Police Authority, Police Power and Police Use of Force Essay

Abstract This paper will describe police power and police authority. I will also talk about police discretion as for as whom gets locked up and who is allowed to go free. This paper will discuss the different use of police force. In this paper I will also talk about police attitude, police misconduct, and physical abuse among police officers. Most people confuse police authority with police power. What are police authority and or police power? Souryal, (2007), stated, â€Å"That Authority is the right to control the behavior of others within legally determined parameter. These include constitutional and professional limitations, which are designed to resolve conflicts in an orderly fashion. Authority stems from the practitioner’s†¦show more content†¦The situation becomes more difficult when the practitioners feel threatened and stonewall the truth. They perjure themselves, destroy evidence, or cover up significant facts†. It is often said that no one is above the law not even the police, although it seems that they appear to be at times. The United States Constitution and the Bill of Rights protect the people from police brutality. â€Å"Police use of force is defined as the use of physical restraint by a police officer when dealing with a member of the public. Law enforcement officers are author ized to use the amount of force that is reasonable and necessary given the circumstances. Most officers are trained in the use of force and typically encounter numerous situations during their careers when the use of force is appropriate-for example, when making some arrests, restraining unruly combatants, or controlling a disruptive demonstration. Force may involve hitting: holding or restraining, pushing, choking threatening with a flashlight, baton, or chemical or pepper spray; restraining with a police dog, or threatening with a gun and some police use of force include handcuffing †, according to Schmalleger, (2008). A greater type of police force is excessive force. According to Schmalleger, (2008), â€Å"The International Association of Chiefs of Police defines excessive force as the application of an amount and orShow MoreRelatedSolving the Issue of Fellow Officers Abusing Their Power and Sometimes Taking the Law into Their Own Hands945 Words   |  4 Pagescan police officials solve the issue of fellow officers abusing their power and at times taking the law into their own hands? In the field of law enforcement, it can be difficult to balance what is the right course of action to use based on the criminals and their intentions while being placed under arrest. 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