IndexDEFINE EXCESSIVE FORCEBEING REASONABLETHE IMPORTANCE OF TRAININGETHICS AND MORAL VALUESUNDERSTANDING EXCESSIVE FORCECONCLUSIONThe interaction police now have with the public is different to more traditional styles. Community policing, a newer style of policing, focuses on the interaction law enforcement has with the community. However, this change in policing has failed to determine what excessive force is. This is largely because what the public deems excessive may be different from what law enforcement defines as excessive. Additionally, the studies briefly touch on the causes of excessive force and how individuals can manage it. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay DEFINITION OF EXCESSIVE FORCE In general, excessive force occurs when an individual uses an unreasonable amount of force to diffuse a situation or protect themselves from danger. One problem we have with this short definition is that it does not also define what is reasonable for each situation in which a law enforcement worker might find himself. The stress of each call is undefinable and how an individual will react to them is unmeasurable. For a defined definition to be plausible, every situation an officer encounters will need an established standard of reaction techniques. Because every situation is unique, and every customer has a different personality and character; this presents a challenge. Additionally, the public's view of what is excessive versus what is reasonable is different than that of a law enforcement worker. In recent studies, situations that law enforcement deemed reasonable, the public did not. This is a problem when you set a definition to excessive force. Excessive force is different in the eyes of the public and law enforcement. In addition to that, what one law enforcement officer considers reasonable may be unreasonable to another. The definition of excessive force is determined by the officer in charge based on the amount of force he or she deems necessary to control the situation. Based on the moral values, ethics and character of law enforcement, this will be different for two individuals. BE REASONABLE Reasonable judgment is a fair and correct model for what is right for that specific situation. However, it is difficult to determine which individual will be reasonable when placed under the stress and responsibility of police or other law enforcement duties. For an officer to be reasonable about the choices made; the worker must determine whether a threat exists and its severity. Next, the officer must determine that the best course of action is to control and remove the threat. This requires both communication and physical skills. Defining an officer as reasonable goes hand in hand with determining excessive force. These two definitions go together primarily because a reasonable officer will not use an excessive amount of force to control a situation. A reasonable officer must be prepared to communicate, make quick decisions, and make good choices for the scenario. One way to get reasonable responses from law enforcement is to mandate recurring training as the norm. Although training cannot change a person's character, it can influence the way they think every day; this training would also be able to provide officers with the communication tactics needed to diffuse situations before they turn violent. The reasonableness of an action is first and foremost linked to the necessity ofaccomplish it. If a simple solution is not possible and force is necessary, then the choice is reasonable. THE IMPORTANCE OF TRAINING Training requirements in law enforcement have become increasingly regulated. A higher level of education should equip law enforcement officers with a sense of responsibility. Providing regular training to officers would have a similar effect. The training is promoting the training of law enforcement operators. Areas of ethics, moral values, and communication are critical for law enforcement practitioners to control situations without the use of force. This can also help workers with skills that can stop the escalation of events that would cause excessive use of force. One of the most crucial factors of policing is the communication skills needed between the community and law enforcement professionals. Therefore it is necessary that the training of officers is periodic. Small tactics, those that can make the difference between talking and using force, can quickly lose relevance to the officer. The training would reinforce the importance of different tactics that lead to more reasonable and responsible choices on calls. This is an important aspect of community policing due to the enormous amount of time officers spend in contact with civilians. This also keeps law enforcement updated on how to repel trespassers, protect themselves and control the direction of the fight. Using force to help protect yourself is justifiable, but there is a fine line between this force and causing trauma. This is where recurring training comes in to help officers think quickly and make these sensible choices. These reasonable choices are what allow an officer to determine whether his or her actions reflect ethical ones. Additionally, the training develops situational awareness. The training will be able to give law enforcement practitioners in-depth knowledge of situations, their outcomes and how a reasonable outcome was arrived at. This is important when it comes to the definition of excessive force because there is no formal law enforcement definition. Providing officers with unique situations and steps to achieve a safe outcome is a form of educational training. Training isn't just about tactics. The most important part is the moral and ethical aspect. While training can help a law enforcement officer in the field, it will not prepare him for all situations. An officer must be prepared for surprises, both mentally and physically; therefore training must take place on an annual basis. ETHICS AND MORAL VALUES The ethical values of the individual reflect where and how that person was born and believes; this is like personal moral values. While education and training may derogate from this, this does not necessarily change anything. A person's character hides beneath his personality. For this reason it is difficult to judge how they will react to different stressful situations. Ethics and moral values can cause personal bias in certain situations; this is something that is not reasonable. Studies show that these beliefs link to the likelihood of a person using force while under stress. This is due to the character of the person, the character reflects his personal belief system. Ethical choices are not the same for all individuals. Each person can determine whether a choice is right or wrong depending on their own perspective or previous interactions with similar situations. The ethical choices of police officers are a fundamental duty, while personal ethics may be different, the choices made by officers should;.
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