WHAT IS POLICE BRUTALITY?
Police brutality violates people’s civil rights and represents a severe instance of police misconduct. Asphyxiation, beatings, shootings, “improper takedowns, and unwarranted use of tasers” are only a few examples of police brutality
According to Mapping Police Violence, 2022 was the worst year on record with at least 1,176 fatalities. Compared to other industrialized democracies, the U.S. police have killed more people, and a disproportionately large number of those killed were people of non-white races.
TYRE NICHOLS EXPERIENCE IN MEMPHIS
Now to speak about Tyre Nichols’ experience with police brutality in the city of Memphis:
This undated image taken from social media shows Tyre Nichols, who passed away in a hospital on January 10 — three days after suffering injuries during his arrest by police. In the first, bodycam footage captures an officer entering the scene of an ongoing traffic stop. Nichols is being wrestled with by the police before he escapes and starts running. In less than half a mile, they caught up with him.
The subsequent struggle was documented by two body cams and a camera mounted on a pole. After thrashing Nichols with a baton, pepper spraying him, and punching and kicking him repeatedly, then the police ultimately prop him up against a car.
TYRE NICHOLS TRAGEDY IN MEMPHIS
Furthermore, the cops’ punching and kicking of Nichols were not mentioned in the police report. The report referred to one of the responding cops as a “victim,” though he has subsequently been charged with second-degree murder.
MEMPHIS OFFICERS INVOLVED IN TYRE NICHOLS CASE
The nation and the city of Memphis are struggling to come to grips with the video showing five disgraced police officers pummeling Tyre Nichols.
Each of the five officers is charged with over a dozen offenses, including second-degree murder. Demetrius Haley, Tadarrius Bean, Emmitt Martin III, Desmond Mills, and Justin Smith have all been positively identified.
According to officials, other officers, sheriff’s deputies, and firefighters have been suspended, and internal investigations are still ongoing.
OTHER CASES INVOLVED IN POLICE BRUTALITY
In fact, many other colored people have experienced this police brutality across America. For example George Floyd. It is not right for police officers to take advantage of their duty. No person should experience death this way.
George Floyd, a 46-year-old Black man from Minneapolis, was detained and killed on May 25, 2020. His death occurred after a convenience store employee called 911 and reported that he had purchased cigarettes with a fake $20 cash.
Additionally, Floyd was found pinned beneath three police officers, lifeless, and unconscious.
GEORGE FLOYDS EXPERIENCE WITH THE POLICE
The New York Times created a detailed timeline of the moments leading up to Floyd’s death. They did so by merging footage from security cameras and bystander cameras, looking over government records, and talking to specialists. The videos showed cops acting in a manner that was against Minneapolis Police Department policy. Their actions ended fatally, leaving Floyd unable to breathe despite his and the witnesses’ cries for assistance.
OFFICERS INVOLVED IN GEORGE FLOYDS CASE
The police department fired all four of the involved officers the day after Floyd passed away. Derek Chauvin, the cop that was seen in the footage pinning Floyd to the ground. Chauvin was charged with third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter.
According to a Times review, Chauvin, a white man, kept his knee on Floyd’s neck for at least eight minutes and fifteen seconds. The footage showed Chauvin continued to keep his knee in place even after Floyd started to lose consciousness.
WHY IS THIS AN ISSUE?
Police brutality engenders a lack of confidence in law enforcement institutions. Consequently, police brutality makes effective police work more difficult and the communities they serve less safe, increasing the overall strain on public health.
Therefore, it undermines the legitimacy of the institution of policing, harms victims physically and psychologically, and costs communities a lot of money. Moreover, in America, Black or Hispanic people make up a disproportionate share of the victims of police violence.
Police brutality is a big issue right now in America and it should be taken more into consideration. Humans should not feel less safe in their communities. It is not fair for these people to lose their lives to these atrocious policies.
By Kelianexis Rodriguez
Sources:
NBC NEWS: Two men say one of the Memphis police officers accused of killing Tyre Nichols pulled a gun on them
CNN: First police report in Tyre Nichols case does not match video of deadly beating By , and By and
NEW YORK TIMES: How George Floyd Was Killed in Police Custody Evan Hill, Ainara Tiefenthäler, Christiaan Triebert, Drew Jordan, Haley Willis and
Featured and Top Image Courtesy of Yannick Gingras Flickr Page – Creative Commons License
Inset Image Courtesy of ChadDavis Flickr Page – Creative Commons License