The Lies and Failure of Law Enforcement
I am aghast at the continued use of deadly force against citizens by police officers. I cannot fathom how police engage situations using deadly force when there are several stages of less-than-lethal tools available. I know it is almost impossible for a police officer to be prosecuted after shooting a citizen because of their get out of jail card, “I was in fear of my life” words which immediately exonerate them. All an officer has to say is that they were in fear of their life and a Grand Jury, under the guidance of the prosecutor, provides an immediate no bill; regardless if the evidence indicates otherwise.
Another tactic used by police officers is to yell, “Stop resisting” when they are confronting or arresting an individual. Police and prosecutors love this tactic because even if the suspect was, or was not, combative the use of force is justified as a necessary tactic to make the arrest while endorsing the use of physical abuse.
The most unbelievable act of abuse is the failure to properly incorporate “less-than-lethal” devices when responding to known situations. I will use a recent Chicago officer shooting incident as a clear example of police failure to act and react properly in a known situation.
On the morning of December 26, 2015 the Chicago Police Department received a 911 call about a 19-year-old male, Quintonio LeGrier, who was carrying a baseball bat and threatening his father. This information was passed on to the officers who were dispatched at about 4:30am to a home in West Garfield Park where they confronted LeGrier. Police stated LeGrier approached them in a combative manner which resulted in the use of deadly force; LeGrier was killed because police were in fear of their lives. Unfortunately, LeGrier was not the only victim of the police that morning; innocent neighbor Bettie Jones living in a next-door apartment was mortally wounded by police bullets.
Now a review of the incident which will demonstrate how the Chicago Police Department is guilty of murder. First, the police knew that Quintonio LeGrier was emotionally unstable and had a baseball bat in his possession as told by his father to the 911 operator. Second, knowing this situational information the police should have arrived with at least three less-than-lethal tools; pepper spray, a Taser gun, and a beanbag shotgun. If these tools were properly administered the officers would have avoided the use of deadly force and the deaths of two people; an unacceptable reaction to a known situation.
The negligence of known facts by the police officers placed them in the position of having only one tool to defuse the incident… deadly force which resulted in the discharging of the officer’s weapon. In law enforcement this type of situational negligence is known as PPT (poor police training) and the Chicago Police Department is iconic of civil rights abuses and the killing of people because of PPT; compounded with little or no accountability for their actions by prosecutors or politicians.
People must realize police officers respond and react to situations in the manner to which they have been taught and trained. The failure of proper training and the continued prosecutorial protection allows and encourages police abuse. Until these grave issues in the justice system are rectified the politicians, police, and prosecutors will continue to protect each other while ignoring accountability to the public; therefore, financial liability — because of police abuse and killings — will continue to encourage high paying law suits on departments and police officers; for which the family of Bettie Jones sued the Chicago Police Department a was awarded $16 million dollars in 2018.
I share these facts with you not to vilify all police, politicians, and prosecutors, but to encourage accountability and spotlight necessary changes to reduce police incompetence and defuse hate toward members of the law enforcement community. If unchecked these abuses coupled with public outrage will continue to fuel a fire of anger which may result in more citizens and officers being assaulted or killed. Wrong is wrong regardless if a person wears a badge or not. Accountability for police officers is necessary to show fairness and regain public trust and peace within society.
The time to stop the lies of law enforcement and demand change is now! No more “stop resisting” and “I was in fear of my life.” Reality check officers, I you are in fear of your life find another profession because you are a liability who will use whatever force and means necessary to protect yourself in a flight or fight situation; the result of being fearful not fearless!
Please know the majority of police men and women are professionals who sacrifice for public safety and I do not want their safety to be sacrificed either; we must protect and serve each other!
About the Author
Dr. Steven Brooks is a social scientist specializing in police and criminal justice. Dr. Brooks is a former federal agent with United States Immigration, a former federal agent with United States Customs. He is also a former Texas Peace Officer, SWAT Technician, Police Academy Instructor, Tactical Specialist for Officer Safety/Survival, and veteran of the Army’s 82nd Airborne Division. As a police officer Dr. Brooks has experienced an officer involved shooting and has first-hand understanding of the post-shooting procedures. Dr. Brooks believes the time for rectification of America’s justice system in now.
