The use of force is Prerogative of law enforcement officials. Sometimes using force becomes necessary but it should not be exercised unnecessarily or exceed the limit. Authorities, in no case, should exercise excessive force and doing so is a criminal offence. Law enforcement authorities though do not hesitate from using excessive force and the same was evident from the incidents that took place in Los Angeles County where numerous prisoners were beaten severely by deputy of sheriff department.
Videos show how inmates were screaming while and after beaten up by deputy of sheriff department and his men. They were beaten by feasts, kick and hit with Taser. The incident is not new for the Los Angeles County. Such incidents were reported previously in Los Angeles county wherein under trials were abused by sheriff department men in august 2008 while taking them out by the department from their cell. However like every other time, sheriff department never accepts such incidents and always considers that beating inmates or others is their prerogative (Villacorte).
These people suffered severe injuries like skull fractures as well as fractured limbs. They also suffered with several other injuries that were severe. Now five inmates of Men’s Central Jail have decided to sue deputy and department for the damages for their sufferings. They have alleged that they were unnecessarily beaten by deputy and his men mercilessly without any fault. They say in their complaint that they barricaded themselves, along with other inmates, inside their cells in order to protest against beating of their fellow inmate which angered the deputy and he beat them mercilessly.
All this started a couple of weeks ago with the murder of deputy at his home. Inmates accuse other deputies of threatening. They say that deputies ordered to “beat or kill Hispanic gang members” in men’s central jail because they believed that their colleague was killed on their signals (Villacorte). Attorneys defending deputies said that these were “most dangerous inmates” and the force that was used was not excessive or unnecessary and appropriate in order to control riot like situation inside the jail. Defense attorney further argued that inmates tried to set fire, attacked deputies and flooded the floor with shampoo in order to make the floor slippery for deputies (Villacorte).
However Nicholas Graham, the Deputy admitted that he punched as well kicked prisoners while cross examining them. He admitted that they were hit badly with Tasers. Graham also admitted that prisoners did not fight back. When James Muller, plaintiff attorney asked graham whether he used excessive force, Graham replied “That’s incorrect” yet he said “Force is prerogative” (Villacorte). Norms suggest that cell extractions should be recorded but department could not produce all the recordings of this incident.
No any video suggested that prisoners tried to counter deputy however cries, mourning’s and screams of prisoners were clearly audible in some tapes. Use of Taser was corroborated by several tapes. A video recording displayed how a prisoner was hit over and over again with Taser and was screamed “I give up”. A video showed deputies laughing while Graham hit himself accidentally. One video showed jail supervisor was giving deputies high fives when they were walking out of cells with bodies of unconscious prisoners.
This incident clearly shows that authorities misused their power and used excessive force which is not legal. Experts like Steve martin believe that inmates were not in condition to countering deputy. They were hardly capable of “defensive or survival resistance”. Their condition and laws of physics suggest that they inmates were not able to do anything that deputy alleges. There are evidences that authorities used unnecessary force on the pretext of their fabricated story in the above mentioned incident.
The truth will come in judicial trial but blue ribbon commission suggested dozens of reforms on jail violence which is being implemented by the sheriff. Another major step was taken by the country board of supervisors. The board sanctioned almost $30 million for supplementary training of deputies and others responsible for incidents like this one. This incident drew attention of several organizations and they started raising questions on jail authorities and their treatment to prisoners.
Having observed this incident, it can be said that this incident was a sheer abuse of power by authorities. They should not only be punished for using excessive power on inmates but they should be forced to compensate victims in monetary terms. If they are further found involved in incidents like this, they should be terminated and sent to jail. The job of law implementing agencies is to provide safety to people. They are not supposed to torture people by using unnecessary force upon them. The law implementing authorities with criminal minds should not exist in the system because they are more serious threat to our society than the criminals. If such policemen remain unpunished, the wrong message goes to the society and people will stop respecting rules and laws.
Work Cited
Villacorte, Christina. "Huff Post Los Angeles." 10 October 2013. huffingtonpos. 15 December 2013 <http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/10/la-sheriffs-department-excessive-force_n_4077737.html>.
