Was Excessive Force Used by Washington State Deputy on Teen?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around a video showing a sheriff's deputy in Washington state using force against a 15-year-old girl during her arrest. Participants explore the implications of the deputy's actions, questioning the appropriateness of the force used and discussing broader issues related to police conduct and training. The conversation touches on themes of excessive force, police accountability, and the treatment of minors in custody.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants express outrage at the deputy's actions, describing them as abusive and calling for accountability.
  • Others suggest that the deputy's reaction may have stemmed from anger, questioning whether the girl provoked him with her behavior.
  • There are claims that the deputy's training may be inadequate, with some arguing that police officers should be better equipped to manage their emotions.
  • Participants debate whether the girl posed a threat, with some asserting that her actions did not justify the level of force used against her.
  • Concerns are raised about the potential bias in media portrayals of the incident and the implications for public perception of law enforcement.
  • Some participants challenge the notion that the deputy's actions were justified, regardless of the girl's behavior prior to the incident.
  • There are references to the deputy's own report of the incident, which some find troubling and indicative of a lack of accountability.
  • Questions are raised about the broader implications of such incidents for police-community relations and the treatment of individuals in custody.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally disagree on the justification of the deputy's actions, with multiple competing views on the appropriateness of the force used and the context of the incident. There is no consensus on whether the deputy's behavior was acceptable or if it reflects broader issues within law enforcement.

Contextual Notes

Some participants note the limitations of the available information, expressing uncertainty about the full context of the incident and the potential biases in the media coverage. There are also discussions about the adequacy of police training and the standards for using force in such situations.

  • #31
moe darklight said:
If you can't handle a moody 15 year old girl, you should not be given authorities and responsibilities that are above those of the average citizen; you should not be a cop.
.

Yes, exactly. He shouldn't have his policeman position. Putting all the blame on him and taking away his position wouldn't solve this problem (if you consider this as a serious problem) and neither it would be fair.
I do believe that they need to have greater control over themselves but they aren't perfectionists. They make mistakes!
If you set their standards too high, you wouldn't get enough policemen.
 
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  • #32
siddharth said:
Why is not true, in this instance? The police officer had no justification for his behaviour, irrespective of the behavior of the girl (who was a minor, and did not pose any physical threat). I think this officer deserves 100% of the blame.
See above post.

Why is that? I think that it's important to give public scrutiny to such incidents, especially when we consider the powers and responsibilities which is expected of the police. I've seen a worrying number of such incidents of late, and public exposure could raise awareness of certain problems in the system, and might lead to measures to correct it.

They can't get fair trails for professional misconduct if the case gets more than required public scrutiny/media focus. It's better to have a good regulation body that considers the case rather than subjecting it to public opinions.
 
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  • #33
Imprisonment and psychological rehabilitation. It matters not how much someone acts like an ******* or swears, force is never the answer unless it is for self defense.

That being said, I'm not surprised at this at all. Almost all that is required to become a police officer is that the applicant doesn't have a history of mental illness or a criminal background, and that they be relatively healthy and in shape. Besides that, the screening process isn't very rigorous.
 
  • #34
Scuzzle said:
Imprisonment and psychological rehabilitation. It matters not how much someone acts like an ******* or swears, force is never the answer unless it is for self defense.

That being said, I'm not surprised at this at all. Almost all that is required to become a police officer is that the applicant doesn't have a history of mental illness or a criminal background, and that they be relatively healthy and in shape. Besides that, the screening process isn't very rigorous.

Please. My town is right next to http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_56314.html" . This is 12 years ago, but it is still interesting.
 
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  • #35
Chi Meson said:
Please. My town is right next to http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_56314.html" . This is 12 years ago, but it is still interesting.

What a stupid attitude. Any intelligent person would know how to get the target score :smile:
 
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  • #36
My buddies and I got arrested for possession of hashish and underage drinking in 1976. At the police station, we laughed at a policeman attempting to reassemble my bong. He then said with a wry smile "if they move, shoot them." The threat was all too real. After 35 years, I still remember the name of the arresting officer - Officer Snook(s).
 
  • #37
"Snickering follows Mountie's claim he feared man with stapler"

The judge in the case here of a man coincidentally dieing after being tazered at Vancouver airport has asked the jury not to laugh as the mounties describe how they feared for their lives as the man held a stapler.
 
  • #38
mgb_phys said:
"Snickering follows Mountie's claim he feared man with stapler"

The judge in the case here of a man coincidentally dieing after being tazered at Vancouver airport has asked the jury not to laugh as the mounties describe how they feared for their lives as the man held a stapler.


...wait. Was it aa red swingline? I totally understand their fear.
 
  • #39
It's on youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IPe_hf7aBXM
 
  • #40
Evo said:
Wow, this guy needs to be behind bars. He killed a guy that ran back to his car, he fired 11 times!

He killed a man that tried to strangle him to death, not running from the police or talking back. And firing 11 times isn't a big deal, it's one clip. It can/is fired off in about 2 seconds.

That being said, what happened in the video, from what can be seen, is pretty much a criminal offence.
 
  • #41
I don't see what the officers did wrong in the video, that guy was loony.
 
  • #42
Loren Booda said:
My buddies and I got arrested for possession of hashish and underage drinking in 1976. At the police station, we laughed at a policeman attempting to reassemble my bong. He then said with a wry smile "if they move, shoot them." The threat was all too real. After 35 years, I still remember the name of the arresting officer - Officer Snook(s).

He was just reminding you who was in charge.

It worked. You still remember.

Now if people could only learn their homework so easily.
 
  • #43
Cyrus said:
I don't see what the officers did wrong in the video, that guy was loony.
Immigration had been sending him back and forth for 8hours.
After they killed him they decided not to call medical help
They had little a little 'dress rehersal' of their story afterwards
 
  • #44
Cyrus said:
I don't see what the officers did wrong in the video, that guy was loony.
Are you a lawyer ?
 
  • #45
macarino said:
Are you a lawyer ?

Nope, I have self-respect.
 
  • #46
whether he was loony or not (context, context, context-- for example, was he fluent in English? my understanding is a translator was necessary and not provided... how would you be acting after 8 hours of being screwed with, in a foreign country where you don't speak the language, after a long flight... and the cops show up!), either way, it doesn't matter. this is why they are (supposedly) trained: not just to learn how to take down an individual, but to assess the situation and how much force is necessary when doing so.

they could've easily tackled him and cuffed him.

frustrated guy with stapler => minor threat => try not to electrocute the guy to death

maybe that's just me though.
 

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