I agree. The theme of Police Militarization has been a source of many excellent discussions and debates on FR. I would add that the militarization of police forces have also lead to a certain sense of militancy or belligerence among police forces.
For some time on FR I have commented that when the orders are given, the police will obey them. The worst people to listen to are those who say “That can’t happen here.” That’s what the average German of 1928 would have said. But people in paramilitary organizations are conditioned to follow orders. We are pre-programmed for it.
Example: I personally know one of the officers of the Durham PD who was acting at the direction of Jerry Nifong on the Duke Lacrosse case. I was told that Nifong was everything we thought he was, and worse. I was told that the officers did not agree with or like the orders they were receiving; they thought they were wrong. But they had been given search warrants signed by a judge.
They carried them out anyway.
There is certainly an “us against them” or police and civilians attitude that has developed.
They used to protect and serve the people, they have become protectors and servants of themselves and the state.
It used to be that the police were civilians, not a domestic army.
But the bigger picture is it’s also led to escalating wide spread distrust of cops.
Years ago Americans saw those in law enforcement as a needed arm of government to go after real bad violent people and to protect our borders. A growing number of Americans now see cops as punitive agents of the government, out to seize their assets and gain further control at any cost.
All the kings men if you will.
I agree but I don’t think a TV commercial trying to sell a product is supposed to be blamed for whatever. It was a silly addition to the article.