The Rodney King beating and the history with racism

The Rodney King beating is a video that has been seen worldwide. Rodney King was repeatedly shot with stun guns, kicked, and beaten with batons causing broken ribs, a broken ankle, skull fracture and possible brain damage. The Rodney King beating was shocking proof that police brutality and racism are issues that still exist today and cannot be ignored any longer. Which is why when the officers were acquitted of the charges it lead the 1992 L.A. riots (one of the biggest riots known in the US). Even during the riots the police used most of their efforts to protect the wealthy Anglo-Saxon communities, leaving the minorities (Korea Town) to fend for themselves. Minorities have had a constant problem with police harassment and brutality.

The police have been used as instruments by the government to enforce racism from the colonial era all the way up until today. The police were used to enforce slavery, Black codes, Jim Crow laws, and overall government enforced racism. Africans have had to fight and die for every liberty they’ve received such as freedom from slavery, voting, citizenship, equality, and as of lately equal employment.

“Although Blacks make up only about 10 percent of the US population they accounted for 51 percent of those killed by the police between 1960 to 1968.”(Platt et al., 1982) Also African Americans are highly over represented in prison populations. About one third of young African American males are under some type of police supervision. Although racism is not as blatant as it was 40 to 50 years ago it still exists. Often times the police may stop someone simply because he is black and looks “suspicious” or “matches the profile.” Other types of racisms are policies and laws made that show harsher punishments towards minorities but leniency towards the elite (such as the leniency on white collar crimes).


http://archives.cnn.com/2001/LAW/03/02/beating.anniversity.king.02/

Police Brutality in New York

Abner Louima
NYPD Officers: Thomas Bruder, Thomas Weise, Justin Volpe, Charles Schwartz
Club Rendezvous

On August 9, 1997 there was the case of Abner Louima. Louima was a Haitian male who was arrested at a night club in Brooklyn, New York after officer Volpe believed Louima punched him. Officers Volpe, Schwarz, Bruder, and Wiese beat Louima with their fists, nightclubs and radios before and while transporting him back to the precinct. At the 70th Brooklyn Precinct, the beating continued. Louima was strip searched and remained handcuffed while he was continually beaten, kicked in the testicles by officer Volpe, and sodomized by a plunger handle in the bathroom causing severe damage to Louima’s colon and bladder requiring several surgeries. Volpe also used the bloody plunger stick and shoved it in Louima’s mouth breaking several of his teeth as well.

In America there has been a history of police brutality with minorities ever since the slave patrols during the Colonial Era. Slave patrols consisted of law enforcement as well as vigilantes who would round up run away slaves and subject them to floggings, beatings, whips and hangings. However, even after slavery ended legalized racism did not. Minorities were still subjected to government enforced segregation such as Jim Crow laws and excluded from many normal civilian rights such as citizenship, voting, and property owning.

Many African Americans were terrorized, if not killed, by KKK members. Some of theses KKK members consisted of local law enforcement officers. During the Civil Rights Demonstrations in Selma, Alabama peaceful demonstrators were met by the police and subjected to unnecessary use of batons, tear gas, stampeding horses, and severe beatings. Who should minorities turn to when the people they are afraid of the most is the police?

Police officers are the only authorized occupation were the use of physical force is authorized. It is a job that gives a great deal of discretion. It is important that the people empowered to act as government enforcers have proper ethics and don’t give in to police corruption such as the police code of silence, taking bribes (however small they may be), using unethical interrogation techniques, and violating people’s human rights. Although some police officers may view themselves as crime fighters and view their job as the “good guys” versus the “bad guys,” it is important that everyone’s civil rights be upheld at all times. There are many gray areas as police officers so it’s important that moral ethics are sought after in recruitment practices.

http://www.cnn.com/US/9708/14/police.torture/

Philidelphia Police Beating

It's hard to even understand the state of mind of Philadelphia police officer's during the time of the beatings. Obviously, there is a history of tension between citizens and officers with two previous cases of police brutality and three officer deaths that year. Although it is difficult to determine what happened in the video of the cops, they did not need to have over three cops to each person being arrested. The video clip of the police beatings seems to be a reminder of the Rodney King case. The chief of police always states that these types of actions are unacceptable, but what type of disciplinary actions will these officers receive?

Police Brutality in New Orleans

The New Orleans Police Department has a history of tension with the community due to both offenders shooting the police and the use of excessive force by officers. On March 22, 1990 Adolph Archie, a career criminal, shot and killed Police Officer Earl Hauck. A security guard shot Archie in the arm leading to his apprehension. When news spread of Officer Hauck’s murder numerous officers made death threats on Archie’s life. Archie was beaten and his death was declared death by police intervention.

The Archie case raises many issues of police ethics: using authority to avoid accountability for wrongdoing, using excessive force, allowing too much police discretion, withholding information in police subcultures such as the code of silence, and human rights violations against prisoners.

The deontological ethical position asserts that the means shouldn’t be used to justify the end. Deontologists focus on the morality of the actions themselves and not the outcome. Deontologists believe that ethics are based on obligation and duty. For example, the rookie officer who arrested Archie could use a deontological approach by stating that it is his duty to uphold the law. A renowned philosopher, Immanuel Kant states that morality depends on following absolute rules. In Archie’s case, the officer is focused on the morality of the acts themselves and not the outcome. Although most people would view the rookie the officer’s decision to not kill Archie immediately upon arrest as morally correct, this officer faced ridicule and resentment by fellow officers. This officer had to decide what was more important. He could be loyal to his co-workers and assist in assaulting Archie or he can uphold the law by equally protecting citizens from crime.

The Utilitarian ethical position asserts that sometimes the means should be used to justify the end. Another approach known as a consequential approach validates moral judgment based on outcomes of one’s actions. A consequential view would justify any actions as moral as long as the action leads to a good outcome. A consequential approach to viewing the case of police brutality against Archie is that police brutality is wrong because it led to Archie’s death. It also gives the police a bad public image and it is against the law. There is also the possibility of disciplinary actions such as lawsuits, suspension, loss of job, or even prison.

http://www.hrw.org/reports98/police/uspo93.htm

Why discuss police brutality?

Police Brutality is a major issue that citizens, especially minorities, are concerned about. The police have a history of the use of excessive force, discrimination, and racial profiling. A search on Google will show 2,210,000 entries and “You Tube” had 2,280 videos on police brutality. According to USA Today, there has been a 25 percent increase in excessive force or other tactics to violate victims' civil rights by law enforcement between the years 2001 to 2007. Police brutality is an issue that is overlooked and under reported. Citizens who encounter police brutality feel left with nowhere to turn. Who keeps the police accountable when the one agency we entrust to enforce the laws begins to take the law in their own hands?