The deaths and injuries, specifically of prisoners belonging to ethnic minorities, have triggered conflicts between the police and the community in recent years. Studies showed that the separation of the arresting officer and the suspect appeared to lessen the rate of reoccurrence. The studies recommended an evaluation of procedures and reinforcement (Community Relations Service).
The police also get into trouble with the way they deal with the mentally impaired (Community Relations Service 2003). They need to become more familiar with current-day approaches in the field of mental illness. One way this need can be met is to obtain training from area health professionals on what to do when encountering mental illness cases while fulfilling their police functions. The channels of communication should remain open, upgraded and active among the police, the mental health professional and the local treatment centers. The police need to become aware that not all mental illnesses are permanent or debilitating. Some of those they encounter may appear normal but, in reality, could be experiencing great stress or pressure. Because of the lack of familiarity and training in handling such cases, the police figured in major confrontations with the community in their mishandling of the mentally impaired (Community Relations Service).
Police are also mandated to handle hostage and barricade situations (Community
Relations Services 2003). In the team is a negotiator whose task is to make the deal with the hostage-taker without injury to anyone. But when the hostage-taker or barricader is a member of a minority group, any use of force is generally deemed as discriminatory (Community Relations Services).
And one more major area of concern to the police is drug and gang activity (Community Relations Services 2003). Handguns and other deadly weapons have become more readily available today and get into the hands of organized criminals and youth gangs. These weapons and the amount of money involved have splintered communities as well as police and the communities they are mandated to protect. The central figures in these communities are persons of color. Latest statistics also show that homicide rates have gone up among the youth in minority and ethnic groups (Community Relations Service).
Newspaper reports said that an Austin police officer fatally shot an African-American
and wounded another one at an apartment complex parking lot recently on Springdale
road (Plohetski 2009). The neighborhood reacted to the incident with rage and cast bottles and other objects and broke the windows of patrol cars. The incident rekindled suspicions of racial discrimination in using deadly force against ethnic minorities among neighbors and other witnesses. City officials quickly restored order and calm to the situation and the people. They said they would look into the situation and make the appropriate recommendations to correct it (Plohetski).
Police chief Art Acevedo said that senior police officer Leonardo Quintana was investigating a series of gunfire incidents in the apartment complex at the time (Plohetski
2009). Quintana came upon and suspected a champagne-color Mercedes Benz station wagon, which the two African-Americans and a third man occupied at that time. The police chief narrated that Quintana first arrested the driver, also an African-American.
Returning to the car, Quintana saw the victim asleep and with a handgun. Quintana said he shot the victim because he groped for the handgun. The other African-American was
roused from sleep and attacked Quintana who fired again. Both of them were later taken to the University Medical Center at Brackenridge. The victim died at the scene of the incident (Plohetski).
The victim, Nathaniel Sanders II, was previously arrested and charged with robbery by assault and was released on bond from the Travis County Jail (Plohetski 2009). In
2008, he was arrested for possessing crack cocaine, according to court records. It was not certain that anyone actually witnessed the shooting. According to preliminary review of the facts, Quintana's actions were lawful. Police chief Acevedo compared the incident to the 2007 shooting of Kevin Alexander Brown by then Sgt. Michael Olsen. The incident highlighted the poor judgment and tactics by Sgt Olsen, who was later fired from his post (Plohetski).
Acevedo said that Quintana's patrol car video was turned off at the time of the shooting when it was supposed to be on to video tape all stops (Plohetski 2009). A patrol car camera should automatically begin recording when the overhead lights are activated. Quintana has been an Austin officer for more than 8 years. He has been on standard administrative duty. He has also received many commendations in his career. He was, however, suspended for 15 days in August 2006 when he had a fight with his girlfriend and forcibly entered her house (Plohetski).
The incident was one among many in recent years, which produced...
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