Routine traffic stops are common practice throughout the United States, but these stops sometimes result in unexpected violence. Amidst the recent killing of Tyre Nichols, many question why these seemingly mundane stops turn deadly. Some consider the role that race plays in police encounters while others have suggested a need for reform in police protocols and training as being an underlying stimulant for such violence. Solutions to this issue vary, and are often untested, leading to a diversity of ideas regarding this violence.
While the reasons behind this police force may be unclear, the data regarding the amount of police killings shows clear trends. According to a New York Times investigation from 2021, police officers had killed over 400 drivers who were neither wielding a gun or a knife nor were being pursued for a violent crime. This study indicates issues with how traffic stops are conducted in the United States and the need for considerate policy to limit these acts.
Some have pointed to race as a factor in the violence occurring during traffic stops. Research shows that black drivers make up around 28% of those killed in traffic stops while only accounting for 13% of the population. A study in Chicago revealed that black drivers were more likely to be subjected to force in their encounters with police. While some data indicates that black drivers are often disproportionately affected by police encounters, the true motivations of the officers can rarely be pinpointed. Tyre Nichols, a black man from Memphis, Tennessee, was violently beaten by police officers after being pulled over for reckless driving. The five officers who engaged in this assault were also black, representing the complications involved in declaring specific motives in police violence. Policies like a ban on traffic stops for minor infractions like a broken taillight which are often used to justify more serious searches for weapons or drugs have been suggested to lessen violent encounters.
In addition to measures surrounding race, some have posited a need for more comprehensive training for officers in conducting these stops. The killing of Duante Wright occurred after an officer, Kimberley Potter, mistook her gun for her taser, fatally shooting the 20-year-old during a traffic stop in Minnesota. Occurrences such as these suggest to some that officers should be required to complete more rigorous training before entering the field, particularly emphasizing de-escalation skills.
Others believe that police perceptions of the danger involved in traffic stops have fueled this violence. Officers are often trained to view these stops as particularly dangerous, leading to heightened aggression or overreaction when a stop occurs. Some have suggested reforming police training to emphasize defense techniques that depend less on more aggressive action like the use of a gun. Others have even considered a separation of police officers entirely from traffic-related law enforcement, and instead workers from other agencies or automated systems should regulate traffic safety.
Even though clear solutions are difficult to identify and need trial-and-error, violence during traffic stops is an issue that requires greater awareness and sensible solutions. In his State of the Union Address, President Biden called for greater action on this violence, indicating a push towards more concrete policing policy. In cities around the country, various policies continue to be tested in order to limit these violent interactions, but researchers struggle to conclusively support the effectiveness of such measures with many confounding factors involved. In a complex issue like police encounters, solutions should be considered thoughtfully, and community members should be engaged when formulating these influential policies.
Sources:
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-64458041
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/31/us/police-traffic-stops-killings.html
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/04/15/us/police-traffic-stops.html
https://www.npr.org/2021/12/23/1066012247/kim-potter-trial-daunte-wright
https://www.nytimes.com/article/tyre-nichols-memphis-police-dead.html
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2021/04/16/remove-police-traffic-stops/
https://time.com/6252760/reducing-fatal-police-encounters-traffic-stops/
https://www.npr.org/2021/05/19/994818478/american-cops-under-pressure-to-rely-less-on-guns-take-more-personal-risk
Photos:
https://www.claimsjournal.com/news/national/2021/03/30/302854.htm