or her behaviors. In general, police officers have alternatives available for applying force including physical force, electronic, impact, chemical and use of firearms. The police require training in order to acquire new techniques and get education concerning the use of force. This shows that in some extent, the police need to use force when handling some issues. However, cases of using too much and illegalized force should decrease since there are new tactics of restricting suspects from their immoral behaviors (Safrath, 2011). In the past days of policing, the street police used force as a tactic of maintaining law and order and making their will obligatory. In the early 1960s, research shows that the police used too much force in the rebellions and disturbances caused by some people. However, the use of force by the police depends on the roles and responsibilities of the police. This means that some of the police in some departments do not exercise force in maintaining their duties since it is not ethically legal. On the other hand, some departments exercise the use of police force and it is sometimes mandatory for these departments to apply force. For instance, in case of riots and rebellion, the police needs to use force in order to maintain law and keep peace (Sagepub.com, 2008). In the United States, the police often exercise force in approximately 2 million cases per year. Each year, the police use force in over 3,600 occasions resulting to a mean of 600 people being killed (Huebsch, 2011). Police use of force is ethically justifiable for policing actions since it helps in maintaining and exercising their discretion. However, with these well-known ethical rules, the police cannot yet determine the infringement since most of them cannot be predictable by the rules. The domestic police and the military police often had common characteristics and same ethical standards. For instance, sometimes they necessitate on using excessive amount of force where required and sometimes they do not require to use force at all (Huebsch, 2011). This paper will analyze the ethical issues associated with police use of force. It will seek to establish whether it is ethically justifiable for police to use force. Ethical issues related to police use of force It is ethically justifiable for the police to exercise force in maintaining law and order. Police officers are the government officials required to maintain law and order in the society. In some instances, the police encounter quite stressful and dangerous situations, where they must control the behaviors of the public, hence they necessitate on use of force. In some instances, the use of force takes the style of use of hand-to-hand battle with the suspect who obviously resists being engaged in that kind of behavior. In this case, the police will need to use force to diminish that kind of behavior and may battle with the suspect who may also have his own weapons. This shows that the authority must permit the use of force by the police and ensure that they have enough weapons to protect themselves from these dangerous suspects (Mangan, 2000). On the other hand, the police may take the advantage of their power to exercise excessive force on suspects. Although there are conditions that specify the amount of force the police should exercise on a suspect, the police themselves make their own decisions on what amount of force they will use. Sometimes the police go to an extent of murdering a suspect in an excuse that they were confronting the suspect to obtain the truth. The police officers view the incidents of unwarranted force as aberration rather than a universal issue. Questions concerning suitable levels of force are continuously increasing especially where egregious cases of violence and hostility happens (Sagepub.com, 2008). The society always expects the police departments to conduct their duties in an ethical manner and make ethical decisions when handling suspects. In most cases, the people on the ground determine the necessity of the police applying force and sometimes trigger these officers to apply excessive force. The police officers should be in a position to know what the community members, their superiors, their fellow police officers and the societies expect from them. In this way, the police will be in a position to know that they should not exercise excessive force in some situations when conducting their duties (Stigall, 2010). On the other hand, it is ethically reasonable for the police to use fatal force in policing and offering a higher value for the results of the actions. The police officers frequently exercise force in conducting their duties although the public are not in a position of identifying that the police are using excessive force. In maintaining an ordered society, legalized force is important and therefore use of force is natural in the occupation of the police. In addition, in every nation nowadays, the police have a right to exercise force in conducting and maintaining order. Just as it is that monopoly on lawful use of force is the core of each state, then the use of force is the core of criminal justice (Sherman, 37). Another reason that makes use of force by police ethically justifiable is in cases where the suspects have lethal weapons. Research has proven that most residents shot by the police were having weapons or firearms. Often, such suspects engage in criminal behaviors and they resist arrests by the police. In these cases, the police will need to use excessive force in order to detain some of these suspects. In many instances, the suspect is in a position to intimidate the police officers involved in their arrest. This means that the suspects shot were often guilty and that is why the police needed to