The actions taken by groups such as Copwatch and Internal Affairs have not been enough to successfully stop police corruption and brutality. More drastic measures must be taken in order to ensure the safety of our society. We cannot continue to allow corrupt cops to aid drug dealers, frame suspects of crimes they didn’t commit, or viciously beat or kill people. Police cannot be allowed to feel that they are above the laws they are supposed to be upholding. The problems with police misconduct have gotten worse throughout the years and will continue to get worse unless a new solution is found to control the corrupt cops.

One possibility is to remove police from our society. By removing the power from police that they hold over civilians it would guarantee that there would be no police misconduct. The removal of police would force communities to get more involved in the law and order process. The tax money that is normally spent on police salaries could be spent on improving the community with recreation centers to keep kids off the streets, anti-drug programs, and improve and expand the education systems. The removal of police from society would have to be a gradual process. Society depends very heavily on police and the sudden removal of police could negatively impact society.

Some problems would present themselves if there were not longer police in America. Without police there would be no one to enforce the laws. People from communities could step up and try to enforce the laws, but there would be nothing to stop angry mobs from forming and individuals from becoming reckless vigilantes. Without fear of the law there would be nothing stopping criminals from gaining more power. Things would most likely be worse in America without police. While the removal of police would stop their abuse of power, it would also open the door to criminal activity much worse than police misconduct. Despite some cops being corrupt, police are a necessary part of society.

Another possibility would be to decrease the amount of power given to police, increase surveillance on police activity, and increase penalties for misconduct. Removing guns from police and only providing them with weapons such as tasers, night sticks, and mace would guarantee that police wouldn’t unnecessarily shoot and kill people. Increased surveillance on police would allow more incidents of police misconduct to be reported. Increased penalties for misconduct would help to deter police from committing crimes and show them that laws apply to them, too. However, police already have very difficult jobs; it is hard enough solving crimes and upholding the law as it is. More restrictions on police could make it impossible for police to effectively do their jobs. With how easy it is to obtain guns, not providing police with guns would put them at serious risk out in the field. Even though some police misuse gun, it is still necessary for them to have guns to protect themselves. These restrictions could make police work such an undesirable profession that there would be a shortage of police.