Are police officers above the laws they are sworn to uphold A better spotlight on police activities and education on human rights principles is much needed to re-align the interests of the American police force with those of the American public and at the same time, a system of public oversight needs to be established to make the police more accountable for their actions (Cohen 1975).Police corruption and violence take a huge toll on society. The feelings of injustice and increased marginalization of the less privileged are only amplified when a person is unlawfully targeted by the police. The increased police violence also brings with it the disappointment that nothing can be done to curb this tyranny undertaken by the police. This attitude is quite pervasive in society, leading many people to view the law enforcement agencies as the enemy which seriously undermines their authority by giving people a reason to not cooperate with them if need be (Sherman 1978).It is true that many police officers remain conscientious and honest but still, there are others who use their authority to serve their own interests. Unfortunately, this attitude is a source of fear and harassment for their victim’ families and related communities. These incidences of police violence are undermining the hard work being done by the government to improve the public image of these law enforcement agencies. And this fear is well justified as every day in the courts, victims tell of severe beatings by the police. These beatings take place not only at the scene of the crime but sometimes at the police stations as well. This is a serious allegation as it means that sometimes more than one police officer is involved in the incident. Police violence is usually a way of imparting justice which clearly is not a part of their job description. It is commonly accepted in the American legal system that a person is innocent until proven guilty.