On May 3, an incident involving a teenage fan running onto the field at a Philadelphia Phillies game sparked controversy, but it was not because of what the teenager did. Instead, the focus has been on the police officer who eventually shot the boy with a taser as the boy was trying to elude capture. The local Philadelphia community along with the rest of the nation have been in an uproar recently about the ethical behaviors involved with this situation. Was it correct for the officer to shoot the teenage boy? Should the boy have heeded the verbal warnings given to him by police even though he felt threatened by the stun gun? These questions that are deeply rooted in ethical underpinnings are the subject of much debate.
One of the most glaring issues which underlie this entire scenario is the fact that the teenager did nothing when he was verbally warned by the police officer to stop running from his eventual arrest. The ability to escape police capture without expecting any repercussions is a central facet of the argument of whether this incident was constitutional or not. Should escaped lawbreakers running away from police officers be treated with the same care that is bestowed upon someone who did not resist arrest?
Another ethical dilemma involved in the Philadelphia scenario is the role that will continued to be played by the parents of the teenager. Whether they ultimately verbally denounce their child’s behavior or unleash criticisms on the officer who tased their son can truly be one of the great ethical arguments of this entire case study. The role that the parents played in this incident, even though they were not present, is one of the most encompassing ethical dilemmas being argued at this point.
Was it cruel and unusual punishment that allowed the teenager, who was alluding capture, to be apprehended after an extended attempt to apprehend him failed? In this specific situation, did the teenager pose enough of an implied threat to warrant being tased even though he was unarmed? One of the great debates of our time is the use of certain tactics to apprehend or confine criminals based on what is perceived to be their current level of risk. The argument that has survived for generations has always been fitting the punishment to the crime.
The incident in Philadelphia brought about renewed interest in the ethical behavior of police officers apprehending a suspect. The use of force for capture will always be a hotly debated topic, and this incident provides yet another example of the arena in which this ethical dilemma can be argued.
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