Excessive Force by Police in Los Angeles

Los Angeles stands out for its cultural diversity and its dynamic structure, but the excessive use of force by the police in the city has been the talk of the town lately, and this has been and still is a major problem, especially for minorities. Because in such a situation, a great tension arises between the police and the people the police are supposed to protect, and then many different problems arise.

What is Excessive Force

The use of excessive force is when a police officer or law enforcement officer uses more physical and coercive force than is necessary to control a suspected person or to carry out a statute. This can include unnecessary physical violence, unnecessary use of electroshock devices or pepper spray on non-dangerous individuals and, worst of all, the unjustified use of firearms. These are all violations of human rights. In situations like this, people need to find a good Police Brutality lawyer in Los Angeles, CA.

Cases in Los Angeles That People Don't Forget

Unfortunately, the Los Angeles police department is known for its excessive use of force and there are a few cases that remain in the public mind.

• Rodney King: In 1991, police officers turned Rodney King in because they found him suspicious and this is actually considered by many to be the worst police brutality in the history of the United States. The video of the incident reached many different people around the world, but despite this the police officers were acquitted and faced no sanctions. However, a riot broke out in Los Angeles in '92.

• Protests: The death of George Floyd is all over the internet, and his death was actually caused by the police using unnecessary force and ignoring what he said even though he said it hurt. So people started organizing a lot of protests and they tried to keep it peaceful, but police officers used rubber bullets, batons and other violent methods against the protesters. This led the people of Los Angeles to look at the police in a different way.

Impact on Society

Unfortunately, police brutality and excessive use of force is more common and has a disproportionate impact, especially from backgrounds that have been marked for years. In these situations, trust in police officers and law enforcement agencies is further eroded and people are reluctant to call the police or cooperate with them. In situations where the public mistrusts the police, it will be much more difficult to maintain public order. Sometimes people may organize fundraisers to raise awareness and help the victims and their family. 

Legal and Policy Level Responses

After the incidents, the Los Angeles police department was placed under federal custody between 2001 and 2013, and certain reforms were made regarding this use of force. In addition, cameras were placed on the bodies of police officers to make sure that they did nothing wrong, as evidence against any injustice. But even now, the footage is not always shared on time, which is highly criticized by people. Finally, the Los Angeles police department offers de-escalation training to reduce the use of force in such stressful situations.