?David Hughes Professor Karrie Waarala WRIT 121 4/7/2015 Police Brutality The police play a vital role in today’s justice system; they are the heroes that catch armed banked robbers, stop kidnappings, and catch murderers that terrorize communities: or at least that is how they are portrayed. While police activities are much more mundane than the public may think, police are given total authority over the public to keep the streets safe. Police work is dangerous. Sometimes police are put into situations where excessive force is needed. But, because some officers use these extreme measures in situations when it is not, police brutality should be addressed. The use of excessive force against minorities is a large problem, and it should be looked into by both the police and the public. Some police are using their power to do bad things, and society has come to fear police. The law enforcement system needs change. The courts have failed the police, and the police have turn to other means of justice. For those people who feel racism is not a factor in causing the use of excessive force, here is a startling fact. Demian Bulwa, Deputy Metro Editor for SFGate.com, explains how an Oakland cop murdered a young teen in his article “Oakland Cop cleared in slaying of teen.” On October 9, 2012, Officer Masso of The Oakland (California) Police Department was exonerated by an internal investigation for having killed Alan Blueford on May 6, 2012. He had chased Blueford around the block, pushed him to the ground, and then shot him. Blueford was a black teenager who had been standing with some friends on a street corner when three police officers approached them out of the night. Blueford ran. Three bullets entered his body with an upward trajectory, according to the coroner’s report, meaning that Masso was standing over him. One bullet passed upward through him and grazed the inside of his arm. Therefore, his arm was raised in a signal for su