Do American police go too far?

Question

In the past few days I've read about or seen the following things:

- a man is shot to death on the day of his wedding
- college police use a tazer on a student who was using a computer in a room without the required pass
- a police officer repeatedly punches a criminal in the face while the criminal is subdued

What's going on?

You don't see this sort of stuff happening in other Western countries, at least to this extent.

Answer 1

Ok, I'm going to try and answer your question or at least the three examples you gave.

Man shot to death: A - you (nor was Mr. Sharpton) weren't there. It is my understanding that there was some type of undercover operation during which the young man who was killed tried to run over some police officers, actually ramming their vehicle. They shot to STOP THE THREAT. If you don't think that the use of deadly force could be justified in such an instance then you go stand on a street, let someone drive toward you. You get back with me and let me know if you felt as though you could be seriously injured or killed.

Taser - (that's how it's spelled by the way) That young man who feels he doesn't have to obey the rules of the University or the lawful orders of an officer was tased to force him to comply with the LAWFUL orders of the officer. The tasing of Mr. Tree Hugger was not unlawful nor was it excessive. What was amazing is that more people didn't go to jail!

Police Officer punching - I didn't see or hear about that but I'm sure you are referring to something you saw on tv news or read about. Again, you weren't there nor were you privy to all of the information as to what was going on.

I guess what I'm saying is that if you aren't there and don't know alll of the facts don't render judgement. I know that there are bad officers out there and we get rid of them when we find out. Life is about choices and it seems as though the only constant here is that the poor citizen who found himself in a situation with an officer seemed to have been committing some type of illegal act/violation of the law. MMMMM, an officer doing his/her job...shouldn't they have been somewhere else when they were needed?

And as for your comment about ''that stuff happening in other countries'', well first of all the other countries don't have the freedom of press and/or speech that we enjoy. Second, why don't you go to one of those countries and try to injure an officer, steal something etc. I think you'd be happy to come back here and enjoy just how kind and generous your officers are. If that doesn't do it for ya and you feel as though it should be changed then go to an Academey, strap the gun and badge on and get in the fight. Otherwise, continue to be a sheep while we continue to be your sheepdog. When you need us we'll be there but until you do you will never appreciate what we do and put up with on a daily basis.

Answer 2

Well...WHY was the man shot on his wedding day? Did he pull a weapon on the officers? I'm sure they didn't just walk into an innocent guy's wedding and shoot him. I'm sure they also wouldn't tazer a student BECAUSE he was using a computer in a room without the required pass. They probably went in to ask him to leave, and he refused and resisted them or threatened them. Yes, occasionally you have brutality, but that is true everywhere. The United States just reports things like this more than other places; that's why it seems like it happens more here. The majority of cops here are excellent, and they have the hardest, most thankless job out there.

Answer 3

I think in many places they are not supervised properly and have been free to develop a culture of "omerta" where no colleague will say a word against another police person, whatever they did.
Combined with this is a general climate where civil rights are considered worthless by so many people, so it's no wonder the police feel they can go to any lengths as long as there are not enough independent witnesses who can't be frightened off.

Answer 4

For every story that you see there are hundreds of others that you will never hear about. Are police meaner here than they are elsewhere? Probably not. Are there more criminals in America than elsewhere? Probably not. Are the police more afraid of private citizens here than elsewhere? I'd say so. The one big difference here as opposed to elsewhere, is that the police here in America never know who might have a gun. There are more guns in America than probably the rest of the whole world. People die because they might have a gun. The police know this, but private citizens often don't, and act like they have a right to do whatever they're doing, and die for it. I don't know what the answer is. Since we have so many guns, getting rid of them is like trying to empty the ocean with a teaspoon.

Answer 5

The individuals have not allowed their police to develop into tied up with pink tape, i'm particular our police are frequently ordered to take the softly softly frame of mind to easily about each and every thing , this isn't helped with the help of the kind of do gooders we've sticking their noses in the position it isn't welcome , and evidently the feared human rights regulation .the yank philosophy of " in case you do incorrect then you definitely get punished "looks to paintings ok over there .

Answer 6

The key word CRIMINAL! They just get sick and tired of the criminal, always whining about their rights and when they go to jail, we support the family. Try being a cop and see the frustration of having bigger and better weapons pointed at you!

Other countries chop off your head or hang you with only a semblance of a trial.

Answer 7

I think alot of police are on a little power trip. They need to step back and think about what they are doing, and get their priorities straight.
Police have more to worry about then a student using a computer. I heard about that story and was appalled.

Answer 8

Just maybe if they would go alot farther and beat the holy poop out-a bunch of drug dealers and shady car salemens, idoit no respectful drivers, the world might be a better place, when they say stop why is it so many crooks and other low life don't understand the lauguage

Answer 9

And what we see in the mainstream press is not always the whole story.
I would say our police overall do an excellant job.
There are bad apples in every box, but as soon as discovered, they are removed. Tell me that happens in Iran.

Answer 10

Yes