Week 4 Assignment: Policing In America Based On A True Case ✓ Solved

Week 4 Assignment: Policing in America (Based on a true case

Week 4 Assignment: Policing in America (Based on a true case) Scenario: Police officers Russ Cameron and his partner Eugene Smith were on duty in Salem, Massachusetts on July 17, 2019. Both had been on the force for more than five years with no prior discipline noted. A 911 call reported a domestic violence incident and a firearm discharge at Milk Street. Upon arrival, officers saw a male with a firearm at an upstairs window, an apparently intoxicated female in the front yard with a young child. Cameron exited the vehicle, drew his firearm, and ordered the male to drop the weapon; the male disappeared upstairs and turned off the lights. Cameron entered the house and proceeded up the stairs. Smith attended to the injured female, who had a large facial laceration, placed her and the child in the squad car, called for backup and an ambulance, and gathered statements that the female had been struck by the firearm during an argument. Officers James and McMillan arrived; the three entered the darkened upstairs using flashlights. Cameron was found unconscious at the top of the stairs with a stab wound to his leg and a facial laceration; he needed medical care. Smith saw the suspect, ordered him to drop the firearm and the suspect complied but behaved incoherently, reportedly claiming demons were in his head. Smith then used what appeared to be excessive force while attempting to arrest the suspect; Officers James and McMillan removed Smith from the suspect and arrested the suspect without further incident. The suspect was charged with illegal possession of a firearm, discharge of a firearm in city limits, aggravated assault, and risk of injury to a minor. Smith later took victim and Cameron's statements at the hospital, met with forensic psychologist Maggie Hendricks who recommended de-escalation training, was placed on desk duty for four weeks, counseled, and returned to field duty August 15, 2019. The suspect's records later showed a history of paranoid schizophrenia, discontinuation of medication after joining a clinical trial, release to a psychiatric hospital, and a plea bargain resulting in a three-year sentence for domestic violence.

Paper For Above Instructions

Introduction

This paper analyzes the July 17, 2019 Salem, Massachusetts incident involving Officers Russ Cameron and Eugene Smith using the provided case facts as the basis for legal, tactical, and policy evaluation. The analysis examines the legality of a warrantless entry, the reasonableness of force under Supreme Court standards, the role of officer stress and mental health in use-of-force decisions, and recommended policy and training reforms to reduce similar risks in future responses (Graham v. Connor, 1989; Brigham City v. Stuart, 2006).

Legal Framework for Entry and Use of Force

Two constitutional principles govern this incident: (1) warrantless entry may be justified by exigent circumstances—particularly when officers perceive a threat to life or serious injury—and (2) use of force by police must be objectively reasonable under the Fourth Amendment (Graham v. Connor, 1989; Brigham City v. Stuart, 2006). Here, officers responded to an active domestic violence call with reports of a firearm discharge and an injured victim with a visible facial laceration. Those facts establish exigent circumstances supporting immediate entry to render aid and secure the scene (Brigham City v. Stuart, 2006). Graham’s “objective reasonableness” standard requires assessing the facts known to the officer at the time, including severity of offense, whether the suspect posed an immediate threat, and whether the suspect was resisting or fleeing (Graham v. Connor, 1989).

Assessment of Tactical Decisions and Use of Force

Cameron’s rapid interior pursuit up stairs to locate an armed suspect can be defended tactically given the immediacy of a reported shooting and presence of an injured civilian and child. Entering without a warrant was likely lawful under exigent-aid principles (Brigham City v. Stuart, 2006). Smith’s decision to secure the victim, call for backup and medical aid was appropriate.

The critical legal and policy question concerns Smith’s use of force after the suspect dropped the firearm and complied. Once the suspect complied and officers regained control of the weapon, continued or aggressive force raises potential Fourth Amendment concerns: force that is no longer necessary to subdue a suspect may be unreasonable (Graham v. Connor, 1989). The presence of mental illness and incoherent speech ("demons in his head") complicates the threat assessment; officers may perceive increased risk but must still apply proportionate tactics and de-escalation where possible (PERF, 2016).

