Political Tribune

2024, Opinion

Viral Video Of NFL Superstar Appears To Show Police Aggressively Manhandle Him While Detained In Handcuffs

The police are tripping.

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598 points

A video went viral today showing NFL star Tyreek Hill being aggressively handled by police while detained for a traffic violation has reignited the discussion about police conduct, especially towards Black men. Hill, a wide receiver for the Miami Dolphins and a well-known figure in professional sports, was detained in handcuffs during what initially appeared to be a routine stop. However, the situation escalated, with Hill being subjected to harsh physical treatment despite appearing calm and compliant in the footage.

According to Bleacher Report, the incident occurred today a couple blocks from the stadium Hill is set to play in in a few hours, when Hill was stopped by police over a minor traffic violation. Although he reportedly complied with the officers’ commands, the situation quickly turned confrontational, with the police opting to detain Hill in handcuffs. The viral video of the encounter shows Hill, restrained and non-confrontational, being aggressively pushed by officers—behavior many have called “completely unnecessary” given Hill’s apparent cooperation throughout the incident​.

The public outcry following the video’s release speaks to a broader issue in America, one in which police use of force, especially against Black men, has historically been disproportionate and often unnecessary. Hill’s situation, while highly publicized due to his status as an NFL star, highlights what many ordinary Black citizens face daily—over-policing, racial profiling, and, in some cases, physical violence at the hands of law enforcement.

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ESPN is reporting that Hill was cited for reckless driving.  There is no clarity on what Hill may have said or if he was actually hit; what we do know is that the NFL’s highest rated player according to his NFL teammates was forced onto the ground and put in handcuffs for a traffic violation a couple blocks from his workplace.

These cops are trash.

The Longstanding Distrust Between the Black Community and Police

The incident involving Hill isn’t an isolated one. It’s a symptom of a larger, systemic problem in the United States. The Black community has long had a fraught relationship with law enforcement, born out of a history of discrimination, over-policing, and disproportionate use of force. Research consistently shows that Black Americans are more likely than their white counterparts to experience aggressive policing and violence during police encounters.

Statistics from Mapping Police Violence reveal that Black people are three times more likely to be killed by police than white people.  Harvard academics wrote this:

Black Americans are 3.23 times more likely than white Americans to be killed by police, according to a new study by researchers from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. The researchers examined 5,494 police-related deaths in the U.S. between 2013 and 2017. Rates of deadly police encounters were higher in the West and South than in the Midwest and Northeast, according to the study. Racial disparities in killings by police varied widely across the country, with some metropolitan areas showing very high differences between treatment by race. Black Chicagoans, for example, were found to be over 650% more likely to be killed by police than white Chicagoans.

Furthermore, in 2021 alone, 27% of Black victims of police killings were unarmed at the time of their deaths​.  These figures paint a stark picture of systemic bias and brutality, deepening the divide between the Black community and law enforcement agencies. The data reflects not just tragic individual cases, but a pervasive issue that has sparked nationwide protests and demands for reform.

Compounding the problem is the way law enforcement disproportionately targets Black drivers for traffic stops, searches, and arrests. The U.S. Department of Justice found that Black drivers are more likely to be pulled over than white drivers, and once stopped, they are also more likely to be searched, despite data showing they are less likely to be found with contraband. Such practices foster an environment of fear and distrust, where even a routine traffic stop—like the one involving Tyreek Hill—can escalate into a potentially dangerous encounter.

A 2020 survey by Pew Research Center said this:

More than a year after the murder of George Floyd and the national protests, debate and political promises that ensued, 65% of Black Americans say the increased national attention on racial inequality has not led to changes that improved their lives.1 And 44% say equality for Black people in the United States is not likely to be achieved, according to newly released findings from an October 2021 survey of Black Americans by Pew Research Center.

This lack of confidence, shaped by decades of disproportionate police violence and systemic racism, has led many Black Americans to fear encounters with the police​.

The Debate Over Defunding the Police: A False Choice?

In the wake of incidents like Hill’s, calls to defund the police have gained traction among activists who argue that police departments should be stripped of some resources in favor of social services and community-based interventions. However, defunding the police is not a solution favored by the majority of Americans, including many in the Black community.

A Grio report from October 2022 highlights that 81% of Black voters oppose the idea of defunding the police, a sentiment shared by much of the general population​.  The reasons are clear: while many are deeply critical of police misconduct, they also recognize the need for effective law enforcement in their communities. Crime, particularly violent crime, disproportionately affects Black neighborhoods, and many residents want a police force that can protect them from such dangers. However, what they do demand is reform—a transformation of law enforcement into a more professional, accountable, and community-focused institution.

The Real Solution: Professional, Well-Trained Law Enforcement

The goal, therefore, isn’t to defund the police but to reform it. The public deserves a police force that is well-trained, that knows how to de-escalate situations, and that approaches every individual—regardless of race—with fairness and respect. The tragedy is that such a standard is not the reality for many Americans, particularly Black Americans.

A 2020 report from the Police Executive Research Forum found that less than 5% of police academy training is devoted to conflict resolution, de-escalation, or handling mental health crises​.  Instead, much of the training focuses on firearms and physical control techniques, often at the expense of building communication skills that could prevent situations from spiraling into violence.

This lack of de-escalation training was painfully evident in the video of Tyreek Hill’s detainment. Hill was cooperative and restrained, yet the officers still opted for an aggressive approach. This reflects a broader culture within many police departments, where force is often the default, rather than a last resort.

Communities—especially Black communities—are calling for a different kind of policing. They want officers who are highly trained, not just in firearms but in communication, mental health response, and cultural competence. They want police officers who are held accountable for misconduct, who understand the communities they serve, and who are willing to protect citizens rather than intimidate them.

As the U.S. grapples with the ongoing debate over police reform, Tyreek Hill’s experience serves as a reminder of the urgent need for change. What communities deserve is not less policing but better policing—law enforcement that protects and serves all citizens equally, regardless of the color of their skin.

This is a developing story.

Featured image via screengrab

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Shay Maz

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Shay Maz has been a political writer for many years. This is a pseudonym for writing; if you need to contact her - you may do so here: https://x.com/SheilaGouldman

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