Why do policemen over and over use excessive force?

Answer 1

well seems like they were picked on when they were kids then they grow up become cops and take it out on us.. they think because of badge they can do no wrong.. even if one runs a light or does not use a blinker you should report them to internal affairs.. they are suppose to use signals just like everyone they abuse their authority even by not using a signal.. they make me sick

Answer 2

I can't speak for all police- but I think one of the reasons is because they are human beings who put their lives on the line every single day for not enough pay and definitely not enough appreciation for what they do... If you were a cop, and the next car you pulled over might be the one containing a psycho and an illegal firearm, how would you handle the situation? They want to go home at the end of their day- in one piece. Sometimes the excessive force that is used is an understandable human reaction to the combination of fear and adrenalin. They want to make the arrest without getting hurt or killed.
Sometimes, excessive force is a lot less "understandable". Sometimes cops suffer from overly-inflated egos, and it's likely they got into the profession they are in for the purpose of enjoying the wielding of power over others... Those are not the "good cops".
Unfortuanately, every police department has a combination of the two, but for the most part, most cops are NOT the "bad" type, and work very hard at controlling the sometimes-tempting urge to overreact, even when they are in very real danger themselves.

Answer 3

I have a brother who was beaten beyond recognition by cops. A caller in a white neighborhhod called that a man was harrassing a pregnant lady. The cops came and surrounded him with guns drawn and proceeded to beat him after tackling him to the ground. The pregnant lady screamed and yelled for them to stop. They, umm, proceeded the beating in front of her. Later at the station, they FINALLY figured that the married couple were not having any problem except being in a white neighborhood. My family is one that attends church. I was in the Navy at the time and couldn't be there by his side as he healed from his wounds, but that is one of the reasons that made me not wanna serve MY...OUR country any further. Eh, life sucks sometimes. Perps are perpetrators, not a loving God fearing couple who later was not charged. Whoever made that prank call just didn't want to put the for sale sign up because when they head for the hills, the mud brings them right back down. The Cops act like frats sometimes and cover for each other. That crap needs ta stop. Cuzz if an innocent black man gets beaten unjustly and it is proven as such later, the black community will hear about it, as well as the whole world. It just makes it harder and harder for all Americans to go into another country and sell them on, America is here to treat you fairly. Come on now.

Answer 4

Most don't, in general they use the force needed for thier opinon of the level of threat. It is easy for people from the safety of thier couch to watch a video of an event, but I would say if 90 percent of americans where put in the same situation, the force would be alot more than is actually used.

Also of course the person who committed the crime always complain it is excessive, and don't want to take any responsiblity.

if they would merely follow the demands of the officer to give up, there would be no force normally

Answer 5

There are many factors involved including who is the one who is determining what constitutes "excessive" force. People seem to think that policemen are somehow like robo-cop, a computerized being that doesn't suffer from the same fears and failure to control their anger that the rest of us do.

Sure, they are called and should be held to a higher standard than someone who doesn't have their authority. But at the same time people should be willing to give them a break. If you were chasing after a suspect at high speeds watching innocent people come a hairs breadth from death as the driver swerved through traffic and ran lights and then when you finally got the car stopped and the driver acted like he wanted to resist being taken into custody do you think that you would be totally calm and be in a state of mind where you could take the time to carefully examine every action you were about to take?

If it looked like the guy might be going for a weapon or he was big and looked like he was ready to clock you if you gave him the chance what would you do?

Besides which, what does the Bible have to say about who is really at fault in these situations?

Romans 13:1 Let every soul submit to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except by God, and the authorities that exist are instituted by God. 2 Consequently the one resisting the authority has opposed the ordinance of God, and those opposing shall receive judgment to themselves. 3 For rulers are not a fear to good works, but to evil. And do you wish not to fear the authority? Do what is good, and you shall have praise from the same. 4 For he is God's servant to you for good. But if you do evil, fear; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God's servant, an avenger for wrath to the one practicing evil.

Answer 6

some police officers feel it is necessary at that time to use the force that they used. its a scary world out there, you never know who has guns or nowadays even a bomb. so they would rather be safe than sorry. dont get me wrong, i am not saying that it is okay to use excessive force, but imagine if you were a cop, and your life was on the line, wouldnt you rather rough the criminal up a bit rather than risking your own life? and also, a lot of times the person being arrested resists arrest, those people bring it on themselves and have no right to claim excessive force.

Answer 7

I would think job stress causes the vast majority of it.
I'm not failing to take into consideration the issues of racism, anger management problems or personal conflicts between police officers and other people- I simply don't believe that it's very commonplace.

I recently had a former foster brother die as a result of a conflict with the Eldora police department in Iowa. I don't blame the Eldora police department for the entire situation because the fact of the matter is that my former foster caused a problem that brought the police department to the scene and resisted arrest.
This doesn't excuse the actions of the department but one still has to take into consideration the actions of the other party involved.
Put yourself into the shoes of the average police officer and imagine for a moment that you yourself were trying to perform your duty, fullfill your obligation to the community and serve society while living with the constant threat of bodily injury and death. Take into consideration the almost constant verbal abuse.

It is very possible that you yourself might one day reach a breaking point and the constant barrage of bullshit having finally exceeded the limit- suddenly snap.

Answer 8

Actually its not as often as you think but cmon lets walk a mile in their shoes ok.
Its 4 am sweltering hot you have just gone through 8 hours of HELL and another 4 hours to the end of shift
first call was a domestic obvious evidence of assault you arrest the husband/wife(50 50 chance there) the spouse comes screamin at you like a banshee trying to rip out your heart (fact most police officers killed or injured do so on domestic calls) you end up arresting both for assualt now you have to deal with some scared lil kids,it isnt pretty but at least the kids will be in someplace with AC this takes you to1145 pm
do some traffic enforcement watch for drunk drivers
next call you have to help peal the bodies of 2 or 3 drunk driving victims out of the car so the coroner can drag them off to the morgue 2 were teenage girls the same ages as your own
its now 2;50 am it would be lunch but naw not now not hungry
after the accident scene
You find a toddler wandering around in the street dirty diaper no adult around then out of nowhere some locl kid rides up on his bike tells you where the kid belongs you head over and find the mother drunk naked and having "fun with her Boyfriend" luckily grandma shows up freaks on her daughter and takes over care of the kid.
your not even finished when you get a call about neighbours fighting get there and after 20 minutes of talking and being called anything under the sun you get them to go inside their homes and its over.Then you hear an officer assistance call its 4 am you have been ramped up and down with adrenilin for last 8 hours you race to that call jump out and some dude is standing over a n unconscious officer you would be damn good as a cop at this point not to just shoot that SOB but after all that you have gone through you may lose it but some media type will get it on film and your *** is judged based on what the touchy feely people saw and heard about that incident
So next time you want to condemn walk that mile and see if you have what it takes to go out and do that job no matter what the conditions nor what danger you may face

Answer 9

I imagine that just the stress of having to carry a gun to work with you might have something to do with it.
And then there are some that should have never gotten that far.
They have a tendency of getting caught up in the moment, it's what they took the jobs for. It's certainly not for financial security.. ( course, it's not for financial security for the good cops either )

Answer 10

"Over and over"? I am willing to bet it happens a lot less than you think it does. There are bad people in all professions. Yes I think it's wrong, but there is zero point in making a generalization of a profession who spends 5 or more days a week risking their lives for public safety.

Answer 11

They don't! The use what is necessary to bring the person and situation under control. There lives are at risk each day they work.

You sound like one of those PC freaks that think the Officer abused you if he doesn't kiss you backside.