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"Militarization of the Police" discussion
Posted on 8/19/14 at 11:45 am
Posted on 8/19/14 at 11:45 am
So I have been following the St. Louis thread and any number of people have been decrying the "militarization" of police. This on top of that comment appearing regularly in every other police thread.
I am legitimately confused about what this means in the minds of people who say it.
The most common complaint is the use of "TANKS!" by police. I have yet to see a tracked Abrams rolling around a city. So I assume they are talking about armored vehicles like this.
So question 1. Has an armored vehicle ever killed anyone? Why is having a vehicle that protects its occupants a bad thing? I know of circumstances where these vehicles have been used to rescue wounded officers and citizens from hostile gunfire. Is that bad?
Is the issue how it looks or what? Would it make a difference if they painted it a more friendly color? What if it was painted and striped just like Officer Friendlys patrol car? Would that be better?
Or maybe it is the way the officers look? Is it the pseudo-military uniforms of SWAT officers that is the complaint?
Again, is it solely the appearance that is objectionable? Would this be more palatable?
Or is it their tactics? And this begs the question of whether it is all police officers that are too military or just the SWAT officers?
So, for those who wave the "militarization of police" flag, what is the solution? Eliminate all police? Eliminate tactical units? Make tactical units wear regular uniforms and carry handguns only? No heavy vests or rifles? What do the people want?
I am legitimately confused about what this means in the minds of people who say it.
The most common complaint is the use of "TANKS!" by police. I have yet to see a tracked Abrams rolling around a city. So I assume they are talking about armored vehicles like this.
So question 1. Has an armored vehicle ever killed anyone? Why is having a vehicle that protects its occupants a bad thing? I know of circumstances where these vehicles have been used to rescue wounded officers and citizens from hostile gunfire. Is that bad?
Is the issue how it looks or what? Would it make a difference if they painted it a more friendly color? What if it was painted and striped just like Officer Friendlys patrol car? Would that be better?
Or maybe it is the way the officers look? Is it the pseudo-military uniforms of SWAT officers that is the complaint?
Again, is it solely the appearance that is objectionable? Would this be more palatable?
Or is it their tactics? And this begs the question of whether it is all police officers that are too military or just the SWAT officers?
So, for those who wave the "militarization of police" flag, what is the solution? Eliminate all police? Eliminate tactical units? Make tactical units wear regular uniforms and carry handguns only? No heavy vests or rifles? What do the people want?
28
Posted on 8/19/14 at 11:47 am to jbgleason
Posted on 8/19/14 at 11:47 am to jbgleason
So, which department do you work for?
Posted on 8/19/14 at 11:48 am to jbgleason
Being against the militarization of police by the police getting better equipment than the criminals is the same as being against firemen wearing their gear while fighting fires.
"Excuse me, sir! You need to take of your flame retardant and heat resistant suit to fight that fire!"
"Excuse me, sir! You need to take of your flame retardant and heat resistant suit to fight that fire!"
Posted on 8/19/14 at 11:48 am to jbgleason
Every single day since I dropped out of high school, Ive walked the beat. And let me tell u somethin: IF YOU frickERS HAVENT LIVED THIS LIFE THAN KEEP YUR MOUTH SHUT. We protect u and you should of remembered that!
This post was edited on 8/19/14 at 11:52 am
Posted on 8/19/14 at 11:48 am to jbgleason
quote:
What do the people want?
I don't want my police to act like or think they are in the army. The army serves a completely different purpose than the police.
It's not just the militarization of police, it is the culture of "Whatever it takes to get home", which is a whole lot like "I got to do what I got to do".
Posted on 8/19/14 at 11:48 am to NIH
Posted on 8/19/14 at 11:48 am to jbgleason
It's not the "Militarization of the police", I would assume it's the rules that come with an actual military force on U.S. Soil in a time like martial law.
Disobey and you're dead
Disobey and you're dead
Posted on 8/19/14 at 11:48 am to NIH
quote:
which department do you work for?
Posted on 8/19/14 at 11:48 am to Green Chili Tiger
the police can't be tacticool without all that neat stuff
Posted on 8/19/14 at 11:48 am to Green Chili Tiger
here's another good video with John Oliver from Last Week Tonight: LINK
Posted on 8/19/14 at 11:49 am to SabiDojo
quote:
We protect u
really? I get protection from the police?
Posted on 8/19/14 at 11:50 am to Crawdaddy
yep, nothing concerning about a bunch of $9hr cops getting to play Seal Team 6 with weapons and armor they don't know how to handle.
Posted on 8/19/14 at 11:50 am to Crawdaddy
Who protects the dogs?
Posted on 8/19/14 at 11:50 am to jbgleason
Add a go pro camera to this uniform and I'm good.
Posted on 8/19/14 at 11:51 am to jbgleason
Posted on 8/19/14 at 11:51 am to jbgleason
The problem is this:
Despite a tremendous drop in violent crime, the LEO community feels compelled to spend more and more dollars for MRAPs, ridiculous SWAT RV's, tricked-out $80K Tahoes and every type of gun and protective gear known to mankind.
I have no doubt some of this is necessary. Hell, they oughta give 'em stun grenades for Chicago, but the absolute majority of departments have no need for this crap.
Congrats, we get to pay for it.
Despite a tremendous drop in violent crime, the LEO community feels compelled to spend more and more dollars for MRAPs, ridiculous SWAT RV's, tricked-out $80K Tahoes and every type of gun and protective gear known to mankind.
I have no doubt some of this is necessary. Hell, they oughta give 'em stun grenades for Chicago, but the absolute majority of departments have no need for this crap.
Congrats, we get to pay for it.
This post was edited on 8/19/14 at 11:52 am
Posted on 8/19/14 at 11:51 am to SabiDojo
quote:
We protect u
quote:
“Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It would be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own conscience.”
? C.S. Lewis
Posted on 8/19/14 at 11:51 am to NIH
quote:
yep, nothing concerning about a bunch of $9hr cops getting to play Seal Team 6 with weapons and armor they don't know how to handle.
Why are they wearing woodsland camo in the city?!?
Posted on 8/19/14 at 11:52 am to jbgleason
When you prepare for war, you are no longer protecting. You are seeking and destroying an enemy.
When you are a hammer, everything is a nail.
When you are a hammer, everything is a nail.
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