Cops Out of Control: Is US Police Brutality Increasing?

July 26, 2012 from Al Jazeera English

Extreme police tactics are not a new phenomenon in the United States. But in the age of social media, police violence, such as the shooting of unarmed people, the use of pepper spray and taser guns are being documented for the world to see. The Occupy protesters throughout the country felt the full force of police tactics - many were subject to violent arrest. Perhaps the most controversial example was at the University of California, Davis (UC Davis) where peaceful protesters were pepper sprayed last November. Inside Story Americas leads a debate if policing in the US has become increasingly militarized.

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Anaheim police shooting and protests

Two men -- Manuel Diaz and Joel Acevedo -- were killed in officer-involved shootings in Anaheim, California on the weekend of July 21-22, 2012. These were the fifth and sixth officer-involved shootings by the Anaheim Police Department in the year from August 2011 through July ... Explore this topic

Police brutality

Police brutality is the abuse of authority by the unwarranted infliction of excessive force by personnel involved in various aspects of law enforcement while in performance of their official duties. The term is also applied to abuses by corrections personnel in municipal, stat... Explore this topic

Shooting

Shooting is the act or process of firing firearms or other projectile weapons such as bows or crossbows. Even the firing of artillery, rockets, and missiles can be called shooting. A person who specializes in shooting is a marksman. Shooting can take place in a shooting range ... Explore this topic

Occupy movement

The "Occupy" protests are an ongoing series of international protests which began in mid-September 2011 and are primarily against social and economic inequality, corporate greed and influence of corporate money and lobbyists on government. The protests take their name from the... Explore this topic

Law enforcement in the United States

Law enforcement in the United States is one of three major components of the criminal justice system of the United States, along with courts and corrections. Although there exists an inherent interrelatedness between the different groups that make up the criminal justice syste... Explore this topic

Pepper spray

Pepper spray, also known as OC spray, OC gas, and capsicum spray, is a lachrymatory agent used in policing, riot control, crowd control, and personal self-defense, including defense against dogs and bears. Its inflammatory effects cause the eyes to close, taking away vision. T... Explore this topic

Taser

A taser is an electroshock weapon line sold by Taser International. It uses electrical current to disrupt voluntary control of muscles causing "neuromuscular incapacitation". Someone struck by a Taser experiences stimulation of his or her sensory nerves and motor nerves, resul... Explore this topic

Bean-bag round

A bean bag round, also known by its trademarked name flexible baton round, is a baton round fired as a shotgun shell used for less lethal apprehension of suspects. Explore this topic

Rubber bullet

Rubber bullets are rubber or rubber-coated projectiles that can be fired from either standard firearms or dedicated riot guns. They are intended to be a non-lethal alternative to metal projectiles. Like other similar projectiles made from plastic, wax, and wood, rubber bullets... Explore this topic

Anaheim Police Department

The Anaheim Police Department is the police department of the city of Anaheim, California. The department was created in 1870 when David Davies was elected as the city's first marshal. The department currently employs over 400 sworn officers and upwards of 170 civilian support... Explore this topic

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Anaheim police shooting and protests

Police brutality

Shooting

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