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honestly thing that officers don’t care if they get a lawsuit coming their way because of the time they get off easy. Half of settlements paid by police departments to victims ofofficer misconduct cases should be deducted from police pension funds. In criminal cases, police officers are frequently acquitted However, civil suits that follow are usually a losing battle for police departments, forcing them to pay up and suffer public image damage. While financially punishing the police and undermining public trust is a reasonable response to misconduct, I believe it falls short of the mark. Many cases appear to be internally investigated, and, surprise, surprise, no wrongdoing is discovered. Most of the time, the officers are placed on paid administrative leave with no real consequences. Police have little financial motivation to control potentially disruptive coworkers. If they observe abuses or potentially problematic behavior, good police officers may report it because “it’s the right thing” to do or because the bad apples harm the profession. However, they are somewhat vague and unsatisfying justifications, particularly when faced with the ominous prospect of reporting a fellow police officer. Each and every police officer would have a financial incentive to proactively pick out bad apples if they had skin in the game. It might also encourage accountability in the culture rather than a blue wall of silence. It would involve both management and the workforce as a whole. Making police officers criminally responsible for their on-the-job conduct and refusing to pay for their legal defense are the two most effective ways to end police brutality. This, in my opinion, is the quickest approach to lessen instances of police violence. Just hold them equally accountable for their decisions to everyone else. There would be very few aggressive police officers left on the streets if they were required to cover their own legal costs and held to a higher standard of conduct.
The Abner Louima Torture Case:
Someone like Abner Louima could have been someone close to your father, brother, or uncle. What those police officers did to him was pure evil. Volpe was found quilty on theallegations. He received a 30-vear prison term without the possibility of parole on December 13, 1999. For aiding Volpe in attacking Louima in the restroom, Charles Schwarz was found guilty on June 27. 2000, and he was given a 15-year prison term. Indicted for attempting to cover up the assault were Bruder and Wiese Wiese and Bruder were found guilty on March 9, 2000, of conspiring to hinder a federal investigation into the assault on Louima. However, a federal appeals court overturned their convictions in February 2002 due to inadequate evidence. I found this fascinating because this is a rare case of cops being held accountable. Although the two other officers were acquitted of beating Louima in a patrol car and their convictions for obstruction of justice were eventually overturned. The investigation, accordina to some involved. was treated quite seriouslv. The 70th precinct’s management was reorganized by the NYPD brass. The FBI collaborated with Internal Affairs to conduct interviews with evervone present in the precinct house on August 9. 1997 after which the case was given to the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Brooklyn. The supposed blue wall of silence started to fall when a few police officers approached. According to data provided by Professor Matthew Stinson at Bowling Green State University in Ohio, over 80 police officers and other local law enforcement officials have been detained since 2005 for killing someone in a shooting. 25 other people were found guilty of lesser offenses but only five were found quilty of murder. Can’t win them all hut I’m alad that people in the workplace wants to nut an end to police officers abusing their power.
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After researching the Abner Louima Torture Case, I was appalled. The acts and behavior of those New York police officers were heinous and distasteful. Abner
Louisa was brutalized, sexually assaulted, and beaten because Justin Volupe, one of the officers, assumed Louima punched him while trying to break up a fight that
erupted while he was leaving a club. Louima was then arrested and beaten, leaving him battered and bruised while being transported to the 70th precinct.
Unfortunately, the abuse didn’t stop there, Louima was then taken into a bathroom in the precinct where the beating persisted and Volume sodomized Louima with
a stick. As a result, Louima had to undergo three surgeries and was hospitalized for months. Not only did Louima face physical trauma but he endured trauma
mentally and emotionally. All of the officers involved faced several charges, including violation of civil rights, false testimonies, as well as obstruction of justice.
The outcome of the charges against the polices officers was Volupe being sentenced to 30 years in prison and Schwarz being sentenced to 15 years. As for the other
officers, they were acquitted. However, they were later convicted of lying to investigators while attempting to obstruct justice. They were sentenced to five years in
prison but were released on bond. The outcome of the civil lawsuit was Louima receiving an 8.75 million dollar settlement from the city of New York. I don’t agree
with the criminal lawsuits against police officers because I believe that all of them should have served a great amount of time. In my eyes, they are equally guilty.
All officers played a part in this attack whether it was participating in the beating and sexual assault, lying to investigators, or standing idly while these horrific
events took place. I wouldn’t say I necessarily agree with the civil lawsuit because I don’t think any amount of money can suppress the trauma Louima faced and
automatically result in his happiness. However, the money did help him in giving back to his native home and help him be a voice for the people to educate and be
resourceful. Ultimately, there appears to be a bright side to this unfortunate series of events.