Mental Health Factors and Officer Stress

The suspect’s later-documented history of paranoid schizophrenia and medication discontinuation suggests this incident was an acute mental health crisis. Research shows encounters with persons in mental health crisis require specialized response strategies, as traditional enforcement tactics can escalate volatility and risk (Dupont & Cochran, 2000; SAMHSA, 2014). Smith’s reaction—which a forensic psychologist attributed to acute stress and partner injury—illustrates how traumatic or high-stress events can erode judgment and increase use-of-force likelihood (Violanti et al., 2016). The department’s response—psychological evaluation, temporary reassignment, and de-escalation training—is consistent with best practices for officer wellness and retraining (PERF, 2016).

Policy and Training Recommendations

• Mandate Crisis Intervention Training (CIT): CIT and co-responder models reduce arrest and use-of-force outcomes during mental-health related calls by equipping officers with de-escalation and clinical referral skills (Dupont & Cochran, 2000; Watson et al., 2010).
• Emphasize De-escalation and Force Continuum Policy: Departments should adopt clear policies that require de-escalation when feasible and require supervisors to review all force incidents for proportionality (PERF, 2016).
• Use of Body-Worn Cameras and After-Action Review: BWC footage improves accountability and provides training material for improving tactical decision-making after complex calls (Lum et al., 2019; NIJ, 2015).
• Expand Early Intervention and Wellness Programs: Early intervention systems identify officers at risk of stress-related performance issues; coupled with mandatory counseling after critical incidents, these systems mitigate future inappropriate force (BJA, 2017).
• Integrated Emergency Response: Strengthen partnerships with mobile crisis teams or co-response units so mental-health clinicians accompany or advise officers on-scene when feasible (SAMHSA, 2014).

Conclusion

The Salem case underscores the complexity of policing in situations involving violence, firearms, a child, and apparent mental illness. Legally, entry and initial force to neutralize an immediate threat was justified under exigent-aid doctrine; however, the apparent excessive force after compliance raises legitimate constitutional and policy concerns under the Graham standard. The department’s steps—psychological evaluation, temporary reassignment, counseling, and de-escalation training—were appropriate remedial actions. To reduce recurrence, agencies should institutionalize CIT, de-escalation training, body-worn cameras, integrated behavioral health responses, and officer wellness programs. These measures align with evidence-based guidance and help balance public safety with constitutional protections and the needs of persons experiencing mental health crises (PERF, 2016; Dupont & Cochran, 2000; Watson et al., 2010).

References

• Graham v. Connor, 490 U.S. 386 (1989).
• Brigham City v. Stuart, 547 U.S. 398 (2006).
• Tennessee v. Garner, 471 U.S. 1 (1985).
• Police Executive Research Forum (PERF). (2016). Guiding Principles on Use of Force. https://www.policeforum.org
• Dupont, R., & Cochran, S. (2000). Police and Mental Health Collaboration: The Crisis Intervention Team Model. National Alliance on Mental Illness. https://www.nami.org
• Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). (2014). Crisis Services: Effectiveness, Cost-Effectiveness, and Funding Strategies. https://www.samhsa.gov
• Watson, A.C., Ottati, V., Draine, J., & Morabito, M.S. (2010). Crisis Intervention Teams: A Descriptive Evaluation. Psychiatric Services, 61(4), 350–353.
• Lum, C., Koper, C.S., Merola, L., Scherer, J., & Reioux, A. (2019). Existing and Ongoing Body-Worn Camera Research: Evidence and Practice. National Institute of Justice. https://nij.ojp.gov
• National Institute of Justice (NIJ). (2015). Police Use of Force: Recommendations for Research. https://nij.ojp.gov
• Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA). (2017). Officer Wellness and Safety: Strategies for Improving Resiliency. https://bja.ojp.gov