For better or for worse, the topic of race and police brutality are at the forefront of our national consciousness. Naturally, much of the conversation centers on how race affects how we interact with officers, but we know little more than anecdotes of how the police treat minorities. The great debate swirling around the National Bureau of Economic Research's study published last week highlights what little hard data we have on the subject. Although I think discrimination is an issue and that we will find solid evidence for it, I am for the moment more interested in principles than race.
Even if we disagree on the importance of discrimination against black people by the police, there are still common notions we can all accept. Even without race, we should still hold our communities and law enforcement to certain standards. And I propose one of those notions is that in a democracy, the police should have to answer to the people, and that they should not be unquestionable authorities.
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Now, I understand that officers have to make quick decisions, especially when a confrontation escalates. People do attack or shoot the police, and officers should be able to shoot back and not automatically face rioting. They do sometimes have to respond with force, and the public should be understanding of this.
I've heard the argument that people just need to be more respectful to the police and they won't get hurt, I need to ask you something: have you thought this through? Is it really acceptable to suggest that a person's well-being can be held hostage to what another person likes them or not? Yes, officers should be treated with respect, but that is because they are human beings with a difficult job. It's not because they are authorities. If a policeman can't not abuse an angry suspect, his qualifications are suspect.
Do we forget that at some point government is supposed to respond to the will of the majority? Police function like an authority over civilians, but nominally are the enforcement arm of a government that is responsive to the will of the people. The problem is local government tends to get overlooked; voter turnout rates are bad enough for presidential elections, let alone elections for the county sheriff.
So part of the answer to police brutality or tensions with law enforcement is more democracy. In general, a greater focus on local government would benefit the country. Both government and citizens can work to meet each other halfway. Local officials need to make sure they are reaching out to their constituents, while the public needs to actually pay attention to any local political news or ways they can make a difference. And, hopefully, everyone's efforts result in more transparency and less corruption.
Another answer is to complaints of police brutality is simply to use police body cameras. I'm not a big fan of one-way government surveillance , but body cameras hold both citizens and officers accountable. It is not so terrible to have big brother watching you when you gaze back at him as an equal. Indeed, districts that have adopted these cameras have seen a drastic reduction in complaints of police brutality.
I am not the greatest expert on policing, but I think we've been so focused on race that we've forgotten the bigger picture. Authoritarianism will never just be about race; it is fundamentally an issue of civil rights. And what ways are more effective to prevent government abuses by making it more democratic and transparent?
