Posted on 08/24/2011 7:42:30 PM PDT by Immerito
The front page of last Tuesday's Richmond Times-Dispatch carried a startling photo: Richmond police officers taking a suspect into custody. What was startling was the display of force. The officers, accompanied by a robot and decked out in full riot gear with shield and combat helmets, could have been mistaken for American soldiers on patrol in Iraq. Yet they were going up against a single man—and they were not even sure was armed.
Regrettably, this is not a new development. In recent years police forces across the country have become increasingly militarized.
To a small degree, that trend represents a rational response in an arms race against the criminal element's escalating firepower. But more of it has to do with the lavishing of federal Homeland Security funds on local law-enforcement agencies. Local departments have used the money to buy themselves all kinds of fancy toys—from the Segways bought for the bomb squad in Santa Clara, Calif. several years ago to the Lenco BearCat G3 bought last year by the sheriff's department in Warren County, Va.
The BearCat G3 is an 8-ton armored personnel carrier. Its half-inch steel plating and 2.5-inch window glass can stop a .50-caliber round. Its sensors can detect chemical, biological, and radiological threats. "It's big enough to go through a house if it had to," says the department's Roger Vorous. Warren County bought the quarter-million-dollar vehicle with a Homeland Security grant.
(Excerpt) Read more at reason.com ...
Any weapon or device that the police can deploy ought to be legal for the population to own and deploy.
The solution for this nonsense is at the State level. Simply put, States should put their foot down and prohibit police departments in their State from being militarized.
It really is as simple as that. They can tell all the police departments in their State that they may no longer keep or obtain military weapons beyond a strict list provided by the State. Any that they currently have must be turned over to the State for disposition.
It doesn’t matter if the DHS, the DEA, or whoever, wants to give them the stuff for free, or grants to buy it themselves, or a big chunk of cash from drug confiscation monies.
Just say NO. No federal grants to local law enforcement, except through the State government, and no conditions on such money, either, involving SWAT paramilitary training, or integration with federal law enforcement agencies, or just about anything else.
In other words, if the feds show up at your door, send them up the chain, because you are not permitted to take their dime, or really to have anything to do with them, without State police and Attorney General approval.
A lot of this stuff started in the 1970s, with a small number of heavily publicized police assassinations, mostly by leftist radicals. So in conjunction with the War on Drugs begun by Richard Nixon, the militarization of local police departments began.
It has run its course as a philosophy, and has caused just as much harm as it has solved. Only a handful of big cities, with rampant violent crime, still need SWAT teams. Most of the rest of the country does not.
So, what brave State legislator will stand up to propose the demilitarization of the police in his State?
“...to the Lenco BearCat G3 bought last year by the sheriff’s department in Warren County, Va.”
Here’s a promotional/sales video from Lenco on the G3, in case anyone is curious:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vm4bzV31k14
Black balaclavas not included.
Yep, we need legislators and governors willing to put an end to this.
Let the military be the military and the police be the police.
So, is that to be used for Department of Education student loan raids? Maybe, non-pasteurized goat milk distributor searches? I know, maybe it’s the dog catchers new Pit Bull acquisition vehicle? Or the “former Marine” bogus search warrant kill him dead and bring him in vehicle?
It’s so versatile, I simply must get one!
I’ll call it my, visit my establishment congressman’s office RV!
Those boys WILL use those toys.
When you have a SWAT team, everything is a dynamic entry opportunity.
I’ve been watching a reality show called “Vegas Strip”. Cops doing what you’d expect in Las Vegas: traffic stops, breaking up fights, hassling prostitutes, etc. Except they identify themselves as “Homeland Security Saturation Team” members. What is that all about?
It's called the federalization of the local police.
If the departments don't implement the federal jackboot philosophy, no more toys.
Truly sickening.
Notice how the public has been conditioned that they are "law enforcement officers" and not "peace officers." Oh well, I guess the "authorities," formerly known as "public servants" know what's best.
Not sure, I’ve never seen or heard of the show, much less the “Homeland Security Saturation Team”.
http://www.trutv.com/shows/vegas-strip/index.html
Well, I had it wrong. There was no “security” in the name, so I guess it is just a Las Vegas police unit.
Sgt. Tom Jenkins (Homeland Saturation Team, LVMPD)
Sorry, guys.
sorry I didn’t read the article but police that have to wear ski masks when on duty means there is something wrong with those police....
This army is not intended to fight a war against a foreign invader. The frogs in the pot are being set up for a civil war.
Yep, honest, honorable people have no problem showing their identities.
Those who commit crimes don’t want to be identified, and as a consequence, caught.
I am sure its necessary in Alaska, or in winter climates in the lower 48, but I was referring to SWAT teams that invade a home... If they doing a nasty in the house, cannot be identified...Cannot see why they need to disguise their idenity....:O)
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.