A 17-year-old boy got tasered by police in Texas last December. According to CNN, a fight took place at Cedar Creek High school. Two girls were fighting with a crowd of students gathered around them. The school officials called in Deputy Randy McMillan, but de Rivera already separated the girls and ended the fight. When McMillan arrived, he ordered de Rivera to step back and the student obeyed, holding his hands in the air. However, McMillan tasered him and de Rivera fell on his face. When he was tasered, de Rivera hit his head on the floor and was hospitalized. He had to undergo surgery and was placed in a medically induced coma because of the severe brain injury. He has entered rehabilitation now and doctors believe that he will survive, although with unknown consequences, said attorney Adam Loewy.
    Unfortunately, this is not the first time that police brutality has been a controversial issue. On January 21st, Kang Wong, an 84-year-old man who was crossing 96th street, was beaten up by New York Police officers for jaywalking. "He did not appear to understand English and he started walking away. The cop tried to pull him back, and he began to struggle with the cop," a witness told the New York Post. The picture that was taken by the New York Post, shows Wong's bleeding face. It is their job to enforce the law but they seem to have gone too far. Civil rights groups have raised their voice, demanding that the police ban the use of tasers and stun guns. "I believe that unless the police person is in severe danger because of the aggressor, they should not severely harm or kill the person," said Marissa Kyong Brem (Sophomore, International Business, Salisbury University). "Police brutality is often overlooked by the law. They let the police attack citizens and get away with it. Sometimes they get easier punishments. For example, when they kill someone innocent they get a year in jail but they should really get 5 years or more," Said Coye Pierre Gerald (Sophomore, Communication arts, Salisbury University)
    Police officers need the authority to do their job but it does not mean they can take over everything they feel like. They need to show more respect to citizens. The government also needs to put effort into educating officers on brutality issues. 'We were just doing our job' should not be an excuse for someone's death or severe injury.
 

By Kim Hae-in, Overseas Correspondent

저작권자 © Chonnam Tribune 무단전재 및 재배포 금지