Power to use force is regarded by many as one of the most important and challenging aspects of the police role. Wansbrough (2008) pointed out that while there are few who would question the necessity of such a power in contemporary policing, the police use of force is often the subject of controversy as well as scrutiny by human rights groups, the media, and the public at large. The power to use force creates any number of ethical, procedural, and legal dilemmas that challenge even police officers themselves with respect to determining when force is or is not excessive, legitimate, or necessary (Wansbrough, 2008). This essay will explore the question of the use of force by the police and the issues it presents from the perspective of individual police officers, police administrators and supervisors, and the community. The argument to be advanced is that incidents requiring the use of force by the police are an unfortunate reality which necessitates accurate documentation that substantiates the necessity of the response and which holds officers accountable for decisions made while performing their duties.
Alpert and Dunham (2004) examined the issue of the police use of force from multiple perspectives, attempting to explain the dynamics of incidents involving such force. These authors suggest that it is difficult to determine what degree of force is classified as either appropriate or excessive. Definitions of appropriate force vary greatly between different institutions and such definitions are also subject to public commentary. Most members of the general public tend to believe that a substantial amount use of force is either excessive or unnecessary, a belief that is particularly common in minority communities where suspicion of police intent is often intense (Alpert & Dunham, 2004).
In contrast, police officers often take the position that the use of force to subdue a suspect, facilitate an arrest, prevent other...