Introduction
Using excessive force by police officers constitutes brutality, a form of misconduct. American law enforcement is facing challenges, with cases of police brutality against black people rising to national prominence in recent years (GBD 2019 Police Violence US Subnational Collaborators, 2021). Due to the complexity of the problem, solving it will require strong leadership to implement a wide-ranging strategy of education, responsibility, and openness. A culture of accountability within law enforcement agencies requires leaders willing to advocate against their cruelty. Transparent and accountable policies and procedures, as well as technological methods for tracking police actions, can help accomplish this goal. Leaders are required to address police brutality; this could be done with the help of technological surveillance of their activity and the implementation of rules that promote transparency and responsibility within the force.
Identifying the Leader
Brittany Packnett Cunningham+ is a potential leader in the movement to end police brutality and systematic racism. She has worked as a writer, professor, and activist and helped develop Campaign Zero to reduce cruelty via evidence-based policy changes. Her research has been pivotal in advancing the discussion of police brutality, especially regarding race and law enforcement issues (The Institute of Politics at Harvard University, 2020). Her leadership shows through her calls for locally oriented responses to police cruelty, such as enhanced officer training and more stringent supervision procedures. She has been open in her criticism of how certain police agencies put their needs ahead of those of the communities they are sworn to protect. She has become influential in the call for their reform due to her work reforming existing rules and procedures. Due to her efforts, the national discussion on police reform has shifted, and many people have been inspired.
Cunningham has been an essential figure in the Black Lives Matter movement beside her work with Campaign Zero. She has been using her prominence to make public the disproportionate effect of police brutality on black communities and to demand an end to structural racism (American Civil Liberties Union, 2020). Through her advocacy and involvement, Cunningham has shown the value of visionary leadership in pursuing justice and the efficacy of mass mobilization in effecting change.
Factors Contributing to Police Brutality
Police brutality is a systematic problem that impacts communities around the United States and has several causes. Systemic racism has permeated law enforcement procedures for generations and is a significant contributor (Schwartz, 2020). Research shows that black Americans are more likely to be murdered by police than people of any other race or ethnicity in the United States (Schwartz, 2020). It points to a long-standing problem of racial prejudice and discrimination within law enforcement, which has to be addressed if society is to eliminate police violence.
Another element contributing to police abuse is the absence of accountability for law enforcement employees who participate in misbehavior. Police personnel is frequently sheltered from repercussions for their acts, partly due to the influence of police unions and the legal notion of qualified immunity (Ray, 2020). This absence of transparency conveys that their cruelty is permissible and weakens the public’s confidence in law enforcement. Improving the legal structure for police accountability is vital to eradicate police violence.
The lack of proper training for the officers exacerbates the police brutality problem. The short months of training many police officers get before being sent into the field may not be enough to equip them for the complicated difficulties they will confront (Basham, 2019). Conflict resolution and responses to mental health crises should be emphasized in their training. The role of community policing and trust building with local communities should be stressed in training programs. People can help make sure that police officers have the resources they need to serve and safeguard their communities in a just and fair way by investing in their training.
Need for Leadership in Addressing Police Brutality
Police brutality is a highly charged and emotionally charged issue that can only be resolved by courageous and visionary leadership. Leaders are willing to take charge, interact with affected communities, and keep law enforcement agencies liable for their conduct to solve this issue (Lewis, 2022). To prevent police officers from resorting to violence in tense situations and to ensure that corrupt law enforcement officials face the consequences of their actions, strong leadership is essential. Law enforcement cannot restore public confidence or prevent additional loss of life if its leaders fail to address the cruelty. The criminal justice system has to be reformed, and this can only happen if leaders are prepared to hear the concerns of impacted communities, have painful talks, and take action. The only way to achieve a more fair and equal society in which everyone is treated with respect and dignity by the police is to have powerful and effective leaders.
