Deter abuse of civilians by law enforcement by placing the financial burden for damages on officers who use excessive force while performing law enforcement duties, and charging officers criminally for such abuses.
Police abuse has been documented, but continues to occur. Police officers abuse the civilians they are charged to protect without suffering the consequences civilians would, serving criminal sentences and paying damages to victims. Instead officers receive paid leave, and taxpayers are burdened with multi-million dollar awards and trials. As a taxpayer and citizen of this country, I believe law enforcement officers should be held to a higher standard of care or at least to the same legal standard of other citizens. Americans should not fear those who vow to protect us.