Do Not Judge Unless You Understand

 Police officers have been around for hundreds of years in the United States, and many people have different views on them. Some see them as enforcers of the law and others as corrupted individuals that should not have that much power. An issue that I have not talked about, but is a big issue in a lot of people eyes is police discretion. All police officers have there opinion on others whether its religious, racial, or sexual orientation. People believe that officers should not let these opinions effect hoe they do their job, I agree completely of that matter. 

Acquired at: http://thiscantbehappening.net/node/974

In the years of searching for a serial killer, this discretionary opinion affected the life of a young Vietnamese boy, when a serial killer known as Jeffry Dohmer had kidnapped this boy and did unbelievably cruel and sickening things to him. A warning that this story is gruesome, but follow this link to get the full story. This young boy got away and was running down the street naked. The police were called and stopped the man, but they did not understand what he was saying cause the young boy did not speak English. Jeffery Dohmer came up and said that the young man was his gay partner. The police helped Dohmer take him back to dormer’s place. Dohmer than shortly after killed the young boy. You first are thinking how could the police help Dohmer, but because of view of homosexuals of that time, the police did not see an issue because Dohmer was a well-spoken, intelligent man. (Ballard)

That story is just one of many, but not all officers are like that. You’re probably thinking to your self; that sounds like something a police officer would do. You are probably remembering a time an officer judge you based on your age, appearance or sexual orientation, but also remember you are doing the same thing when you judge every police officer based on a incident in the past. Some officers make judgments based on past encounters they have had. Police officers are humans too and make assumption just like everyone of us before we even meet a person. The biggest difference between a police officer and others is that a police officer’s life is on the line every time they stop a car or go to a call. Officers must make dicitions that could cost them their life or a fellow officers all the time, so when you here about police brutality sometime you need to look in the view of the officers eye.

Work Cited:

“The Ballard Of Jeffery Dohmer, Part II.” Mr. Knappy-Head. Mr. Knappy-head, 19

            Mar. 2010, Web. 21 Nov.2013