The Importance Of Police Use Of Force

Police officers all have the same the duties and authority needed to protect and serve their community. They also face similar dangers when it comes to making their community a safer place. With these dangers, one skill that is always on display is quick thinking. There will always be a dangerous and life threatening situation where an officer has to think on their toes. Because of this, the results of the situation are not always seen as being considered police standards by the public. Most of the time, the public will display an officer’s poor decision by making it out as being excessive force. Excessive force is when an officer is put in a situation where the offender is not following orders and the amount of force given is unreasonable.

“The International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) in its study, Police Use of Force in America 2001, defined use of force as "The amount of effort required by police to compel compliance by an unwilling subject." ("COPS Office: Use of Force." COPS Office: Use of Force. U.S. Department of Justice. Web. 10 Dec. 2015). Where it becomes tricky is the fact that at times, in certain situations, force is very much needed. The U.S. Commission on Civil Rights gave officers the benefit of the doubt by saying that, “In diffusing situations, apprehending alleged criminals, and protecting themselves and others, officers are legally entitled to use appropriate means, including force.”("COPS Office: Use of Force." COPS Office: Use of Force. U.S. Department of Justice. Web. 10 Dec. 2015). It makes sense doesn’t it? For instance, say an officer needs to use their teaser because the suspect is not cooperating with the officer’s orders. According to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, it is absolutely acceptable to use force in that situation. For people who are not familiar with police conduct, it is very much possible that they can be confused with what can be considered as “force.” The IACP identified five components of force as being physical, chemical, electronic, impact, and firearm. ("COPS Office: Use of Force." COPS Office: Use of Force. U.S. Department of Justice. Web. 10 Dec. 2015). What that

The Bureau of Justice Statistics reported that the estimated amount of less than half of 1 percent of an estimated 44 million people who had face-to-face contact with a police officer were threatened with or actually experienced force. (“COPS Office: Use of Force." COPS Office: Use of Force. U.S. Department of Justice. Web. 10 Dec. 2015). That is a very tiny amount compared to what we see and read from the media. Robert K. Olsen who was the former Minneapolis Police Chief, stated in 2004, "just one use of force incident can dramatically alter the stability of a police department and its relationship with a community.” In a way Olsen was absolutely right. But, in another way, rather than a whole community being effected, the whole country would be as well. It is to no surprise that across the nation, officers are being treated different than they have been in the past. One main reason for this is the fact that there is no more respect given to officers due to all the excessive force the public has been traumatized with from the