Police brutality is a serious issue that has been brought to the attention of the public in recent years. The use of excessive force by law enforcement has resulted in countless injuries and deaths, especially among Black, Indigenous, and other people of color. 

Police brutality is the use of excessive force by law enforcement officials. This can include physical violence, such as beatings or shootings, as well as non-physical violence, such as verbal abuse or intimidation.

“I often see cases where officers try to verbally harass citizens to incite a response that they can act upon,” said Ashley Corleto a STEM Junior Attending North Hollywood Highschool.

 Police brutality can result in serious injuries, disabilities, or even death. It is a violation of a person’s basic human rights and undermines the principles of democracy and justice.

“The cases I hear of online make me scared and upset because I have family that is black and I fear for their lives because of racist cops,” said Brittney DeLeon, a STEM senior at North Hollywood High

There are several factors that contribute to police brutality. One of the main causes is systemic racism. BIPOC communities are disproportionately targeted by police and are more likely to experience police violence. This is due to racial biases that exist within law enforcement agencies, as well as the wider society.

Another factor that contributes to police brutality is the militarization of law enforcement. In recent years, police departments have acquired military-style equipment and training. This has led to a more aggressive approach to policing, which can result in the use of excessive force.

Lack of accountability is another contributing factor to police brutality. Police officers are often protected by qualified immunity, which makes it difficult to hold them accountable for their actions. This can lead to a culture of impunity, where police officers feel they can act with impunity and without consequences.

“I believe police should be held accountable for their actions and the immunity officers are given while employed for the government is unfair and unjust and goes against our constitution,” said Andrea Deluca.

“If an officer were to murder a civilian or someone they suspect of a crime out of hate or frustration, then they should be charged the same as everyone else and be put on trial.” Said DeLeon.

To address police brutality, several solutions need to be implemented. One solution is to address systemic racism within law enforcement agencies. This can be achieved by implementing implicit bias training for police officers and hiring more officers from ethnic communities. Additionally, laws and policies that disproportionately affect ethnic communities need to be reformed.

“The police force as a whole is built on racism. It was created back when slavery was still around and was utilized to arrest escaped slaves and return them back to their owners. A lot of that racism has been passed down through generations, and for some reason, we haven’t been able to weed it out yet,” said Janayah Brown, A Zoo Magnet Student enrolled at North Hollywood High.

 Additionally, police officers should be trained in de-escalation techniques, which can help to reduce the use of force in situations where it is not necessary.

“Something needs to be changed whether it be a change in the weapons that officers carry or the complete abolition and emergence of a new and improved police force,” said Corleto.

Police brutality is a serious issue that needs to be addressed. It is a violation of basic human rights and undermines the principles of democracy and justice. To address police brutality, systemic racism needs to be addressed within law enforcement agencies, the militarization of law enforcement needs to be limited, and accountability needs to be increased for police officers who engage in excessive force. Only by implementing these solutions can we ensure that law enforcement agencies are serving and protecting all members of the community.