“Justice and equality for all” and “To protect and serve” are mottos emblazoned on police patrol cars across the country.
Where was the justice and protection of everyday citizens in the case of Kelly Thomas, a mentally-disabled homeless man, was brutally beaten by two police officers, on July 5?
Thomas screamed and begged for the officers to stop, he was beaten until he was unconscious. This beating resulted in Thomas being on life support for five days. However, only one officer is being charged with the murder of Thomas. The incident was recorded, which led to one of the officers being charged.
However, the question is whether or not he will be convicted. In the court of law, word of mouth is not enough to convict an officer. As demonstrated in the Rodney King case, videotapes aren’t either.
In 1992 Rodney King, a young African American male, was beaten by police officers in California. The incident was videotaped. The officers involved were charged but not convicted. This case is often recorded as a direct cause of the 1992 Los Angeles riots.
When is the justice system going to charge and convict officers accused of brutality against ordinary citizens? Officers are supposed to uphold the law. They are to protect and serve.
A man can be put on trial for murder, convicted and executed, and there is grave suspicion on whether or not he committed the crime, as was the case with Troy Davis. But an officer can be put on trial and there is overwhelming evidence that he committed the crime and he won’t serve a day in prison, like in the Rodney King case.
I encourage lawmakers to make a law that punishes officers harsher for committing such heinous crimes. Lawmakers make laws that detour citizens from breaking the law, but it seems that law enforcers are able to exist in a state of virtual lawlessness. There is no system of checks and balances to ensure that everyone, including law enforcement officers, is obeying the law.