Lawful Arrest or Excessive Use of Force: Today’s Perceptions about Militarized Police

In recent news, there have been several instances of demonstrations and riots resulting from allegations of police brutality. In cities like New York and Ferguson, there are many accounts and view points but there is still much to debate about the facts. On this episode of Lawyer 2 Lawyer, host Bob Ambrogi interviews Amy Goodman from Democracy Now! and Sgt. Delroy Burton from DC Police Union. Together they discuss the perceptions and procedures of police as they use force to make arrests. Tune in to hear about why citizens shouldn't resist arrests as well as opinions about the use of military equipment for police work.

Amy Goodman is the host and executive producer of the award winning show Democracy Now! which airs on over 1,200 public television and radio stations worldwide. In addition, she has authored many best selling books including The Silenced Majority: Stories of Uprisings, Occupations, Resistance, and Hope. Ms. Goodman is the recipient of many prestigious awards such as the Right Livelihood Award, James Aronson Award for Social Justice Reporting, and many many more.

Sgt. Delroy Burton is the Chairman for DC Police Union and has been a police officer since August 1994. He worked many patrol assignments that required specialized training including alcohol enforcement, pulse Doppler radar, and police motorcycles. Sergeant Burton worked as a vice investigator prior to becoming detective and later became sergeant. He began working for DC Police Union in 2006 and was elected union chairman in 2013 with his term beginning in April of 2014.

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