Running head: POLICE BRUTALITY VS.

SAFETY 1

Police Brutality vs Safety

Ashton L. Gilbert

Piketon High School

Author Note

My name is Ashton Lee Cole Gilbert, I am from Piketon Ohio. I am currently a senior at

piketon jr/sr high school. Our county is very rural and mostly Democrat. This report was written

for composition taught by Miss Cook. She's a professional Piketon high school teacher and

college professor at Shawnee state University. Contact at ashton.gilbert@redstreaks.org

POLICE BRUTALITY VS SAFETY 2

Abstract

As little kids, when we think of what we want to be when we grow up, it is normally doctors,

firefighters, astronauts, and cops. We want to be things that we see are important. We see them as

somewhat heroes. In this research paper, I am going to discuss cops and how we view them as

society and how past events have changed that. I decided to focus on one recent case of police

brutality: the Rodney King case. This case changed America and how we would stand with

excessive force used on people of any race, but mostly African Americans. This case showed

how the future world of technology would change people's ability to abuse their authority as a

police officer. People won't just stand around. I conducted a survey of my own with the people in

my area and will share how the people in my rural county feel about police officers. I have also

gathered facts from a few other source to help enlighten the issue of police brutality and public

safety. We, as a nation, have respect towards cop. We even grow up admiring cops. How do we

go from admitting cops to just being afraid of them? That is a question i will be answering with

my research paper.
POLICE BRUTALITY VS SAFETY 3

Police Brutality vs Safety

Just because there is one bad apple does not mean the whole batch is bad. America has a

problem and it is very visible. There are many famous cases of brutality such as Robert Davis,

Frank Jude, Steve Biko, Sean Bell, Timothy Thomas, Abner Louima, Robert Mitchell, Amadou

Diallo, and Kathryn Johnston. This essay is going to focus mainly on Rodney King. My

research and along with some other statistics will show how the police forces and the society are

affected by theses changes. Police Brutality is an issue in our society but that does not make their

job any less important.

Rodney King Case

First off, one famous case of Police Brutality is the Rodney King case in 1992, Los

Angeles. Rodney was an intoxicated cab driver who fled police in an 8-mile high-speed chase.

Rodney resisted arrest when he was caught. Once they successfully apprehend Rodney, officers

Laurence Powell, Theodore Briseno, and Timothy Wind proceeded to beat him. A nearby

pedestrian made an 86 second video of the event. When I conducted my survey almost everyone

in some way said they would record it and report it exactly what the person did in the Rodney

case. One person said they would Document it via video or whichever method i have available

at the time as well as file a report against the officer After this video was released Rodney

Glen King instantly became the face of police brutality in America (CHANEY, CASSANDRA1

ROBERTSON, RAY V.2) The police officer was put on trial but found innocent. Then, the 89

second video got leaked to the News of what happened to Rodney King and people became

furious. It all started after one of the police officers was not guilty in all counts. People went
POLICE BRUTALITY VS SAFETY 4

nuts. The three days of riots and chaos killed 55 people, injured almost 2,000, led to 7,000

arrests, and caused nearly $1 billion in property damage, including the burnings of nearly 4,000

buildings (History.com). This shows how police brutality led to both police safety and civilian

safety. When it all ended the courts gave Rodney 3.8 million dollars. The cops got put in jail for

a couple of months for assault and using excessive force. Rodney gave a statement years later

saying he said that he forgave. He admitted that he had a hard life and was going down a bumpy

road. I asked the people in my survey do they think they could ever forgive someone for causing

them physical harm? 6.7% said no. 46.7% said yes. 46.7 said maybe. A couple weeks after he

gave that statement, Rodney was found dead at the bottom of his pool in Los Angeles. There was

an investigation but the police officer said that they did not see any signs of foul play. There are

many famous cases of Police Brutality just like Roney kings, such as Robert Davis, Frank Jude,

Steve Biko, Sean Bell, Timothy Thomas, Abner Louima, Robert Mitchell, Amadou Diallo, Karty

Joseph. As time goes on I think that list will get bigger. Not because police officer are bad,

theyre not. You will always have that one bad apple.

