Political Science Major Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Political Science Major - Research Paper Example The New York Times, in an effort to bring a balance to this debate, allowed an exchange of ideas regarding the topic â€Å"Do Police Use Deadly Force Too Often†. I have chosen to use the same topic as the thesis statement for this essay since this is a timely and quite controversial topic that does not seem to have an accurate response in sight. It is my personal opinion that the police have not been using excessive force when dealing with dangerous situations. I will be presenting my supporting opinion in the latter part of this essay. In the meantime, I will be presenting both sides of the issue and hopefully, end up offering some knowledge and considerations to the reader that have not been a part of their consideration of the topic before. Seth Stoughton,a professor from the University of South Carolina School of Law has had the privilege of being both a police officer and a state investigator. He shared his opinion with the New York Times regarding the debate about use of excessive force. It was his opinion that the wrong question is being asked in the debate. Rather than having a public that asks if the shooting was justified, the public should instead be asking if the shooting could have been avoided (Stoughton, Seth â€Å"Police Shouldnt Ask If a Shooting is Justified, But if its Avoidable†). Stoughton spoke from a unique perspective. Having had the experience of a police officer and state investigator, he has found himself in the same situation as the officers accused of using excessive force. The opinion he raised was based upon his personal experience and first hand knowledge of the common scenarios that the police are called upon to respond to. He knew that police officers face extreme circumstances eve ryday. It was his opinion that the use of extreme force cannot be avoided, but it can be limited. Stoughton explains: The tragic shooting of Tamir Rice last November puts the difference between â€Å"justified† and â€Å"avoidable† in stark