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Ariel Thompson
Connie Douglas
UWRT 1102
17 February, 2015

Policing the Police

Brutality is defined as savage physical violence or great cruelty. Whereas racial profiling
is defined as the use of an individual's race or ethnicity as a key factor in deciding whether to
engage in enforcement. Over the years, it has been questioned if brutality and racial profiling are
factors in our law enforcement. Charts and studies indeed show that there is a positive correlation
between these two repulsive topics. Police brutality and racial profiling is an issue in American
that has left many wondering if it really exists and if so, how will it be solved.
Over the past decade, and even the past five years, more light has been shone on police
brutality and racial profiling. The media and social networks has made it even easier to bring
national awareness to the issue. Charts show that in over half of killings by police, the victims
are minorities. Studies also show that a minority is more likely to get convicted than a Caucasian
for committing the same crime. A whopping forty three percent of police officers agree that
following their rules and proper training techniques are not always able to get the job done so,
more force must be used. Eric Garner was choked to death by a police officer after repeatedly
saying I cant breathe. So when does the excessive force become entirely too much?

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Through my research, I want to answer why is it that certain races tend to be targeted by
police. Are some races seen as more of a threat than other races to law enforcers? When will
police officers truly be policed for the wrong doings that they can cause with brutality and
profiling? Should black males really grow up in fear of officers? I myself know too many young
African American males who fear the law and do not want to be approached by them. Moreover,
should Americans in general be afraid of the ones whom are purportedly trained to protect us?
Some officers could possibly get a rush or a high off of feeling as if they have power over
people. Regardless of if law enforcers feel this way or not, it is still wrong and the issue must be
solved. What if officers were required to wear cameras at all times? This would allow the actual
truth to always be shone. There would be no more officers word against the bystanders or
victims word. Officers being aware that there are cameras on them would cause them to be more
mindful of the way they handle situations. Better training as to how to communicate with citizens
would be extremely beneficial in conquering police brutality and racial profiling.
In closing, the positive correlation between police brutality and racial profiling is an issue
that effects more than just one race of people. The American race is effected as well. We are all
said to be equal so it is time to be treated that way. In the diverse and media driven society that
we live in, it is not hard to notice that profiling and brutality are major issues. Through research,
I will continue to find the answers to the concerns I see with police brutality and racial profiling
and ways to combat the matter.