Police officers fear more for their safety, see spike in racial tensions, Pew study says. By

Tasha Tsiaperas.

On 01/11/2017 Tasha Tsiaperas of the Dallas Morning News Published an article on police

safety in our society. She explained in this article why cops are sometimes reluctant to stop and

question suspicious people based on racial tensions. Tsiaperas also stated in this article that Black

and White officers are torn whether this country has taken adequate steps towards creating equal

rights or causing highly profiled shootings of Black people by police are isolated incidents or

signs there is bigger problems in police departments. 86% of police say that their job is harder
POLICE BRUTALITY VS SAFETY 5

because of the protest. Nationwide, 21 law enforcement officers were killed in ambush attacks, a

dramatic increase in 2016. 72% of white officers believe that deadly shooting are isolated

incidents(Tasha). 66% of officers say they favor using body cameras (Tasha). My survey said

88.7% said that officers should be made to wear cameras. These statistic matter because it shows

how cops are preserved after a case like Rodney Kings got out. It is happening today as well.

Polices officers jobs are getting way harder.

My overall survey findings

Although it was a very small survey of only 15 people, I conducted a survey over police

brutality VS the safety of the people. I started the survey March 4, 2017 and is still going on. In

this survey 66.7% were 19-40 years old and the other 33.3% were 13-18. I think the because it

mostly young people that took this survey has to do a lot with why a lot of the answers are the

same. I asked what gender they were, 86.7% were female and 13.3% were male. I think this has

a significant impact on my survey because we all know that femalew somewhat look at police

violence or brutality in a different way, due to their natural nurture instinct. 100% ethnicity was

white. This does not surprise me because most of our population around here is white. 100% of

people said that police have a dangerous job. I think we can all agree on this topic. In this survey

I asked various questions. Like, Do you think that police abuse their power? 86.7% of people

said that Police sometimes abuse their power, 6.7% said yes they do abuse their power, and 6.7%

said no that they do not abuse their power. Although many of us have sometime or another have

Bad talked or Put down a Law enforcement officer 100% of people say that they respect Police

officers and what they do. I asked Do you think Riots are necessary and effective? 86.7% of

people say they are not. Which is smart considering how much damage and deaths the riots cause

where everyone occurs. 13.3% say that riots are necessary. The only way I can see that they are
POLICE BRUTALITY VS SAFETY 6

necessary and effective is if the public or the people has be wrong is a massive way. Then I asked

if a riot happened in your area what would you do and what would you be afraid of? One person

said, I would arm myself and fear I would have to hurt someone to protect myself and

property. I asked do you think our society is truly equal when it comes to skin color. 73.3% said

no and 26.7% said yes. At the very end of my survey I asked is there anything else you would

like to tell me about this topic. I got some interesting reasons i'm going to quote 3 of my

favorites. I start with Its always good cop, bad cop. There are always good ones and bad ones

in every profession. It doesnt mean you hold the whole profession as responsible.The second

one is Law enforcement dose their jobs to the best of their ability with what equipment they

have just remember they are hulman as well they have bad days. Dont do bad things you

won't get in trouble. Dont do bad things and get mad when arrested, and or put to the ground etc

depending on the level of bad you're doing

Conclusion
POLICE BRUTALITY VS SAFETY 7

In conclusion, our nation is having conflict with the way we see police brutality . Ever

since the Rodney King the world sees cops in a different perspective. We still respect what they

do but also we know that sometimes they abuse their power, which terrifies us as a nation.

Nobody wants to be beaten like Rodney king and the others I mentioned. Just because there is

one bad apple does not mean the whole batch is bad. We all know that a police officer's job is

dangerous. One thing we can do is have police officers wear cameras to make sure they're doing

their job correctly. Which this would help with people's safety and police safety. I think this

would help out alot with the this issue. Even though I don't see the racism problem that our

country has does not that they are not there. We are all human we make mistakes, some mistakes

last a lifetime. I wish future luck to all the cops that work in our great nation. Keep your eye on

the news, you might see a riot, police killing/ beat, you will also see all the good they do for us.

