Posted on 08/14/2014 9:54:23 AM PDT by MadIsh32
Ferguson is the price we pay for turning America’s police into paramilitary units armed with the Pentagon’s surplus military gear leftover from decades of American militarism overseas.
The era of your friendly neighborhood lawman only out to “protect and serve” the community is over — if it ever existed at all.
Today, “protect and serve” would only be in reference to the State and its power, not the people.
The military is an offensive force.
The Police are a defensive force.
Why are the Ferguson cops dressed like the military?
Perception is reality.
People better wake up and demand the cops get back in their uniforms and be cops, not the GD military...
Do the cops have to wear multicam load-bearing molle combat vests when a Black bullet-proof vest with POLICE on the front would do? "Optics" is important for the Police to consider when interacting with their fellow citizens in a tense situation.
It's not about the clothes. Law enforcement has to be ready to respond however is required to the situation that presents itself. Cops have been confronted with heavily armed people on occasion. They have to be ready.
Not saying that LEOs don't overreact to situations. Yes they do. There are bad cops in the mix or sometimes good cops misread a situation.
The vast majority of the cops I know will side with the people, not the government if it comes down to that.
If your local Police began to dress in battle fatigues how would that make you feel?
I disagree, Sir: uniforms matter very much because they project a message to the community.
I have no idea what the police in my area wear because I never have any contact with them.
“The Great ObamaNation” said he would give us a “Civilian Defense Force” armed and as powerful as the military. Mission accomplished.
Making that point though does not add to our understanding of the Ferguson riots, not does Ferguson add weight to the argument against militarization of police. If anything, there is a strong case in favor of armored and heavily armed police in the context of trying to prevent or control a riot.
In those circumstances, the "thin blue line" is not a stale metaphor but is the real thing. When rioters and looters have gathered and are on the march, like most people, I want the police who have the duty to repel and arrest them to have personal protection, equipment, and weapons that give them the upper hand.
Anonymous may have identified the cop who shot the guy http://rt.com/usa/180352-anonymous-reveal-identity-cop-ferguson/
The police have F-15s, howitzers, RPGs, etc?
You forgot more Mount Pilots. Ferguson, MO does not qualify.
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