ipl-logo

What We Didn T Know Before The James Forcillo Trial

1199 Words5 Pages

The controversial debate regarding the excessive use of force that has at many times been implemented is becoming more and more frequent in the news. With the help of the following articles, What we didn’t know before the James Forcillo Trial by Wendy Gillis, Toronto cop James Forcillo granted bail in fatal TTC shooting by City News, Sammy Yatim Streetcar Shooting: Toronto Police Investigation Leaves Unanswered Questions by, The Huffington Post, Toronto cops convicted and accused of bad behavior may hurt public trust: critics by, Mark Carcasole and Why James Forcillo was charged with murder in the Yatim shooting by CBC News, I am going to prove my point. It is never okay for a police officer to shoot to kill. They are supposed to shoot, …show more content…

They are supposed to shoot a body part that is not close to any vital organs. Sammy Yatim, a 17 year old kid that was killed by a police officer, James Forcillo, should not be dead right now. “The jury heard Forcillo shoot three times, waited about six seconds, then shot six more times” (page 3, What we didn’t know before the James Forcillo trial). Yatim was already injured and unable to move. He was shot multiple times after that, for no good reason whatsoever. Forcillo didn’t have to do what he did in the first place, there was other policeman with him and Yatim was not a threat after the first round of shots. “And since when does a scrawny 110-pound-something teenager become a threat to a dozen or so brawny policemen, when he is isolated in an empty streetcar that they felt that they had no other choice but to use lethal force?” (page 2, Sammy Yatim Streetcar shooting: Toronto Police Investigation Leaves Unanswered Questions). He didn’t even have to shoot him in the first place. There were other things he could have …show more content…

Robert Warshaw, a former American police chief who specializes in reforming problematic police departments, said one of Forcillo’s key failures was he did not try to buy himself time. Instead of firing his gun, Forcillo could have done everything from verbal communication intended to cool an emotional situation, to offering Yatim a glass of water, to using pepper spray, to throwing an object, such as a baseball at Yatim.
“All of those opportunities to de-escalate the situation just never materialized. There was no effort,” Warshaw said.” (page 5, What we didn’t know before the James Foricllo trial)
Forcillo just didn’t care about Yatim’s life. He didn’t intend on keeping him alive at all.

Just because they are police officers, doesn’t mean they have a right to anyones life or should get special treatment. Forcillo claimed that he fired the second round of shots because he thought Sammy Yatim was getting back up.
Five-and-a-half seconds later, Forcillo fires the second burst of six shots, five of which strike Yatim. Key to Forcillo’s testimony was that he fired the second volley of shots because he believed Yatim was getting back up “to continue the

Show More
Related

  • Dr. Charles Kinsey Case Scenarios

    591 Words  | 3 Pages

    As he follows exact instructions, police are still leery of him. While on the ground with his hands in the air, Dr. Charles Kinsey is shot in the leg as an armed policeman, Jonathan Aledda, fires for no apparent reason. To make matters worse, Florida police vet of sixteen years, Emile Hollant, is suspended because of misleading statements during the investigation. The actual officer

    Read More

  • Sammy Yatim Case Analysis

    1126 Words  | 5 Pages

    In today’s modern society, many feel that is okay for a police officer can kill a man armed with a harmful weapon at any cost. On many news channels, there are various amounts of articles and reports about a police officer committing this act. Even though a police officer has the right to take action against an armed man, this could be argued in many circumstances. In the 2013, Sammy Yatim was a young adult with a mental illness and was armed with a weapon on a streetcar in Toronto. Yatim was confronted by Const.

    Read More

  • Summary Of The Myth Of Police Reform

    530 Words  | 3 Pages

    Every time I decide to watch the news, there always seems to be a story about an officer of the law shooting an innocent victim. This problem never truly resonated with me until reading an article about “The Myth of Police Reform.” Throughout this editorial there are countless examples of incidences where police intervention should be deemed unnecessary. There are some scenarios where extreme force may be needed, but a majority of them do not. Ta-Nehisi’s editorial supports this, even though it may have a few drawbacks related to the ethos, but he still manages to support his main claim with sufficient logos and pathos.

    Read More

  • Police Brutality In St. Louis

    608 Words  | 3 Pages

    When asked why he shot the teen the officer responded he seen a pistol on

    Read More

  • Police Brutality Reform

    1454 Words  | 6 Pages

    With 136 recorded unarmed deaths from 2015 to 2016, there is a need for reform within policing procedures (“Number of People…” 1). Further, Castille’s death gives rise in efforts to stop police brutality, such as the notable Black Lives Matter Movement. Sensing a biased attitude, minority groups perceive policing figures as untrustworthy and unreliable, demonstrating a decline in police accountability. However, police accountability in Castille’s case is disputable because traffic stops are known as the most dangerous part in policing, and the shooting may have been carried out for self-protection rather than personal satisfaction (“Police Brutality: Do…” 8). When discussing possibilities of reform based on the circumstance of the brutal act, there is an evolving debate of whether community involvement is effective in fulfilling a role towards regaining democratic order and public security, or if the police force should continue to take law enforcement matters into their own hands (Friedmann

    Read More

  • Is Police Brutalityity Affected By Police Brutality?

