Use of Force

In the case study The Flawed Emergency Response to the 1992 Los Angeles Riots. Throughout this article the main issue is reflecting the way in which law enforcement agencies responded to officer’s use of force within the Rodney King incident (Rosegrant, 2000). In today’s society, there is a constant battle on whether law enforcement agencies are properly handling use of force incidents and the way in which they address the public on the situation. The subject of police use of force and the way in which it is handled is a constant debate (). Within the past year, numerous cases of use of force have been documented and citizens have been outraged at the way in which the agency addressed the public, if the officer was suspended, or if the officer faced charges for the use of excessive force (“Policing,” 2003). As with the King case, no charges were pressed, which opens an area that can be examined to see why law enforcement agencies must become accountable for how they address the public.

Law enforcement agencies face obstacles when addressing the citizens of a community. Ashley (2000) states that one obstacle agencies face is ensuring the officers within an agency are being properly and periodically trained. Ashley (2000) mentions that agencies find difficulty in accessing monetary funds for additional training or providing officers with advanced training to combat use of force incidents. In addition, when agencies face more use of force incidents, the liability costs the agency must pay increases (Ashley, 2000). Agencies need to be prepared to ensure officers are equipped with methods other than thinking that excessive force is the only way to subdue a situation (“Alternative,” 2015). Between increased trainings and liability costs, agencies face the obstacle of ensuring their budget encompasses both areas. Without a budget that allows for additional trainings and liability protection for the officers, the agency could fail at ensuring the community had well trained officers.

When analyzing what constraints can occur from a community standpoint, the number of excessive force complaints can create a negative stigma for the agency (Ashley, 2000). There could also be the potential for increased reports of citizens being injured from officers due to excessive force (Ashley, 2000). Citizens could also face the issue of not feeling safe as shown in the King article. Some citizens could feel officers will attack a particular race or a particular area in a community without having a just cause (“Principles,” 2003). Positive police culture must be an obstacle agencies strive to ensure is held to a high standard so that citizens are there to support officers and not be against them (“Principles,” 2003).

Ashley (2000) evaluated research from several law enforcement agencies based off three different areas of criteria: officers who received low levels of training which had no impact on the amount of confidence the officer had in dealing with use of force, low level of training with no impact on the number of use of force officer injuries, and low confidence levels and impact of excessive force. This research found that officers who received lesser amounts of training appeared to be less confident when use of force situations arose. In addition, officers reported they did not receive enough training on the topic of use of force to feel confident when they must make the decision to utilize force on a suspect; however, the officer who did use force felt they had no other choice (Ashley, 2000). Ashley (2000) mentioned research does show that when officers are routinely trained on the issue of use of force, the number of incidents drastically decreased within the agency. It was also found that agencies reported fewer number of officer injuries and citizen complaints when routine trainings were held (Ashley, 2000).

During the riots of Los Angeles and the events that occurred after it, there were examples of leadership; however, these did not help to facilitate or motivate employees when it came to addressing the issue of use of force. For example, police Chief Daryl Gates instituted Operation Hammer which was utilized to assist in arresting gang members through street sweeps. While the intention was to apprehend gang members, law enforcement officers were accused of harassment and racism due to officers searching black teens who were on the randomly walking the street (Rosegrant, 2000). Law enforcement officers were also provided with reports about potential crack cocaine houses. Officers never researched the information that was given, raided four apartments, and arrested 33 African Americans (Rosegrant, 2000). While law enforcement officials were working towards a goal of cleaning up the community, officials were not following a set policy. These events created an environment that either made law enforcement officials commit acts they were not proud of, form a racial prejudice, or follow unorthodox methods of policing.