Posted on Nov 25, 2015
The demilitarization of civilian police forces: for or against?
7.42K
104
45
3
3
0
"A government big enough to give you everything you want, is a government big enough to take away everything that you have."
Valuable vehicles and equipment are being yanked from law enforcement agencies across the country by the Obama administration in the wake of the president’s post-Ferguson order -- as sheriffs and lawmakers tell FoxNews.com the equipment is needed, and losing it could put officers and the communities they serve in danger. “These things are useful tools and the president taking them away will put more officers in jeopardy and at risk of harm or even death. I don’t know how he can sleep at night knowing his actions will have those repercussions,” Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Ala., told FoxNews.com. President Obama issued Executive Order 13688 in January after the 2014 riots in Ferguson, Mo., amid concerns about the “militarization” of the police fueling a heavy-handed response. The controversy circled around the 1033 program, set up by the Defense Department in 1997. The program authorizes the Pentagon to send excess military equipment such as armored tracked vehicles, camouflage uniforms and weapons to local law enforcement agencies for no cost. Supporters of the program say it saves money for local agencies, strengthens those agencies and allows the U.S. to get a second use out of existing equipment.
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2015/11/23/outrage-as-military-vehicles-equipment-taken-from-officers-in-wake-obama-order.html?intcmp=hplnws
Valuable vehicles and equipment are being yanked from law enforcement agencies across the country by the Obama administration in the wake of the president’s post-Ferguson order -- as sheriffs and lawmakers tell FoxNews.com the equipment is needed, and losing it could put officers and the communities they serve in danger. “These things are useful tools and the president taking them away will put more officers in jeopardy and at risk of harm or even death. I don’t know how he can sleep at night knowing his actions will have those repercussions,” Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Ala., told FoxNews.com. President Obama issued Executive Order 13688 in January after the 2014 riots in Ferguson, Mo., amid concerns about the “militarization” of the police fueling a heavy-handed response. The controversy circled around the 1033 program, set up by the Defense Department in 1997. The program authorizes the Pentagon to send excess military equipment such as armored tracked vehicles, camouflage uniforms and weapons to local law enforcement agencies for no cost. Supporters of the program say it saves money for local agencies, strengthens those agencies and allows the U.S. to get a second use out of existing equipment.
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2015/11/23/outrage-as-military-vehicles-equipment-taken-from-officers-in-wake-obama-order.html?intcmp=hplnws
Civilians
Law Enforcement
Police
Police Officer
Posted 9 y ago
Responses: 18
5
5
0
I say let them have them. I've seen the riots 1st hand been there to see the cops overwhelmed by the mobs. It isn't pretty. Let's not forget those two jerks who used military gear to rob a bank in L.A. then got into a shoot out with the cops. LAPD was cpletely outgunned. You can't always call in the National Guard to restore peace. Give the cops what they need to maintain peace in the first place and you have less need to restore it. Just my opinion.
(5)
(0)
Adam Modelski
An outfit as big as LAPD definitely needs to have their own armored cars (2?) and some heavy weapons like M60 machine guns (3?) and a couple of LAW's to take out armored vehicles. A guy recently bought an armored van and used it to attack police and another guy built his own tank and drove it around destroying much of the town. The cops were helpless. The guy finally killed himself.
(0)
(0)
LCpl Stanley Frieze
Adam Modelski I totally agree. Anyone that watches the news can see a clear need for big cities to have these tools. The plain and simple fact is we are not going to be able to keep those type weapons out of the hands of criminals, so we should arm our police forces accordingly to counteract the problem.
(0)
(0)
CPO Andy Carrillo, MS
LCpl Stanley Frieze - As a former deputy sheriff I was only permitted to carry a revolver while the 'bad guys' carried semi-automatic handguns with high capacity magazines. Old school thinking no longer works in an arms race...
(1)
(0)
LCpl Stanley Frieze
CPO Andy Carrillo I totally agree we all understand that. Nothing worse than being outgunned in a firefight. I'm all for giving the policeman what he needs. I have many cop friends and don't want to lose them.
(0)
(0)
3
3
0
I see absolutely nothing wrong with police departments having the equipment necessary to effectively respond to whatever threats they face. Criminals are increasing obtaining more sophisticated and deadly weapons, not to mention terrorists (who I differentiate from "normal" criminals). As such, police departments should have weapons and equipment that allow them to out-gun the adversaries.
(3)
(0)
3
3
0
There is no reason to militarize local and state police forces. In so doing we create a desire to,use the new equipment in ways that are perhaps incompatible with our values and freedoms. It seems to me that the current approach is overkill.
(3)
(0)
MCPO Roger Collins
Please define militarize, Major. Perhaps some examples of how the "militarization" has been used in a way to reflect what you state. Is it like redistribution of wealth to level the playing field? As a retired military Master Chief, my hopes were always to have the biggest and baddest weapons when going into combat. Why shouldn't our law enforcement have the same benefit? Is that incompatible with our values and freedoms when someone is trying to kill Americans, home or abroad. If so, this is a huge awakening.
(0)
(0)
MAJ Alvin B.
Essentially the increased use of military tactics, techniques and procedures coupled with heavier weapons and systems (e.g, light tanks, etc...) for small units if major police departments. This has actually been happening to a small degree since the 1970s. However since 9/11 the equipment and TTP have been spread across the country to even small rural police departments with a concurrent training approach that includes increased aggression and Vigilance.
The tactics have evolved along with the lethality of the military equipment they have received.
The tactics have evolved along with the lethality of the military equipment they have received.
(0)
(0)
Read This Next
Continue with Facebook 
Continue with Google