POLICE BRUTALITY IN AMERICA: WHEN OFFICERS ABUSE THEIR AUTHORITY, WHO HOLDS THEM ACCOUNTABLE?
The government works for the people. The people do not work for the government.
POLICE BRUTALITY IN AMERICA: WHEN OFFICERS ABUSE THEIR AUTHORITY, WHO HOLDS THEM ACCOUNTABLE?
By John Washington III | 2028 United States Presidential Candidate
I just watched a disturbing video showing what appears to be a female police officer repeatedly punching a handcuffed civilian in the face while other officers stand nearby without stepping in to stop her.
Watching something like this raises serious questions about the authority we give law enforcement officers and what happens when that authority is abused.
This is absolutely unacceptable.
We have police officers who are supposed to protect and serve the American people, not physically assault them while they are restrained and unable to defend themselves.
What concerns me just as much as the officer throwing the punches is the behavior of the other officers standing around watching.
Where is their responsibility to protect that individual? Where is their duty to intervene when a fellow officer appears to be using excessive force? Where is their commitment to the Constitution they swore to uphold?
A Police Badge Does Not Place Anyone Above the Law
The United States Constitution protects the people against unreasonable seizures and excessive force by government officials.
Law enforcement officers have authority to make lawful arrests and use reasonable force when necessary. However, that authority does not give them permission to physically punish, abuse, or retaliate against someone simply because that person has been arrested.
Being handcuffed does not mean a person loses their constitutional rights.
When someone is in police custody, officers have a responsibility to ensure that person is treated lawfully, regardless of the crime they may be suspected of committing.
An arrest is not a conviction, and a police officer is not a judge, jury, or executioner.
Officers Who Stand By Must Also Be Investigated
One of the most troubling aspects of the video I just watched is that other officers appear to be standing nearby while the handcuffed individual is being struck.
Under established federal civil rights law, officers can have a duty to intervene when they witness another officer using unconstitutional excessive force and have a realistic opportunity to prevent it.
That means an investigation should not focus solely on the officer throwing punches.
It should also examine the actions of every officer present.
Did they have an opportunity to intervene? Did they attempt to stop the alleged abuse? Did they report what happened truthfully?
These are questions that deserve answers.
The American People Deserve Accountability
We cannot continue allowing allegations of police misconduct to be handled without transparency.
When an officer is accused of violating someone's constitutional rights, there should be a thorough, independent investigation. When sufficient evidence establishes criminal wrongdoing, prosecutors should pursue appropriate charges.
Accountability should not depend on whether someone wears a badge.
If an ordinary citizen repeatedly punched a restrained person in the face without lawful justification, that citizen could face criminal charges.
Police officers must also be subject to the law.
We Must Address the System That Allows Abuse to Continue
As a 2028 United States presidential candidate, I believe the American people deserve a government that respects their constitutional rights and treats their protection as a fundamental responsibility.
I believe police departments across this country must be held accountable when officers abuse their authority, violate constitutional protections, or fail to intervene when they have a legal duty and reasonable opportunity to do so.
That includes examining departmental policies, supervisory practices, disciplinary records, body-camera footage, and whether complaints of misconduct are properly investigated.
We also must recognize that there are officers who carry out their responsibilities professionally and lawfully. Those officers should not be confused with individuals who misuse their positions of authority.
Supporting law enforcement and demanding accountability are not mutually exclusive.
My Message to Police Departments Across America
The American people are not your enemies.
Your badge represents a public responsibility. It is not a symbol of unlimited power over another human being.
I want every police officer in America to understand something:
The Constitution does not disappear when you put someone in handcuffs.
I will continue speaking out about alleged abuses of government authority and advocating for accountability when the rights of the American people are violated.
Regarding the video I just watched, I want to know where this incident happened, whether the individual was injured, whether the officers involved have been identified, and whether an independent investigation has been initiated.
The public deserves those answers.
No one should be above the law—not a civilian, not a police officer, not a police chief, and not an elected official.
The American people deserve justice, transparency, and accountability.
John Washington III
2028 United States Presidential Candidate
The government works for the people. The people do not work for the government.
