Officers should use the least amount of force necessary
The majority of law enforcement officers are people who are dedicated to ensuring our safety at great personal risk to themselves.
They have my utmost appreciation and respect. However, I’m beginning to worry about the minority of officers who have been involved in the recent incidents of excessive use of force, some of which have resulted in the unwarranted death of suspects.
These incidents give birth to many unsettling questions. Do we now have a culture among officers that condones unnecessary and excessive use of force against suspects, especially those who are minorities? Is the process to evaluate perspective hires for law enforcement faulty? Is the training they’re given overly aggressive? Has law enforcement leadership lost control of their officers? Has law enforcement’s ability to appropriately and effectively police itself been lacking?
Whatever the reasons, we as citizens may have to start exercising more control and review of the actions of law enforcement in our communities. The job of law enforcement should be to enforce the laws of our land by taking suspects into custody using the least amount of force necessary to effect the arrest.
Brian Johnson, Fresno
This story was originally published July 8, 2015 at 8:05 AM with the headline "Officers should use the least amount of force necessary."