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Column: The militarization of U.S. police forces
Reuters ^ | 10/22/2013 | Michael Shank and Elizabeth Beavers

Posted on 10/23/2013 1:36:15 AM PDT by stevie_d_64

This month, more Mine-Resistant Ambush-Protected vehicles (MRAPs) have found their way from the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq to the Main Streets of America. These are just the latest acquisitions in a growing practice by Pentagon that's militarizing America's municipal police forces.

Police departments in Boise and Nampa, Idaho, each acquired an MRAP, as did the force in High Springs, Florida. The offer of war-ready machinery, at practically no cost, has proven hard to resist for local police departments. Increasingly, they are looking like soldiers equipped for battle.

The growing similarity between our domestic police forces and the U.S. military is a result of the Pentagon's 1033 Program. This allows the Defense Department to donate surplus military equipment and weapons to law enforcement agencies. In addition to the frightening presence of paramilitary weapons in American towns, the program has led to rampant fraud and abuse.

(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...


TOPICS:
KEYWORDS: 666; banglist; domesticarmy; donutwatch; guncontrol; localpolice; militarization; militarize; militarizedpolice; mrap; police; policedeparments; secondamendment; surplus; warriorcops
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To: stevie_d_64

Frankly Scarlett, I got more of that ding ding feeling from 15 but they both apply.


21 posted on 10/23/2013 2:52:10 AM PDT by wita
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To: stevie_d_64

In my world, in an attempt to avoid suicide by cop, warrant service is by plainclothes wearing, UNARMED policemen. The days of dynamic entry to protect the servers is over. It is the public that now needs protection from the police forces.


22 posted on 10/23/2013 2:58:54 AM PDT by wita
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To: stevie_d_64

I was confused they were chasing the Boston Bomber around with these. It was clear he didn’t have one of his own, or any other heavy military equipment such as a howitzer.

I cannot imagine a single event in any city that would justify having this, other than massive uprisings.


23 posted on 10/23/2013 3:07:09 AM PDT by castlegreyskull
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Comment #24 Removed by Moderator

To: stevie_d_64
Example of what can go wrong with things like this. Small town cops getting a chance to play big-city SWAT bada##es ...

"THE RAID

At about 2 p.m. members of the team, including the nine stack members, dressed in body armor and wearing helmets, left the Easton EMS offices about two and a half miles from Dogwood Drive. Chief Solomon and the team leaders drove off in sports utility vehicles while the rest of the officers boarded their large armored transport. Instead of climbing inside, several of the men chose to stand on the transport's running boards.

The team headed up Sports Hill Road, men in helmets and armor hanging off the tank-like vehicle. As they rolled into the quiet neighborhood residents either ran into their homes in terror or let curiosity get the better of them, according to police reports. One woman followed the two snipers as they got off the transport and moved into the woods near Terebesi's house"
25 posted on 10/23/2013 3:15:43 AM PDT by tanknetter
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To: stevie_d_64

Next brain stem compliance implants for new officers


26 posted on 10/23/2013 3:16:56 AM PDT by jsanders2001
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Comment #27 Removed by Moderator

To: not_under_duress

> I was driving home from work yesterday and noticed a sign on the side of the road that said, “Police Training ahead”. There were 2 of those armored vehicles painted flat black and lots of guys with military style weapons and uniforms conducting some kind of training in the parking lot of what used to be a bank. I understand that the police need to train but this was in a relatively conspicuous area near a busy intersection. Why do it there at 3:00 in the afternoon during rush hour? Has anyone else ever seen a sign that reads, “Police Training ahead”. I haven’t; and I’ve never seen anything like this in my life. This is an odd thing to see especially in Vancouver (Orchards) Washington.

You probably already know the answer. It was probably a show of force to the public to create fear and a loss of hope in rising up against the might of the “state”. 0 loves to use psychological manipulation; its one of his allmarks (other than lying and deception). It wouldn’t surprise me one bit if he had issued a memo to police agencies across the nation to do this and supplied them with military grade firepower to showoff to the public create fear particularly in conservative regions.


28 posted on 10/23/2013 3:26:45 AM PDT by jsanders2001
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To: Domangart

> Are you calling our US Army reserves “jack booted thugs?”

The sign said “Police Training Ahead”. Would usually refer to municipal police unless these were military police officers.


29 posted on 10/23/2013 3:29:22 AM PDT by jsanders2001
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To: stevie_d_64

America’s rural militias should get dibs on this equipment, have our future warriors grow up around this equipment. The armed highway robbers in blue are useless when it comes to risking their retirement at 50 plans. They have to get home safely to work on their biceps.


30 posted on 10/23/2013 3:55:47 AM PDT by Reeses
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To: jsanders2001
I keep remembering a comment that resonated with me.

"These militarized police appear intimidating, but are not prepared to operate on an even force basis."
31 posted on 10/23/2013 3:55:51 AM PDT by Robert Teesdale
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To: Usagi_yo

It still happens.


32 posted on 10/23/2013 4:06:05 AM PDT by Biggirl (“Go, do not be afraid, and serve”-Pope Francis)
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To: AlexW

I live outside the US part time...but always stay in touch.


33 posted on 10/23/2013 4:25:37 AM PDT by rrrod (at home in Medellin Colombia)
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To: stevie_d_64

I remember conversations in here about whether or not local police would help Obama when the SHTF.

They will, believe me.

They will enforce confiscation and they will enforce incarceration. Believe it.

Police officers are a fraternity, when they become LEO’s they forget where they came from, they are now separate from us. They no longer even trust their closest friend, and most have no close friends unless it is other officers.


34 posted on 10/23/2013 4:30:08 AM PDT by Venturer (Keep Obama and you aint seen nothing yet.)
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To: rrrod

“I live outside the US part time...but always stay in touch.”
_________________________________________________
While I am a full time expat, I am on FR all day, every day,
My American lineage goes back to Uncle Sam, but I will not be a slave to the Marxist.


35 posted on 10/23/2013 4:38:38 AM PDT by AlexW
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Comment #36 Removed by Moderator

To: raybbr

You would be foolish not to consider it.


37 posted on 10/23/2013 4:54:49 AM PDT by sunrise_sunset
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To: stevie_d_64

Pretty soooon.........they will have to figure out whose side they’re on.


38 posted on 10/23/2013 4:55:06 AM PDT by Flintlock ("The redcoats are coming" -- TO SEIZE OUR GUNS!!--Paul Revere)
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To: wku man

Filipinos have to deal with a truly criminal police force that infects their entire system.

As a tourist an American you are protected from it, but it is far worse there , still.


39 posted on 10/23/2013 4:56:33 AM PDT by sunrise_sunset
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Comment #40 Removed by Moderator


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