Archive for March 21st, 2016

Use of force, Luke.

Monday, March 21st, 2016

How much force can police use?

The first answer to that question probably ought to be another question, “Under what circumstances?”

For example, if someone’s passively resisting – just goes limp, doesn’t fight back – should a police officer whip out his issue sidearm and kill them? Perhaps if the officer is a member of the Chicago Police Department (where apparently officers can get away with anything) but in a normal police department, such behavior will get you fired and criminally charged.

Is this okay?

Is it okay to shoot an unarmed, naked, 17-year-old male? Is it okay to pepper-spray someone in the back of a police van? These last two questions are ones the city of Austin has been dealing with recently.

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