Police Brutality

Police: To Protect or to Harm?

Thesis: Police brutality is becoming more widespread throughout the United States, and serious actions need to be taken to deal with the issue.
I. Abuse of Power
      A. Definition
      B. Affected
            1. Minorities
            2. Poor
            3. Religious Groups
      II. Reasons
      A. Fear/ Personal Safety
            1. Amadou Diallo
            2. Kathryn Johnston
      B. Racial Profiling
            1. Rodney King
            2. Abner Louima
      III. Forms
        A. Beating/Abuse
        B. Tasers
      IV. Reform
        A. Diverse Departments
        B. Community Involvement
        C. Accountability
        D. P.A.R.T.

                                                                  Dixon 1
Police: To Protect or to Harm?
      Role model, protection, helpful, friendly, and powerful are just a few words used to describe law enforcement officials. Police work has often been called “dirty work.” Officers often deal with problem situations-upset and traumatized victims, unruly or violent offenders, and drivers annoyed at being stopped (Weitzer). The police are employed by society to maintain order, but what happens when these highly respected officials abuse their power? Police frequently complain that citizens fail to respect them or defer their authority, and this may provoke a harsh response. When we hear stories such as the Rodney King beating or the Amadou Diallo shooting, not only do we begin to fear these officials, we lose our trust in them too. Police brutality is becoming more widespread throughout the United States, and serious actions need to be taken to deal with the issue.
      Police Brutality is the term used to describe the excessive use of physical force, assault, verbal attacks, and threats by police officers and other law enforcement official (Police Brutality). Police Brutality not only occurs in the United States, but it exists in other countries...