I found this interesting article today in the editorial section of the Austin American Statesman, and decided to write on it. The writer's name is unlisted, (and therefore I have no idea the credibility of his or her work) but I'd have to agree with the statements made in the article for the most part. This article is targeted to the entire Austin area, with a special emphasis on those who care about the Austin Police Department and its current affairs.
The writer talks about the recent adherence to 161 new suggestions by the A.P.D. as far as the use of "excessive force" or police brutality is concerned. In recent years, the department has gotten a definite reputation for being too harsh or excessively forceful in containing convicts... even to the point of being noticed by the Bush administration on a national level. In 2004 figures were made public showing that excessive force was twice as likely to happen to African-American citizens and 25% to Hispanics, which finally brought the issue to the forefront.
Although some officers (and citizens alike, for that matter) have attempted to down-play the truths of what was occurring, these 161 new suggestions that will be implicated into the current police code are a step in the right direction, most say. I feel that the statement made near the end of the article says it best: "No one is suggesting that officers not use force if there is no alternative." This I completely agree with. In some cases, if the suspect absolutely WILL NOT cooperate and is beginning to be a danger to those in the surrounding area, you have to do what is necessary to contain them. "Excessive force" included. A few scrapes or bruises on the suspect from a forceful take-down are immeasurably better than the possible loss of a loved one. I found this article quite interesting, check it out.
The Austin Police Department is known for their "excessive force" especially over the last couple of years it has been one most talked about subjects in the media. I also agree with the statment "no one is suggesting that officers not use force if there are no alternative" is a well said statment. We as citizens dont want the police to become pushovers to the community, because then wgo will fear the police.With a little force and regulation, the police should be able to handle the suspect fairly. When we say using "excessive force" what do we really mean? what is excessive? A forcful take down, that may lead to some bruises, and cuts seems reasonable, but there is a line that can very well be crossed, without the use of guns. Police brutality can go hand in hand with this excessive force. The Austin Police department needs to really work on how they handle situatons without over using thier force,But the 161 suggestions may be the key, to what we need to keep the young rebels out of the caskets, and into jail where they get a chance to get out and make a change.
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