You won’t like my answer but I am more than happy to offer it.
No helmets. They can wear hats like every other officer.
No ski masks.
No goggles or night vision.
No all-black uniforms. No camouflaged fatigues.
They should look like beat cops or Sheriffs just with vests and long arms. That’s it. And they should drop the night-time no-knock raids that causes homeowners to draw down on them or fire on them when they break into the wrong house at night.
By dressing and equipping them like a military unit, they think like a military unit - shoot first and ask questions later.
I am FULLY FULLY aware that their risk level goes up without helmets and having to perform their no-knock raids in daylight. But that is the price of law enforcement in a free nation. You don’t get to have the complete security that you get in a police state.
The dress and tactics of SWAT forces are starting us down of losing support for police among Conservatives. Believe me, the police need that support and do not want to do anything to alienate that tax-paying base. The SWAT based police forces are beginning to push the “us vs them” thinking a little too far. When they lose the support of the taxpaying masses, they are going to wish they acted more like law enforcement officers earlier, and less like a military occupying force ferreting out terrorists house to house. Because they is how they are starting to behave now - and that is going to reinforce in them the idea that any homeowner anywhere can be the enemy.
SWAT is going way too far. Police have to back off from the military style dress and tactics. I know you don’t want to hear that, but it is how I feel.
I feel and have always felt the police are good guys and are there for my protection. I wish they would quit dressing and acting in a manner that is beginning to make me question if they are there to protect me or to protect themselves and the hell with me.
I agree with you, Freedom. I think it starts with police unions and with the training of the officers. The emphasis seems to have gone from Serve and Protect to Make Sure I get Home Safe at all Cost.
Most all law abiding citizens like and support Law Enforcement. We, too, want to make sure they get home safely but much of what we see now is outright gangsterism. How often do you see a traffic stop and the officers shouting angrily for the driver to get down on the ground and make sure I can see your hands? How often is one non-resisting person surrounded by officers all with guns drawn and pointed at the person on the ground. They are all shouting and are so excited that I am surprised that more people aren’t accidentally shot by officers. We do hear about many of them being unnecessarily beaten for “resisting” when resisting may just be not acting fast enough for the officers liking.
Officers know when they sign up that the job can be dangerous. That is why they are issued guns, batons, tear gas, pepper spray, tasters, bullet proof vests, etc. However, some of them seem determined to put all that gear to use some how, some way. From what we see on the news and the cop shows we know often a person is subdued when they could have been taken into custody a much simpler way and calmer way. A few calm words would often do the trick but the officer insists on total obedience at the very instance they issue a command. That leads to bad feelings from the general public and unnecessary violence in others.
I also see on the news situations where a swat team was dispatched when the potential danger seems minimal. Why? To protect the officers at all costs. That often invites a dangerous situation where none existed.
I have never been in trouble but I have gotten traffic tickets and I have seen officers lie in court. I have even gotten mean stares from officers simply because I had the temerity to challenge the ticket I got.
I used to be selected for jury duty often and I was normally named the Foremen of the jury. However, the last few times I was called where it was an I said, He said situation, I was never selected because I told the prosecutors and the defense lawyers that I was able to reach a fair decision after hearing all the facts but that the state was going to have to prove their case because I have had bad experiences with the state. The defense lawyers always wanted me but the prosecutors always cut me.
Oh, yeah. Recently I was watching a cop show and the officers were approaching a man in his front yard. The man was sitting quietly and there was a dog, a Rottweiler, laying peacefully about 20 feet away. The officer told the man that if that dog as much as stood up he was going to kill him. Thankfully, the dog didn’t move or wag his tail or anything. Do they only hire people who have an irrational fear of dogs?