Leadership Style in Response to Police Brutality
It is possible to combat police brutality with a democratic type of leadership. This method encourages participation from all group or organization members in formulating goals and the execution of strategies (Burke, 2020). Under democratic leadership, everyone’s opinion counts, and decisions are reached by compromise rather than force. Since it encourages participation from citizens, law enforcement, and other interested parties, democratic leadership may help combat brutality. Democratic leadership may foster a feeling of shared ownership and accountability for tackling the problem of police cruelty by giving all parties a voice in the decision-making process. As a result, there may be increased trust and cooperation between the police and the communities they serve, leading to long-term improvements.
Democracies may have advantages, but they may have drawbacks. Ensuring everyone is heard and that a decision is reached by agreement demands effort and time (Burke, 2020). It might be challenging to balance conflicting interests and points of view, especially in high-stakes circumstances characterized by strong disagreement or tension. However, democratic leadership may be successful when used with other leadership styles and techniques to solve complicated and controversial topics such as police brutality.
Proposed Solutions
Police brutality calls for a comprehensive and long-lasting solution as it is a complicated issue. Augmenting the sanctions for police officers who use excessive force is one option (Ray, 2020). For example, the government may increase sanctions for cops who use excessive force, require body cameras for all police officers, and establish independent review boards to examine police misbehavior. It is feasible that an environment of professionalism and respect within police departments might be fostered by making personnel responsible for their conduct.
Increasing the role of the community in law enforcement is another strategy for reducing violence. Programs that promote better relationships between police and the communities they protect can be a solution (Straub, 2020). More trust and understanding between law enforcement agencies and their communities may be achieved if both parties collaborate to tackle community problems and create successful policing techniques. Moreover, community engagement in police may help ensure that methods are adapted to each community’s specific requirements and problems rather than being pushed from on top.
Reforming police culture to emphasize respect, professionalism, and responsibility is an option for addressing law enforcement agencies’ brutality. As part of this effort, police training programs may need to be updated to emphasize nonviolent conflict resolution, cultural awareness, and citizen participation (Engel et al., 2020). Additionally, promoting equality and inclusivity in hiring and advancement opportunities may address underlying issues such as systemic racism and bias within law enforcement organizations. Professionalism and responsibility within the law enforcement agencies force may help foster an environment where the lives and property of all residents are protected, regardless of their color, gender, or socioeconomic class.
Conclusion
Strong leadership must be needed to confront the serious problem of police violence. The increase in incidents of police misconduct against Black people lately has led this situation to be seen all over the USA. It will take a comprehensive approach that includes understanding, accountability, and transparency to resolve this issue. Leaders must be willing to speak out against violence to fight against law enforcement agencies’ violence and cultivate an atmosphere of responsibility. This objective can be attained with open and accountable policies and procedures and technological tools for monitoring police activity. Brittany Packnett Cunningham has the potential to be a leader in the fight against institutionalized racism and police brutality. Her work has been pivotal in progressing the discourse about law enforcement officers’ misconduct, particularly concerning racial and law enforcement matters.
References
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Burke, K. C. (2020). Democratic policing and officer well-being. Frontiers in Psychology, 11, 1–9. Web.
Engel, R. S., McManus, H. D., & Isaza, G. T. (2020). Moving beyond “best practice”: Experiences in police reform and a call for evidence to reduce officer-involved shootings. The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, 687(1), 146–165. Web.
GBD 2019 Police Violence US Subnational Collaborators. (2021). Fatal police violence by race and state in the USA, 1980–2019: A network meta-regression. The Lancet, 398(10307), 1239–1255. Web.
Lewis, C. D. (2022). What really matters for effective police leadership? Police1. Web.
Ray, R. (2020). How can we enhance police accountability in the United States? Brookings; Rashawn Ray. Web.
Schwartz, S. A. (2020). Police brutality and racism in America. Explore, 16(5), 280–282. Web.
Straub, F. (2020). The importance of community policing in preventing terrorism. National Institute of Justice. Web.
The Institute of Politics at Harvard University. (2020). Brittany Packnett Cunningham. Web.