Every time video footage becomes available of law enforcement officers using force on suspects, the question is debated in internet comment sections: Was that use of force excessive or justified?
In this Gracie Breakdown video, that very question is brought up and analyzed using a recent clip of two officers punching a fourteen-year-old girl as an example. Do you agree with this position or not?
14-Year Old Girl Punched by Police – Excessive or Not?
The gap between what police departments deem "necessary use of force" and what the public perceives as "acceptable use of force" has never been so wide. In a serious attempt to close the gap, Ryron and Rener analyze the video that recently surfaced of a Florida incident where a young teenage girl resisted arrest and punched multiple times by police officer, and they explain what EVERY department must do to increase thier AFG score and regain the trust of the community. If anyone has contact with the officers involved in the incident, please have them contact us at http://www.GracieUniversity.com/GST
Posted by Gracie Breakdown on Tuesday, October 23, 2018
Lets see this demonstration technique take place on the pavement and while wearing a police uniform. To make it more realistic; you worked a second side job last night and only got 4hrs sleep before starting your shift that day. In addition I’ve stolen a gun from my mom’s dresser drawer that I have now hidden in my waste band. Read, tap hands, lets roll.
I’ve worked in LE for nearly a decade. Only once was I ever directly assaulted with injuries. A 14 year old small male who was hand cuffed for court was able to cut and slash my arm. He had found a small screw while at juvenile detention. He kept the screw hidden. After his court trial he was very very pissed and we had a hard time getting him to leave the court room or follow any instructions. While just trying to hold him; he was able to slash and stab my arm several times before I even knew it.
Also in my near decade of LE almost everybody is complaint and respectful. Only ever had to use control techniques a few times. Never have used my taser, baton, pepper spray, or gun. I say that to point out that training is costly. It is mentioned in the video that training takes time, money, and effort. Will the public tax payers fund me to become a black belt before I ever patrol the streets? Knowing that I may go years or even a entire career without needing to use some fancy martial arts move. In fact most officers quite after 2-3 years of patrol work.
The video implies that striking to the face or even smashing the head would be in policy. Wrong. Strikes to the body and limbs are not equal to a strike to the face. I would think a trained fighter would know this. Courts determine whats proper use of force, not the police agency. A strike to the body is legal and policy was written based on legal case law.
You assume this person didn’t have a gun, knife, or perhaps a medical condition. The girl may be on medications which cause weak bones. The joint lock movement could break a weak arm; leading to a personal lawsuit against you. The police agency would quickly claim that you used a method that they didn’t train you on.
Last week a State Trooper in Georgia was shot by a person they had handcuffed. They assumed the person wasn’t armed and probably did a quick patdown after the arrest. They missed the hidden gun. When they searched the car they located a magazine and decided to search him better. When they went back to the police car, the guy shot the trooper three times. 45 cops have been shot and killed this year. You never assume hands are empty unless you can see them. Unseen hands are a dangerous unknown.
Use of force is always going to be ugly and offer room for critique. This would be like second guessing a fireman for using a 2″ water hose verse a 4″ water hose to put out a fire.
While I appeciate your service and everything you said here, I think you’re missing point that Rener and Ryon are making and that is this: POLICE AGENCIES owe it to their officers to better train them and reduce the number of incidents like the one above to change public perception of how force is applied. Yes, I agree that hidden hands can be potentially deadly, but there must be other options available depending on the totallity of the circumstances. That doesn’t mean we disregard officer safety, it just means if there is time and it’s feasible, that we try these options depending on who we are dealing with. There cannot be one generic response because every case is different. We can always “what if” situations. If the 14 year old girl had attempted to reach for a weapon, I’m sure Rener would agree that a higer use of force would be warranted but that wasn’t the case here. Rener and Ryon, have dedicated their lives to providing police agencies with sound and proven training. They are on our side and I for one, an officer with 23 plus years very much appreciate. As a DT instructor for my department for almost 10 years, I implore my fellow officers and police administratiors to train GST as well as other systems. Stay Safe.