Police riot

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Police riot is a pejorative term that became increasingly more common through the late 20th century, implying the wrongful, disproportionate, unlawful and illegitimate use of force by a group of police against a group of civilians.

It often describes a situation where police, clad in riot gear such as armor, helmets, padded knee and elbow protectors, and face shields, encounter a group of civilians, such as a protest group, which is not engaged in violent behaviour, but is deemed by police or police supervisors to pose a threat to public safety, and is attacked by police.

In an encounter such as this, violence often ensues. This violence, perpetrated or provoked by police or other military and security force personnel, may run the gamut from simple assault, battery, assault with a deadly weapon, mayhem, even homicide. If the riot is caused by or incited by police action, it can be labelled as a "police riot." This term is used somewhat ironically, as most people consider the police and similar authorities to be keepers of the peace, and not inciters of riots.

Police, whose duty it is to enforce the law and prevent violent conflict, are subject to the same crowd psychology as any other group of armed men and women when in large confrontational groups, in encounters whose outcome is uncertain, and when in the grip of fear, anger, or other strong emotion.

It is worthwhile to note that there have also been cases, such as the 1857 clash between New York's Metropolitan Police and 300 Municipal policemen who were occupying City Hall in which 52 policemen were injured, where a police riot involved only the police. This occurred while Fernando Wood was mayor. In August 1988, a riot erupted in Tompkins Square Park when police brutally attempted to enforce a newly-passed curfew for the park. Bystanders, artists, residents, homeless people and political activists were caught up in the police action that took place on the night of August 6th and the early morning of August 7th. The New York Times dubbed it a police riot in an August 26, 1988 editorial,^[1] and it became known as the Tompkins Square Park Police Riot.