They ate here to protect and serve.

References

B. (2015, June 23). Rodney King. Retrieved February 26, 2017, from

http://www.biography.com/people/rodney-king-9542141#synopsis

CHANEY, C., & ROBERTSON, R. V. (2014). "Can We All Get Along?" Blacks'

Historical and Contemporary (In) Justice With Law Enforcement. Western Journal Of

Black Studies, 38(2), 108-122.

POLICE BRUTALITY VS SAFETY 8

Chaney, C., & Robertson, R. (2013). Racism and Police Brutality in America. Journal Of

African American Studies, 17(4), 480-505. doi:10.1007/s12111-013-9246-5

History.com staff. (2010). Riots erupt in Los Angeles. Retrieved February 26, 2017, from

http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/riots-erupt-in-los-angeles

Tsiaperas, T. (2017, January 11). Police officers fear more for their safety, see spike in

racial tensions, Pew study says. Dallas Morning News, The (TX). From

Rubric rating submitted on: 3/22/2017, 12:17:31 PM by danielle.cook@redstreaks.org

3 5 8 10

Intro: Discussion of Minimal discussion Minimal discussion Limited discussion Clearly identifies
Research of research focus of research focus or of research and discusses
Your score: 8 and purpose of purpose of research. focus/purpose of research
research.Research Research question research. Research focus/purpose of
question and thesis and thesis is not question and thesis research. Research
is poorly articulated well articulated is described but not question and thesis
or is absent as well articulated is clearly articulated
altogether

Intro: Background Provides very little May not give Gives the reader Briefly gives the
Information & infomoration for the enough information enough information reader enough
Importance audience. The to thoroughly to thoroughly information to
Your score: 5 importance or familiarize the familiarize thoroughly
significance of the auidence with the themselves with the familiarize
study is not clear. topic or goes into a topic but goes into a themselves with the
too much detail.The little detail. The topic without going
importance or importance or into too much detail.
significance of the significance of the The importance or
study is superficial. topic is describe but significance of the
not articulated very study is emphasized
well. and clearly
articulated.

Background An incomplete The history or The history or The history or

Information or description of background of the background background
Methodology subject's history or subject is overly information of the informaiton of the
Your score: 5 background is general or too subject is described, subject is
provided. OR specific. OR but not clearly thoroughly
Description of how Description of how articulated. OR described and
the data was the data was Description of how clearly articulated.
collected, what/how collected, what/how the data was OR Provides
many data sources many data sources collected, what/how accurate, thorough
were analyzed, plan were analyzed, plan many data sources description of how
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of analysis or of analysis or were analyzed, plan the data was

measurement measurement of analysis or collected, what/how
instrument is very instrument is measurement many data sources
confusing/not somewhat instrument is were analyzed, plan
articulated confusing/not adequate but of analysis or
sufficiently. clearly articulated. limited. Limitations measurement
Limitations of the Limitations of the of the study are instrument.
study are not study are addressed addressed but are Limitations of the
addressed. but are inaccurate. generalized. study are clearly
described.

Use of Sources Not all information Most information is All information is All information is
Your score: 8 is supported with supported with supported with supported with
credible sources. A credible sources. A credible sources. An credible sources. A
clear understanding vague understanding understanding of clear understanding
of who has already of who has already who has already of who has already
written about this written about this written about this written about this
subject is not subject is subject is mostly subject is
demotnstrated. demotnstrated. demotnstrated. demotnstrated.

Findings/Results: Level of detail is Level of detail is Level of detail is not A comprehensive

Organization (a) severely insufficient, and as sufficient, and level of detail
Your score: 5 insufficient, and there are more there are some provided and are
there are serious organizational organizational well-
organizational issues.Tables/figures issues.Tables/figures organized.Tables/fig
issues.Tables/figures are not clear/concise are not as ures clearly and
are not clear/concise in conveying the clear/concise in concisely convey
in conveying the data. conveying the data. the data.
data.

