Last week, Knox County Sheriff “JJ” Jones fired a police officer who was shown using excessive force on a college student. The officer in question, Frank Phillips, has been with the Knoxville police force for over 20 years

When officer Phillips was called in to break up a party at the University of Tennessee, pictures were taken of the officer strangling student Jarod Dotson until he fell unconscious. Two other officers can be seen holding the student in place.

After Dotson fell unconscious, Phillips reportedly slapped him around a bit before leaving.

Sheriff Jones stated on the subject: “In my 34 years of law enforcement experience, excessive force has never been tolerated. After an investigation by the Office of Professional Standards, I believe excessive force was used in this incident. Therefore, Officer Phillips’ employment with the Knox County Sheriff’s Office is terminated immediately. The investigation will now be turned over to the Knox County Attorney General’s Office to determine any further action”

There is still no news about the officer’s legal status.

Photos of the situation can be seen here.

This is by no means the only recent case of police brutality. In this video, a Green Bay officer can be seen abusing his power on a pedestrian.

The fact that Phillips was fired says good things about the state of excessive force in law enforcement. Previously, many officers have gotten away with little consequences, not to mention the countless cases of brutality that go unreported.

People need to be more aware of abuses of power by police officers. While most policemen deserve respect, many are too quick to ignore acts of brutality out of “honor.” Not all police officers are true model citizens, and sometimes the power gets to their heads.