Introduction
In recent years, the use of lethal force by police during arrests has become increasingly popular. One of the most pressing issues in this context is the question of the permissible limits within which officers’ conduct may lie. For example, two specific real-life cases with different outcomes will be considered. The first will be the case of the police, Everett Maynard, in 2021, and the second will be the case of the officers from the St. Louis Police Department in 2014.
The contract and possible outcomes of staff using lethal force could be clearly identified in those situations. The determination of the reasonableness of these actions depends on several factors. It is a difficult task, and it is vital to balance the recognition of officers’ choice problems and their guilt for what they have done. Corrective action could include law enforcement reforms, ongoing training, and public understanding. By raising public awareness of such cases, those who abused their authority could be held accountable, and innocent people could remain intact.
Brief Description of the Cases
The first case was that of a former police officer named Everett Maynard. In 2021, he was found guilty of a violation of civil rights, which was the use of excessive force by an officer. In Charleston, a police officer was convicted after two days of evidence.
According to testimony, Maynard assaulted the victim at Logan P.D. in a bathroom before hitting her head on a doorjamb. After the attack, the victim had a broken shoulder, a broken nose, and cuts to the head that required surgery to close. Maynard was sentenced to 10 years in prison in March 2022.
The second case is a relatively old one, which occurred in 2014. It concerns the St. Louis Police Department, where officers shot and killed a black man named Kajieme Powell. The reason for the use of lethal force, in this case, was the fact that the man was holding a knife and waving it at the police.
However, the video recording of the shooting does not confirm this fact, but the family members of the boy claim that he had a mental illness. After examining all the facts and evidence, it was concluded that criminal misconduct against officers could not be proven. Thus, no charges were brought against the police, and the case report states that Powell himself asked to be killed.
Reason for Using Force
In the first case, the relevant Charleston authorities conducted an investigation into Everett Maynard. The officer’s actions were considered unfounded, as using force against the person violated his civil rights. In the second case, however, the appropriate authorities of Saint Louis conducted the investigation. In this case, the research considered the criminal actions of the police officers to be justified, and their guilt could not be proved.
Paradoxically, in the first case, the use of lethal force led to the conviction of the police officer. In contrast, in the second situation, despite the shooting resulting in death, the investigation did not consider the evidence to be significant. The law enforcement authorities thus concluded based on the applicable rules and laws in force in a given territory.
It is essential to say that determining how reasonable or unreasonable the use of lethal force was in a given case depends on various factors. Factors such as solid evidence already available, national or state law, and the testimony of witnesses to a potential crime (Nix) should be considered at the time of the arrest. The investigations are complex because they require careful consideration of the problems and motives that arise from the use of force by the police against victims.
The conclusions of studies into cases involving the use of lethal force by the police are of great importance in the detention process. They are drawn from such cases that helped to improve the justice system and inform the public of actions that might be taken by law enforcement officials (McLean). The system sometimes requires policy reforms to ensure transparency, and approaches to enforcement must be changed.
Complex research is difficult to consider in the investigation of the use of lethal force by the police, as there are certain organic elements. Maintaining public confidence in the system remains a significant challenge for justice, and analysis should be conducted only by competent authorities. These actions make it possible to ensure transparent accountability and to speak more confidently about the police application of deadly force in the course of making arrests.
Results of Investigations
The results of the investigations were surprising since measures had been taken in unequal cases that did not correspond to the crimes committed. The police had violated civil rights in both cases, but only those whose actions had not resulted in death had been punished, unlike in the second case. In the second case, it was said that the investigators did not find enough information to charge people with murder. Thus, one can observe an interesting factor in the evolution of the law enforcement system over a difference of 7 years.
Personal Opinion on Police Use of Force During Arrest
The official conclusions of the investigations into the lawfulness of the use of lethal force by the police against the civilian population are essential factors. It determines whether the use of force was lawful or unlawful and whether the use of force by law enforcement agencies was reasonable. However, personal opinions on this matter may differ from one person to another, and I also have my own conclusions based on the cases examined.
In my view, the use of lethal force by the police should be a measure of last resort against the perpetrator. These actions can be carried out only when the lives and safety of the officers or their surroundings are, in fact, under imminent threat. Initially, it is necessary to try to direct forces to de-escalate the resulting dangers and look for non-lethal alternatives in police practice (Nix).
First and foremost, conflict resolution should be peaceful, as officers act as guarantors of preserving human lives in all possible ways, as long as this can solve the problem. On the other hand, it is also necessary to consider the challenges that law enforcement officials may face in carrying out their duties. In stressful situations, employees have to make decisions in seconds, and they can often be hasty and wrong.
Each case is unique, so police officers cannot be prepared in advance for everything that may happen in their practice. A person may face a difficult choice that requires him to act quickly, the speed of which will depend on his own and public safety (McLean). Thus, decisions on the justification of the use of lethal force by the police are influenced by various factors, including the assessment of the threat situation, its context, and information available to the officer at some point.
A thorough investigation must be carried out to determine whether a police officer has acted reasonably in a given situation. Transparency and documentation are the most critical components of public confidence in law enforcement agencies. Thus, the justice system is less subject to public criticism and more easily understood by ordinary citizens. Nevertheless, a balance must be struck between recognizing that police officers also face challenges in carrying out their assignments and being able to be diligent about accountability for misconduct. Both sides have legitimate arguments, but views on the situation may differ.
Integrated analysis, research, and data collection address the difficulties experienced by police officers when using force against criminals. Continuous officer training, improved accountability, and standardization of protocols can reduce the risks of improper performance by officers. In this case, experts can obtain a more precise algorithm for dealing with emergencies in which the choice is whether lethal force is excessive. In addition, law enforcement agencies and the public must engage in ongoing dialogue and joint efforts to address the security situation. Coordinated action and participation by the people in the law enforcement system will help to ensure mutual understanding and respect between the two institutions, thereby increasing people’s understanding of the motivations of police conduct.
Coverage of such topics has already contributed significantly to advancing law enforcement. To draw this conclusion, I have taken as an example the cases of 2021 and 2014, where the investigations’ outcomes differed. While in the past, the analysis of cases of the use of lethal force by the police was not paid much attention, in modern realities, such a case caused a public outcry. The judicial system had thus become more aware of the elements of crime and of the fact that police officers could also make mistakes that could cost lives when the use of force was not mandatory.
Conclusion
The cases of Everett Maynard and officers from the St. Louis Police Department reveal problems and difficulties in the law enforcement system. The most difficult tasks are determining the reasonableness and lawfulness of police officers’ actions during arrests. These actions may include lethal force, which is not always the right way out of conflict.
Both cases show different results: in the first, the policeman was convicted, and in the second, the officer was not charged. After examining these cases, it can be concluded that the most important factor is the availability of solid evidence and the testimony of witnesses in a criminal case. However, using force should not be a priority for solving problems among police officers, as it is essential to resolve conflicts peacefully as long as possible. It is important to understand that police officers can also make wrong, spontaneous decisions, but this does not absolve them of responsibility for potential crimes committed. Public reporting and investigation of cases involving the use of force by officers against detainees played an essential role in improving the law enforcement system.
Works Cited
McLean, Kyle, et al. “Police Uses of Force in the USA: A Wealth of Theories and a Lack of Evidence.” Cambridge Journal of Evidence-Based Policing, vol. 6, no. 3–4, 2022, pp. 87–108. Web.
Nix, Justin. “On the Challenges Associated with the Study of Police Use of Deadly Force in the United States: A Response to Schwartz & Jahn.” PloS One, vol. 15, no. 7, 2020, p. e0236158. Web.