This chapter is about how police see their own brutality. Violent actions taken by police are categorized into three categories; Legal, Normal, and Excessive. Legal force is the action taken in special circumstances, like a cop returning fire when being shot. Normal force is the everyday violent actions a office will take, like giving a rude drunk a punch or two. Excessive force is the action taken that was not needed, an example would be shooting an unarmed civilian. Depending on the circumstance, the action will be categorized under those three categories. If a police officer doesn’t take part in non-textbook violence, they will be isolated. Normally veterans will see that officer as an untrustworthy partner that freezes up. The veterans will allow for a second chance, but it’s much harder on female officers. If a female officer doesn’t take part in non-textbook violence, then they are seen as weak, vulnerable, and/or too emotional. This gender bias causes female cops to become even more aggressive than their male counterparts. Officers in general will use two methods to deem their violent actions as ok; excuses and justifications. Using an excuses is a way for them to not take full responsibility, but to recognize their actions as blame worthy. For example, a cop was told that someone attempted to shot another person. The officer went with the victim to find the perpetrator; they eventually found him in the street. One of the officers was to jump out of the car and tackle the perpetrator to the ground. The perpetrator disposed of his weapon before being found out; the perpetrator reached for their back pocket at the time. Before firing off any shots the perpetrator was apprehended, the perpetrator was punched and kicked out of frustration from the officer who almost shot. Justification is when an officer takes full responsibility but deems the action as non-blame worthy. Justifiable actions occur when the officer’s authority is either physically or symbolically challenged. For example, a new inmate punched an officer in the face, the officer retaliated with a punch to the jaw. Surrounding officer went over and brutally ganged up on the outnumbered inmate. There’s also a hidden form of justification known as abstract justification. Abstract justification is when lethal force is not needed to regain control, but appropriate towards a heinous offender. For example, a officer visited a home and was met with an hysterical woman. The officer went past the woman to see a father forcing their child to sit on top of the stove while it was on. This was supposedly a method to potty train the two year old child. The officer immediately threw the father to the ground and started brutally beating him. The officer lost count of how many times he had beaten the father, and didn’t stop until told by another officer.
5/10/2019
Sociology Blog 