Page 11 - Sept Oct Issue
P. 11
Elite Investigative Journal
Excessive Use of Force by Law Enforcement, Corrections and Soldiers, pg 11-14
©2014-2015 Press Enter Resolve, LLC
Photo Courtesy of jmwalshlaw.com
Excessive Use of Force by
Law Enforcement,
Correcions and Soldiers
By Kathryn Seifert
What makes one human being brutalize another March 16, 1968, in the time span of about 20 minutes,
human being under the guise or rule of law? Lord 347 to 504 South Vietnamese citizens were murdered
Acton in 1887 wrote a letter to Bishop Mandell by 60-70 US soldiers in the village of Mei Lai. The
Creighton and said “Power tends to corrupt and victims were mostly women, children and the elderly.
absolute power corrupts absolutely.” Is this part of the They were beaten, raped, and tortured. Three soldiers
answer? tried to stop the massacre. About 25 people escaped by
Those who have studies excessive use of force have hiding under the bodies of the dead.
identiied 6 conditions that make an organization ripe Charlie Company had suffered signiicant casualties
for loss of discipline and control of employees. since arriving in Vietnam. The company was sent
1. Weak or absent leadership into Mei Lai because it was thought to be an enemy
stronghold. They were reportedly told by Captain
2. Seeing others as less than human Ernest Medina (accounts vary) to kill everyone,
slaughter livestock, and burn down the village.
3. Lack of discipline and training At irst there was a cover up of the incident, but a
4. Not having oversight by an outside entity. Secrecy. soldier, Richard Ridenour sent letters to the President,
Congress, and other Washington oficials. Twenty six
5. Being exposed to brutality soldiers were eventually charged. Only William Calley
was convicted. He served three years on a life sentence.
6. Being part of a group with similar beliefs about the William was diminutive in stature and a college drop
legitimacy of using violence in certain situations as a out when he entered the Army.
means to an end. Weak leadership and lack of training were cited as
Let’s evaluate some well-known situations. contributors to these events, as well as the Army’s
insistence on following orders. Additionally, it was said
that many soldiers did not think of the Vietnamese as
Mei Lai Massacre. human. Isolation from the outside world can skew one’s
11
Excessive Use of Force by Law Enforcement, Corrections and Soldiers, pg 11-14
©2014-2015 Press Enter Resolve, LLC
Photo Courtesy of jmwalshlaw.com
Excessive Use of Force by
Law Enforcement,
Correcions and Soldiers
By Kathryn Seifert
What makes one human being brutalize another March 16, 1968, in the time span of about 20 minutes,
human being under the guise or rule of law? Lord 347 to 504 South Vietnamese citizens were murdered
Acton in 1887 wrote a letter to Bishop Mandell by 60-70 US soldiers in the village of Mei Lai. The
Creighton and said “Power tends to corrupt and victims were mostly women, children and the elderly.
absolute power corrupts absolutely.” Is this part of the They were beaten, raped, and tortured. Three soldiers
answer? tried to stop the massacre. About 25 people escaped by
Those who have studies excessive use of force have hiding under the bodies of the dead.
identiied 6 conditions that make an organization ripe Charlie Company had suffered signiicant casualties
for loss of discipline and control of employees. since arriving in Vietnam. The company was sent
1. Weak or absent leadership into Mei Lai because it was thought to be an enemy
stronghold. They were reportedly told by Captain
2. Seeing others as less than human Ernest Medina (accounts vary) to kill everyone,
slaughter livestock, and burn down the village.
3. Lack of discipline and training At irst there was a cover up of the incident, but a
4. Not having oversight by an outside entity. Secrecy. soldier, Richard Ridenour sent letters to the President,
Congress, and other Washington oficials. Twenty six
5. Being exposed to brutality soldiers were eventually charged. Only William Calley
was convicted. He served three years on a life sentence.
6. Being part of a group with similar beliefs about the William was diminutive in stature and a college drop
legitimacy of using violence in certain situations as a out when he entered the Army.
means to an end. Weak leadership and lack of training were cited as
Let’s evaluate some well-known situations. contributors to these events, as well as the Army’s
insistence on following orders. Additionally, it was said
that many soldiers did not think of the Vietnamese as
Mei Lai Massacre. human. Isolation from the outside world can skew one’s
11
