police use of force
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If You Love Me, Do Not Call the Police
I do not want to die. Because I am far from infallible, I am willing to concede the slight possibility that there exists a scenario in which I may benefit from the presence of the police. Even though I’ve tried to imagine such a situation doesn’t exist, I admit that I may have overlooked some hypothetical…
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Where Are the Good Cops?
I want to believe there is a God. I do not consider myself an atheist or an agnostic, mostly because my grandmother would turn over in her grave, likely awakened by the wails of her children as they laid their disappointed hands on me in prayer. I honestly hope there is an invisible, omnipotent being…
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Colorado Cop Who Killed Unarmed De’Von Bailey Has Past of Brutality, Still Honored
The Colorado Springs police sergeant involved in the August killing of 19-year-old unarmed De’Von Bailey has once before gunned down a fleeing suspect and roughed up another person while enforcing a protection order, of all things. Alan Van’t Land is the latest personification of police persecution. And his dubious past is coming to light after…
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California Teen Seeks Justice in Court After Being Beaten by Police While at a Family Birthday Party
A California teen who ended up being pummeled by a police officer when cops raided a relative’s birthday party earlier this year is now suing, charging excessive force. The beating of 17-year-old London Wallace, of Fresno, Calif., was captured on police bodycam, and may be difficult for many to watch. The unarmed teen can be…
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Phoenix Police Now Required to Self-Report Every Time They Point a Gun at Someone: ‘That’s a Traumatic Event’
Phoenix is well known for its oppressive heat and obnoxious Republicans. But with police misconduct rapidly working its way up the power rankings, city officials have announced that Phoenix officers will now be required to document every instance in which they point their gun at someone. CNN reports that a supervisor will review each incident…
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California Governor Signs 'Stephon Clark Law,' One of the Strictest Police Use of Force Laws in the Country
In its efforts to deter police shootings and change the culture of its police departments, California has officially adopted one of the strictest laws in the country regarding police use of deadly force. The Los Angeles Times reports that on Monday, California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill 392 into law. “We are doing something…
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NYPD Fires Officer Responsible for the Death of Eric Garner
Five years after “I can’t breathe” became a rallying cry for police accountability in light of the unnecessary death of 43-year-old Eric Garner, comes the news that the officer responsible, Daniel Pantaleo, has been fired. According to the Washington Post, NYPD Commissioner James P. O’Neill made the announcement on Monday, weeks after a departmental disciplinary…
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Nashville Police Officer Resigns After Video Surfaces of Him Brutally Slamming Black Woman Against a Car
A Nashville police officer who is under investigation for using excessive force during a traffic stop has submitted his resignation. The Tennessean reports that on July 3, officer Barrett Teague was involved in an altercation with a female motorist after he stopped her for driving with expired tags. From the Tennessean: Adreneyonia Ensley, 21, posted…
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A Police Chief Was ‘Concerned’ About How His Department Handled Police Shootings, So He Kept It a Secret
A Kansas police chief said that he was so concerned that his department was “contaminating” police shooting probes that he took several steps to address the issue, including continuing to employ allegedly corrupt officers, keeping broken policies in place and—most importantly—keeping all of this a secret. According to the Associated Press, newly filed documents in…