Chapter six “Modern Policing” (Fichtelberg, 2021) focuses on many aspects including the fourth amendment. Police are supposed to follow procedures when executing a search and seizure, but unfortunately a lot of the time, that does not happen. There have been many cases where police force their way into someone’s home, car, or person without a warrant, justified probable cause, or reason of suspicion besides their own opinions (race, gender, class, etc.). Not only are there many cases including this issue, there are many more about unnecessary excessive force.
Dollere Mapp was sitting in her Cleveland, Ohio home when police banged on her door and forced their way into her home without a warrant. They were on the search for a bomb threat suspect they believed was inside (Mapp v. Ohio). They discovered obscene materials which led to her arrest. Under the fourth amendment, police had no reason to barge into her home so the objects in question were deemed inadmissible by the exclusionary rule. Mapp v. Ohio was a landmark case solidifying the importance of protecting individual rights.
The Geroge Floyd case is a prime example of the use of unreasonable excessive force which led to his death. George Floyd, a working father of two trying to turn his life around for the better, was stopped by the police one afternoon after being accused of using a counterfeit $20 bill at a convenience store. He was thrown to the ground while officer Derek Chauvin knelt on his neck causing him to not be able to breathe (George Floyd’s killing and the Black Lives Lost 2020). Even after begging multiple times about how he could not breath, the officer never budged. After nine minutes of this excruciating pain, he unfortunately died. This case caused an uproar in the community which eventually led to the start of the BLM riots and protests. The unreasonable excessive force caused by police killed a man. There are many, many cases like this one.
Though Modern policing has many flaws which lead to uprisings in communities and a sense of false protection, the importance of police is real. Many corrupt and discriminatory cops cause the police community a bad representation. Fear and uncertainty is a common feeling towards police officers. However, it is essential to recognize that most officers genuinely aim to serve and protect their communities.
Dollere Mapp was sitting in her Cleveland, Ohio home when police banged on her door and forced their way into her home without a warrant. They were on the search for a bomb threat suspect they believed was inside (Mapp v. Ohio). They discovered obscene materials which led to her arrest. Under the fourth amendment, police had no reason to barge into her home so the objects in question were deemed inadmissible by the exclusionary rule. Mapp v. Ohio was a landmark case solidifying the importance of protecting individual rights.
The Geroge Floyd case is a prime example of the use of unreasonable excessive force which led to his death. George Floyd, a working father of two trying to turn his life around for the better, was stopped by the police one afternoon after being accused of using a counterfeit $20 bill at a convenience store. He was thrown to the ground while officer Derek Chauvin knelt on his neck causing him to not be able to breathe (George Floyd’s killing and the Black Lives Lost 2020). Even after begging multiple times about how he could not breath, the officer never budged. After nine minutes of this excruciating pain, he unfortunately died. This case caused an uproar in the community which eventually led to the start of the BLM riots and protests. The unreasonable excessive force caused by police killed a man. There are many, many cases like this one.
Though Modern policing has many flaws which lead to uprisings in communities and a sense of false protection, the importance of police is real. Many corrupt and discriminatory cops cause the police community a bad representation. Fear and uncertainty is a common feeling towards police officers. However, it is essential to recognize that most officers genuinely aim to serve and protect their communities.