use force in such cases (Wortley & Roswell, 2006). It is important to note that it is unethical for the police to exercise too much force as a way of punishing the suspect instead of restraining them. For instance, constricting chains and handling the suspect overnight in the cells can be one of the means of punishing a suspect. Some the police actions are unprincipled behaviors and for this reason, the society is against the excessive use of force (Sagepub.com, 2008). When suspects happen to be under the influence of alcohol or drugs, and the residents appear to undergo through mental or emotional impairments, then the police officers should care about the suspect’s health .The worry shoots from the fact that in such circumstances, a persons coherent abilities appear impaired. In dealing with such problems, police officers often weigh their options rather than forcing their way into resolutions. For this rationale, when a resident is in a highly illogical state of mind, the chances of the police officer using force most probably increase and the likelihood of damage to both officer and suspect increases as well (Adams et al., 1999). Stigall (2010) however argues that the use of excessive force is an infringement of the executor’s right against the unfair attack. This means that it is unethical for a police officer to use excessive force in an illegal attack. He adds that the use of force by the police is not vital unless where the suspect happens to be a threat to the police. Although the law permits the police to use excessive force, the suspect should be in a position to be aware of this, prior to the application of the force. Therefore, it is the duty of the police to abstain from the use of too much force but should only exercise it when the situation worsen and should warn the suspect that such a confrontation is about to take place. Although excessive force is not ethically justifiable, the police subculture trains police officers to be hard and tough always. Recruitment of new police officers cannot proceed until when they prove that they can handle a brutal and dangerous encounter with a suspect. This means that the police officers are in a position to prove their braveness and show their willingness to respond to physical force from the civilians. This will also help to reduce the likelihood of police officers trying to disperse citizen arguments through non- violent methods (Wortley & Roswell, 2006). Most police officers injure and to some extent, they kill people using too much force in combating crimes. The police behaviors are abusive to the residents’ rights, but it is sometimes important in the procedures of the police officers. In most instances, the police exceeds when they beat the suspect too much and even shoot people who cause no threats. Due to this, injuries and deaths occurs due to the police use of force using electro-shock weapons, chemical sprays, dogs, batons, radios, flashlights and guns. This implies that even though use of force may be ethical in some ways, it becomes unethical when applied to the wrong person or during normal situations (Mangan, 2000). It is ethically justifiable for the police to exercise force as a means of self-protection and protecting the society from criminal behaviors. This means that the law permits the use of excessive force in order to protect the safety of the society. This also implies that when police use force in some situations, they protect the interests of the majority against the harmful interests of a single person, thereby saving more lives. This would enhance and provide greater security to the community and the society will be in a position to know that it is safe (UK essays.com, 2011). In some instances, police officers use force inappropriately, when other means of correcting behavior or detaining suspects are present. Even though force is necessary in some crucial situations, sometimes the police officers apply the force in an unethical and inhumane manner. This means that the unseemly means of applying force by police are not ethical (Sagepub.com, 2008). Another reason that may prompt the police to use force is demand for respect as coded in the police subculture. Ethically, a good police officer requires respect and he is in a position to set up their authorized power when dealing with the residents. The subculture also supports the belief that it is sometimes ethically good for the officers to respond to the citizens’ brutality, disrespectfully, or even with harshness and brutality. This shows that the ethical standard of the police subculture justifies the use of force in conducting their duties (Wortley & Roswell, 2006). However, by working in the profession of a police officer and obligating an assaulting act, an officer commits a punishable offense. Unwarranted use of force and viciousness by police is a professional crime since it is an infringement of the authorized polices in the course of activity in a justifiable occupation. People who will act with tribute and honesty give the police a great pact of trust. They also gain certain amount of respect from the society and their duties and position as police officers. The act of harshness and brutality abuses their power and violates the trust put on them by the society members (Mangan, 2000). The police officer must decide as soon as possible on the use of force when they come across an intimidating situation. After the police acts on the overwhelming situation, he or she may face judgment over his decision (Stigall, 2010). In addition, there is little chance that a police officer, when he or she must decide whether to use lethal force as a means of managing vicious situation, has all of the required data wanted to make a knowledgeable judgment. This is the