What can be done to reduce instances of police brutality in America?

"It comes down to 2 critical things: 

1) Proper Training - Officers need to know, beyond a shadow n any doubt what they can and cannot do. They also should be taught multiple ways to apprehend a suspect so they do not default to using raw strength and pure aggression to overpower them. The bottom line is this. When things go really wrong, they will NOT rise to the occasion. Rather, they will FALL to their highest level of preparation. Remember the old saying, "If all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail." 

2) Ongoing Mental Health Screenings - Police officers are human beings who voluntarily encounter our worst nightmares and the lowest forms of humanity on a daily basis. Without a doubt, this can take a very heavy emotional toll on them. That is why trained professionals should screen each officer on a consistent basis (e.g., monthly, quarterly) to ensure he or she is still fit for duty. In no way would this be seen as a sign of weakness. Rather, it is a solid way to help protect both the officer and the public he serves.

I think these two things alone could help to prevent 95% of these headline-making occurrences."

• "The only thing that can change behavior is money, therefore, if an officer practices any undue brutality, it's an automatic firing and loss of any pension or benefits. We need zero tolerance. Additionally, when police handle a potentially hard situation without use of undue force, they should receive a bonus. Carrot and stick."

"We have got to have better mental health screenings and mental health maintenance for our police force. We have amazing officers out here, but they are trying to carry load on their shoulders that can no be sustained. This doesn't even touch the fact that we pay these individuals terribly and then are surprised when we don't have the best and brightest in the workforce."

• "Accountability for cops and departments. I know being able to sue cops and departments is a tough thing to navigate because the of extremely high probability (basically a certainty) that frivolous suits will come into play, to the point where in many cases police will just be driven to inaction over fear of being sued. But to generally have zero accountability for bad behavior is causing the hatred of police to grow by the day. It's possible that an independent oversight organization could help, but they'd need to be given the right amount of authority. Cops should not be able to investigate themselves."

“Police should never be the first to swing a punch or throw a kick. Their job is to detain and protect, not abuse or hurt. If a civilian were to throw a punch at an office, it would be a crime. So it should be a crime for the police to initiate the assault as well. The legal system should prosecute them the same. People cannot trust police if they are held to a double standard.”

• “New police recruits spend about 4 months in training. They should add an additional month focusing on special needs and mental health training. Also, there needs to be very stiff penalties for any officer who engages in such behavior, as well as stiff penalties for those officers who just stand by and don’t help the victim.”

“In order to reduce police brutality in America, we first need to evaluate the issues with inequality. A police officer viewing someone as more dangerous or untrustworthy because of lifestyle, appearance, or culture could lead to an innocent person dying.”

• “A shift in training needs to happen, and also in the culture that has been established within law enforcement as a whole. It seems that the culture within law enforcement needs a radical change, and not only law enforcement but within our society itself. The need to control and have "power over" is more obvious than ever. It needs to shift to "power with." It begins with each individual and it's an inside job.”