Police Brutality

Over the last couple years the public image of police officers all across America has been slowly changed from an all around positive attitude towards police officers, to a negative one. A few officers have made some mistakes when it comes to handling the care of situations they have been put in, and now police officers as a hole are being portrayed as corrupt and racist. A large part of this public image is because of the media.

If you google police officers you are bound to have all sorts of articles about police brutality come up. Some articles talk about how white police officers are targeting black individuals. Other articles talk about how police officers are corrupt and need to be controlled. These articles are added by disturbing images of police arresting black individuals, or exercising excessive force to an individual.

These images are only showing part of the story. They are only focusing on the evil, corrupt police officers they are showing, instead of highlighting that these are only select individuals in a large group. When pictures like these are the first thing that pops up when you search police officer, it can be damaging to this group of individuals, who are all being judged as corrupt and racist.

This image that has been created of police officers is damaging to our society. This is a group that is supposed to serve and protect our communities. They are supposed to be a source of power, authority, and protection for us when danger or trouble arises. If our society begins to see this group as corrupt and racist as maybe a few are, then how are we supposed to feel protected and safe with them?

I think that if we do not change the public image of police officers, or at least tell the story of officers who are not like these few that aren't making good decisions, then our society will be hurt over time. We will lose trust in the one group that is supposed to be there to serve and protect our communities.

http://www.policebrutality.info/
http://thefreethoughtproject.com/category/cop-watch/police-brutality-cop-watch/
http://www.cnn.com/2015/08/07/opinions/arnold-police-shootings/
http://oaklandpolicebeat.com/2014/04/oakland-spent-74-million-settling-417-police-brutality-lawsuits/