Earlier this week, a 20-year old college student in Venice, Calif., claimed he was beaten by police after riding his skateboard the wrong way down the street, allegedly running from police and resisting arrest. Ronald Weekley Jr. said he has a broken nose and cheekbone as well as a concussion as a result of the incident. An ongoing investigation will determine if the police acted accordingly, but until then police brutality is once again a spotlight issue.
No matter the profession, there will always be people who don’t do their job well. There will be people who slack off, do things they’re not supposed to, steal money from their company or are bullies in the workplace. It’s wishful thinking to hope that if someone is hired they are automatically going to act ethically and humanely in all situations.
In law enforcement, when someone isn’t doing their job correctly it can lead to violence, anger and court cases.
The fact is that incidents such as Weekley’s are not as common as they seem, they are simply the cases we hear the most about. The majority of the police force is doing their job and doing it well. They are public servants whose job is to protect, assist and defend the rest of America’s citizens.
They are the first to respond to reports of drunk drivers. They are the first to settle a domestic dispute. They are the first to fend off a rabid dog that attacked its owner. They were among the first to run into the Twin Towers on September 11 and they were the first to respond to the shooting of University of Idaho graduate student, Katy Benoit.
It is easy to let the exceptions — those who are unnecessarily violent — shape your opinion of the police. Many see these cases as reasons to cut back on law enforcement or abolish it entirely.
But the truth is that without the police and the enforcement of laws that were created to protect us, the world would be a terrifying place.
Don’t let the exceptions lead you to false stereotypes and poor opinions of police officers. It’s important to remember what the police do on a daily basis and it’s also important to remember that they are people. Police officers have families and house payments and lives outside of their work. But when they’re on duty, they are devoted to you.
Take time to thank an officer, or at least send a friendly nod their way when you see one doing their job. They are there to help you and the majority does exactly that. Show your respect and don’t let the exceptions — cases like Weekley’s — obstruct your perception of the police.
Kaitlyn Krasselt can be reached at [email protected]