    518 Words  | 3 Pages

    In the first systematic study of police brutality in 1971, it was found that the overall rate of unwarranted force to be low: about 1% of all encounters with citizens. An example where brutality was necessary is when police officers have guns being aimed at them or if the person is going to harm another victim. When situations like this happen the media most of the time does not show the full story. Our view of police brutality is affected by the media in the sense that nowadays, when something happens, people pull out their phones and all they see is the “bad” part of what’s going on. The reason the media does this is to get the attention of the people.

    Read More

  • The Cost Of Police Brutality

    1185 Words  | 5 Pages

    There is enough evidence to show that police officers are using an excess of force, and in some occasions lethal force in their daily routine. It is normal for people to get scared when they are in the presence of a police officer. It is not a casualty, it is because the history that is around police officers and the fame that they had created. Recent incidents involving police officers shooting innocent people are raising doubts about how police officers are trained, and the credibility in the Unites States System of Justice. Ginger Otis in Police Still ‘Have a License To Kill’, a Year After Eric Garner

    Read More

  • The Case Of Sandra Bland Vs. Encinia

    1345 Words  | 6 Pages

    Sandra Bland was the potential offender in a traffic stop initiated by Officer Brian Encinia. Sandra Bland, in my opinion, clearly had a great passion for the rights of the American population. She appeared to be rather educated regarding her as well as others’ rights. Officer Encinia, in my opinion, appeared to be unwavering regarding his duty and obligations as an officer of the law.

    Read More

  • Persuasive Essay On Police Brutality

    775 Words  | 4 Pages

    By reading this you will be informed that etiquette police training and use of body cameras will majorly improve law enforcement incidents. But first we must get to know one of the many victims of police brutality Jessica Hernandez. Jessica Hernandez was a 17 year old hispanic teenager who was fatally shot by Denver police officers Daniel Greene and Gabriel Jordan. She was shot four times and two of those bullets went through the left side of her chest causing her death ( Gurman, 2015 ). Honestly four times is an excessive amount of times to shoot at someone.

    Read More

  • Police Officer Under Attack Research Paper

    465 Words  | 2 Pages

    In Sanibel, Florida, an officer was making a routine traffic stop when a car drove behind him and shot him. He has been treated for his injuries and released from the hospital. In Gladstone, Missouri, an officer was shot by a teenage suspect, who then evaded police. He was eventually killed in a struggle after being chased down by police. The officer went through surgery and in expected to make a full recovery.

    Read More

  • Argumentative Essay Over Deadly Force

    1683 Words  | 7 Pages

    For decades now, the controversy over deadly force has continued to show up in the news when police officers have acted in a manner that some citizens find just while others deem completely unfair. Many lawsuits stemming from shootings and crimes have found their way to local courts or the Supreme Court to deal with this issue. A portion of the U.S. population finds deadly force unnecessary when non-lethal weapons such as pepper spray or batons just as easily subdue the criminal. In addition, these citizens argue that officers might be liable for cases filed against them if they use excess force on people that seem suspicious but have not actually committed a crime. On the other hand, the opposing argument in favor of deadly force states that

    Read More

  • Justified And Unjustified Use Of Force: Ferguson Case Study

    1150 Words  | 5 Pages

    But in the case under discussion, officer Wilson came up with fatal shots that resulted in the death of Michael while on the other hand mere charging with the baton got Gore suspended. In both the cases unjustified use of force is evident and makes the case of officer Wilson an example of extreme reactional use of force. The real reasons that made officer Wilson shoot 12 rounds on Michael might never be known. Some describe them as racial discrimination while others argue on stressful life and self-defense upon being charged physically.

    Read More

  • Argumentative Essay: The Use Of Police Force

    694 Words  | 3 Pages

    The public has a misconception that deadly force is the same thing as excessive force. They can be similar if the police use deadly force to a point where every officer discharges their entire magazine on person when the threat has been eliminated. Officers receive hours of training on how to shoot a gun, but sometime receive little instruction on how to determine when to use the gun. Training starts in the Police Academy, and continues throughout their careers. There are officers who teach and train the departments every month.

    Read More

  • Essay On Police Carrying Guns

    1275 Words  | 6 Pages

    Imagine yourself walking along minding your own business downtown and then next thing you know is you hear a loud bang. Its a gunshot, who will be there to help you? Police officers wouldn't be able to do much if they don't have their weapons. If police officers didn't have there guns then it will be very difficult to take care of the threat at hand. Although some police officers use deadly force way to frequently, police officers should still be able to carry guns.

    Read More

  • Should Police Officers Be Allowed To Have A Gun Essay

    302 Words  | 2 Pages

    Police officers should be well equipped and have the best resources to combat crime. However, the defense equippements given by the state to the police officers should be aligned to the risks that they will face during their work routine. In this vein, not every police officer should carry all sorts of weapon, depending on the cirscumstances of their work, some would have to use weapons that are more or less lethal. Firstly, if every police officer carries a gun in every situation the risk for society can be greater than the benefits.

    Read More

More about What We Didn T Know Before The James Forcillo Trial

Open Document