NCJ Number
207856
Journal
Law and Order Volume: 52 Issue: 10 Dated: October 2004 Pages: 104-106,108
Editor(s)
Ed Sanow
Date Published
October 2004
Length
4 pages
Annotation
This article examines use of force by police officers and the impact of videotapes on the image of law enforcement.
Abstract
Incidents involving police officers and viewed on videotapes may appear brutal. Where excessive force was used, however, it is important not to confuse a brutal appearance with brutality. Videotape is usually helpful to prove actions or inactions by officers and suspects. However, videotapes cannot be relied upon to tell the whole story. This is to say that much of the broadcast videotape lack context. It is difficult for the viewer to determine that the use of force was reasonable or not. Showing only a limited portion of an incident, videotapes may obscure, altogether miss, or distort factors of a use of force incident. Data from a 2001 International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) study showed that police use measurable force very little of the time and excessive force at an even more minuscule rate.