What are your thoughts on “Militarizing the Police?”

For me, it depends on their mission, location, and the crime base they're providing a police action for. Most likely, a small town police force will not require the same TO&E as a police force in a larger metropolitan city. Even then, the typical patrol officer shouldn't need the full gambit of weapons and equipment as the better trained and equipped special teams. It's not enough to simply equip the force with weapons. Proper training and accountability are essential.

I have several friends in law enforcement, and have had many conversations about this.
Military gear does not make the police like the military.
Now I do have to say that some federal and local angencies have been seen as using over the top tactics for what seems routine items.
If law enforcement agencies would relearn the art using the right amount of force for the situation then I do believe things would improve.

Unfortunately, we need to understand why the Police need the equipment they have, bottom line, they deserve the same right to come home safe at the end of the day as any other job

I think that the opportunity for various departments to obtain military surplus items is a good thing, and here is why. A nut job in our area, wounded an officer attempting a traffic stop. He then traveled to the next county further arming himself. As officers from several departments arrived to execute a warrant, two more officers were wounded as they approached the house. These two were able to take cover behind their cruisers. The state prison in that county activated their CERT team and arrived on the scene with a lightly armored tracked vehicle and were able to extract the wounded officers without loss of life or additional injuries. Against a barricaded gunman older military hardware is tough to beat. I'm glad there are programs available that enable departments to face a threat with equipment that can get the job done safely.

When I was a cop all but a few on the force were prior military. Where do you think cops come from? Here are the facts about militarization. My department got to the point where we needed our own tactical team. We had no money. We went to DRMO and got a old CUTV and armored car, uniforms boots, and kevlar helmets. All serviceable stuff that was going to be thrown away by the military if somebody didn't use it. What's better the price was right. $0.00. We also ended up with some older generation m-16s but I forgot how we got them. The money we saved went towards training. We weren't the Navy Seals (didn't have to be they had a training center 5 miles away) but we were good enough to hold our own. And if things got more serious we could contain a scene until the better trained and equipped state police got there which usually took about three hours.

All of the above options are viable. What really needs to be done, in my opinion, is to fix the education system in this country. We need ALL law enforcement agencies, local, state and federal to work together. They need to share intel. That is a possible long term solution. The problem will continue to exist between the way the system works now and if we implement these changes right now. Handling the situation in the interim is more complicated.

Not all law enforcement is militarizing. SWAT and HRT folks need the armament to go toe to toe during those high risk warrants or hostage situations.

TCOs and the Cartels on the border will eat your lunch if you go out there with a six shooter and no body armor.

Its is funny how quickly people forget history. Who remembers the LA shoot out? The officers were ill equipped and out gunned. They had to go to go to the local gun store and get high caliber rifles. They are receiving "TOOLS" to be used in times that are needed. As long as it is not abused i am ok with it. How bout when officers where not issued vest if they wanted them they had to buy them.

I don't think that militarizing the police holistically is a good approach. However, increasing the capabilities of specific units within a PD is probably the right thing to do. Too many criminals/criminal organization have similar equipment/capabilities. Not giving the Police that puts them at a marked disadvantage before they can even hit the streets.

OK step back and look at what you are asking. First responders have had to deal with more militaristic situations: 9/11, Drug Cartels with military grade weapons and Gang Wars. If you ask me they have already made that move by buying military surplus like MRAPS and developing military like SWAT Units, Anti Terrorism Units and after this weeks events large contingents of Anti-Riot Squads. NO, they do not need to be militarized, peopl have to take into account that the Police, Firemen, and Emergency Responders put their lives on the line every day. Every day a policeman has to deal with someone out ther that out guns them has access to military equipment and wants to do them harm. Have you ever watched COPS, or read the paper where a routine traffic stop ends with a fatal shooting of a police officer. People have to do what they are told or they are going to get hurt. RESPECT for the law and the law enforcement officers will stop what happened in NYC and Fergason. When told to stop, get on the ground, do not resist, don't move, obey or pay the price. That police officer doesn't know if you don't have a gun, knife or something you intend to use to end his or her life.

It all begins with RESPECT and RESTRAINT, both by the police and the perpetraitor. When the people of The United States start to see what happens to law enforcement officers each and every day, then they may understand there overzelousness and lack of empathy for perpetrators. It all begins with self protection, self preservation, wanting to see their love ones. Police have been shot walking into the police station in PA, not even there they are safe.

Maybe what is needed are more cameras depolyed with cops on the beat, in their cars to support thier actions and catch the neglect.