Findings/Results: Results are not Results are not very Results are not very Results are clearly
Organization (b) clearly explained. clearly explained. clearly explained. It explained. There are
Your score: 5 The paper is lacking Some major is clear that there are multiple major
any major findings. findings are hinted major findings, but findings that are
at, but not clearly they are not clearly clearly and
explained. articulated. The thoroughly
findings are not all described separately
described in-depth and in depth.
or separately.

Discussion Interpretations/ Interpretations/ Interpretations/ Interpretations/

Your score: 5 analysis of results analysis of results analysis of results analysis of results
severely lacking in lacking in are sufficient but are thoughtful and
thoughtfulness and thoughtfulness and somewhat lacking in insightful, are
insight, are not insight, are not thoughtfulness and clearly informed by
informed by the clearly informed by insight, are not as the studys results,
studys results, and the studys results, clearly informed by and thoroughly
do not address how and do not the studys results, address how they
they supported, adequately address and do not as supported, refuted,
POLICE BRUTALITY VS SAFETY 10

refuted, and/or how they supported, thoroughly address and/or informed the
informed the refuted, and/or how they supported, research question
research question informed the refuted, and/or
research question informed the
research question

Conclusion The paper fails to The paper reiterates The paper reiterates The paper
Your score: 8 reiterate the thesis, some of the the thesis, major concludes very
major claims, and following: thesis, claims, and nicely with a
significance. New major claims, and significance, but is reiteration of the
information could significance. Some not as smooth. If thesis, major claims
be provided. new information is appropriate, a and the importance
provided may be recommendation is while offering a
provided. A made. No new look to the future. If
recommnedation information is appropriate, a
may be appropriate, provided. recommendation is
but is not provided. made. No new
information is
provided.

Documentation of Does not cite Cites some data Cites most data Cites all data
Sources sources. obtained from other obtained from other obtained from other
Your score: 5 sources. Citation sources. APA sources. APA
style is either citation style is citation style is
inconsistent or used. accurately used.
incorrect.

Spelling & Excessive spelling Noticeable spelling Minimal spelling & No spelling &
Grammar and/or grammar and grammar grammar mistakes grammar mistakes
Your score: 3 mistakes mistakes

Manuscript Format: Title page Title page deviates a Title page Title page has
APA completely deviates bit more from APA approximates APA proper APA
Your score: 3 from APA formatting. The formatting. The formatting. The
formatting. The abstract is mostly abstract is mostly abstract is clear and
abstract does not clear but a little clear and concise. concise.
clearly summarize wordy.
the paper.

Sentences Headings and Headings & Used correct Used correct

demonstrate correct subheadings subheadings less headings & headings &
usage, punctuation, completely deviate consistent subheadings almost subheadings
and capitalization. from suggested consistently consistently
Your score: 5 formatting or are
absent altogether

Comments:
Total: 65/120 = 54%
POLICE BRUTALITY VS SAFETY 11

The essay provides a limited view of the subject. You spend a lot of time discussing one case, but
one case does not give adequate background information for your reader to fully understand the
topic. The paper does not reflect a complete understanding of the issue as a whole. Rather, it
shows an understanding of one particular case. Additionally, instead of having a discussion
section you integrate unsupported assumptions into the overview of the previous research. The
paper does not seem to follow the appropriate research process either. The opinions and
conclusions presented are not well supported and seem to be preexisting rather than drawn from
the research process. Furthermore, the survey results should be discussed in the section where
you discuss your survey. You can relate back to previous points as needed when discussing the
survey. There are a lot of grammatical errors including spelling, misused words, awkward
phrasing, capitalization, punctuation, etc. This demonstrates a lack of attention to detail. I know
this is something you've struggled with, but you're about to go to college. You need to talk these
issue. Capitalizing random words and not capitalizing proper nouns these are issues you should
not be having as a second-semester senior. I know you know when to capitalize, so this tells me
you're not looking at your paper thoroughly before submitting it. Lastly, the in-text citations are
not correctly formatted nor are all of the sources in the reference list cited in the essay.