reason why most officers commend to identify conditions by reason. Therefore, the police officer makes a hasty decision based on the widespread training and the use of reason. This means that since the police officer has very little time and information to decide on force application, he or she will first apply force, then weighs the situation later. It therefore follows that it is sometimes ethically right for a police officer t use force in such a situation (Stigall, 2010). Some researchers argue that both the unconcealed and the universal racism explain the fact that the Black people are most probable suspects of police violence than the Whites. To support their evidence, the researchers emphasizes on specific issues in which the police have clearly stated the usage of too much force when dealing with the Black citizen. This means that police may sometimes use excessive force on people of certain race or ethnic origin, and be lenient on others. In such a situation, the use of force by the police becomes unethical and is not justifiable. If the police have to use force in some situations, then the application of such force must be fair and equal across all races and ethnic groups (Wortley & Roswell, 2006). Some of the police officers encounter a wide range of situations in their place of work. They come across difficulties that vary from trivial to more serious and then to vital challenges. The police officers come upon people experiencing various mental disorders, including people highly agitated, hysterical, worried, disoriented, and angry, upset, irritated, or calm. In such situations, police have to apply force and it is ethical (Adams et al., 1999). The force used to attain lawful police aspirations should be in proportion to the seriousness of the felony contended or menaced. Therefore, shooting an individual inferred of committing a crime would be an example of using inconsistent force. The police should therefore use the principle of the least limiting choices to safe guard their aims and objectives. For instance, if the handcuffs will work, then the police officers may use them rather than some tactics of restriction and use of lethal force (Sagepub.com, 2008). In general, there is no lawful definition of the appropriateness of force used by police. This is because the police encounter different characters and are in different situations when arresting suspects. The ethical standards depicting use of force by a police officer are highly in the public domain. Most of the times, police officers use excessive force which is unethical. These are cases when the force applied by a police officer becomes extreme, and the circumstances leading to its application were not very demanding (Safrath, 2011). The use of force becomes ethically justifiable when police apply it for the common good or achieving positive results. This means that in some situations police have to apply force to achieve certain objectives. This implies that the police have to exercise their discretion to determine the necessity of applying force (Sagepub.com, 2008). In the case where police officers apply force for the common good, it produces a deterrence effects and becomes ethical. In this regard, the police represent the society and render the morality of its people to a higher authority (UK essays.com, 2011). Conclusion There are various ethical issues and considerations associated with police use of force. It is evident that the law grants police officers to exercise force when needed as they carry out their operations. The moral justification of force application by police asserts that some situations are very critical and they only require force. Many people wonder whether the use of force by police is ethically justifiable. In cases where police use force to protect the interests of the society, then the force is ethically justifiable. Police as well encounter some difficult situations – for instance, armed suspects, suspects under the influence of drugs or even threat. In such situations, it is morally right for the police to use force. Conversely, sometimes the police officers are very brutal and apply force only for punishment. In other situations, police officers discriminate against certain races and ethnic groups. This occurs when police use excessive force to certain people and use reasonable force or fail to apply force at all to others. In such situations, then the force applied by the police is not ethically justifiable. References Adams, K. et al. (1999). Use of Force by Police: Overview of National and Local Data. Retrieved from https://www.ncjrs.gov/txtfiles1/nij/176330.txt Huebsch, R. (2011). Use of Force & Ethics. Retrieved from http://www.ehow.com/about_5630791_use-force-ethics.html Mangan, D. (2000). Police Brutality: The Use of Excessive Force. Retrieved from http://www.drury.edu/ess/irconf/DMangan.html Safrath, B.A. (2011). What is Unlawful Use of Force? Retrieved from http://www.ehow.com/about_5477305_unlawful-use-force.html Sagepub.com. (2008). Ethics and the Police. Retrieved from http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:0KeJlYU0GVIJ:www.sagepub.com/upm-data/23180_Chapter_2.pdf+is+the+use+of+force+by+police+ethically+justified?&hl=en Stigall, R. (2010). Police Use of Deadly Force: Implications. Retrieved from http://ezinearticles.com/?Police-Use-of-Deadly-Force---Implications&id=4013005 UK essays.com. (2011). Evaluating the Moral Justification of Force in the UK Police. Retrieved from http://www.ukessays.com/essays/human-rights/police-uk-force.php Wortley, S & Roswell, T. (2006). Police Use of Force in Ontario: An Examination of Data from the Special Investigations Unit. Retrieved from http://www.cbc.ca/news/background/ipperwash/pdf/ipperwash-prelimreport.pdf Read More