Posted on 12/11/2013 12:40:46 PM PST by Kaslin
The University of the Incarnate Word is a highly-rated Catholic college in San Antonio, Texas. It is hardly a hot bed of campus violence. When senior Robert Cameron Redus was pulled-over last Friday by campus police for “erratically speeding,” it is unlikely he had any clue of how tragically the stop would end. The campus police department contends Redus, an honors student set to graduate in May, grabbed the officer’s steel baton during a struggle. Not in dispute, however, is that Redus was shot five times by the officer, at close range, leaving him dead and the University scrambling to explain why lethal force was needed to subdue a single college student.
Police-involved shootings are on the rise from New York City to Anaheim, California and crime data suggests incidents involving questionable use of police force -- once a problem primarily limited to large, inner-city areas -- are occurring with greater frequency in smaller towns across the country. For civil liberties watchdogs, this disturbing trend should come as no surprise; much like their federal counterparts, local police and prosecutors are demanding greater power to “pursue criminals,” even if such power may overstep constitutional limitation; and regardless of whether such an approach makes practical sense in low-crime communities or in many non-violent situations in which police officers are involved.
A major factor accounting for this trend is the massive infusion of federal “anti-terrorism” money being funneled from the Department of Homeland Security to local police departments. These billions are turning many neighborhood cops into paramilitary personnel -- equipped with vehicles and weapons intended for use in the world’s most violent warzones. The over- militarization of small-town America is turning Mayberry into the Middle East; with Andy Griffith monitoring a license plate camera while Don Knotts patrols the streets carrying an MP5. Officers now have military-style armored vehicles parked in their lots along side their Crown Victoria patrol cars. This has created such unusual scenarios as Ohio State University’s 40,000-pound, armored Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicle, and sophisticated license plate readers in a town of 333 people.
More than simply increasing the likelihood of abuse or disaster, such militarization tends to change the psyche of the American police officer -- the more he is equipped like a soldier, the more he begins to act like one. This, coupled with today’s crime-speak that treats all crimes as if they were acts of terrorism, puts police officers mentally on the offensive; changing their perspective from “serve and protect,” to “find and prosecute.”
Perhaps this is why earlier this year, Virginia Alcohol Control Board agents pulled their guns on a frightened, 20-year-old college student. After mistaking her purchase of bottled water for alcohol, plainclothes officers surrounded her vehicle, and one agent jumped on her hood. Understandably frightened after being ambushed in a dark parking lot, the student tried to drive away as agents drew their guns and tried breaking her windows. Fortunately, the student was not shot. She was, however, forced to spend the night in jail and charged with three felony offenses. The District Attorney decided not to prosecute the case, but stood by officers’ decision to file charges against the student.
In a country where buying a bottle of water can escalate quickly into a potential five-year prison term, the once-common refrain of “you have nothing to fear if you have nothing to hide,” has become esoteric. Reports emerge daily about new details of the Obama Administration’s domestic spying programs. Recent court documents reveal the FBI’s ability to activate computer cameras without alerting users. Government agencies at all levels share our personal data with each other -- even data illegally stolen from commercial sites.
The entire attitude of the criminal justice system is shifting towards treating all citizens -- regardless of guilt -- as suspects. There is no more burden of proof. There is no more assumption of innocence. Your only “right” is to obey; just try to board an airline with a two-inch toy gun in a child’s back pack.
The best hope we have to undoing this statutory and regulatory nightmare created in recent years is to fight back through the ballot box and in court. Fortunately, organizations from across the ideological spectrum -- from the Institute for Justice to the American Civil Liberties Union, and many others – are actively helping to protect citizens from government abuse in all its forms.
All this is not to say there are not very real and very serious threats in communities across the country. Adam Lanza reminded us of that a year ago in Newtown, CT. These threats and incidents must be dealt with using a sound combination of good policing and new technology. But militarizing police forces in communities large and small, and treating all citizens as enemies, is not reasonable, necessary or American.
I saw that one, too. It was disgusting.
A good indicator is the example you gave from the neighborhood. The ones that don’t think that a piece of tin hanging from their shirts make them better than everybody else.
“We now have to walk around with a recording device and are required to record EVERY call we go on.”
Far too many aren’t recorded. And many managed to ‘accidentally’ delete incriminating video, or have convenient ‘accidents’ with the camera.
“Our cars have video and audio recorders in them”
Ya? This officer had a dashcam too. It wasn’t helpful because it needs ‘fixed.’ Why do I suspect the dash can was already ‘fixed’ by him, as he didn’t want his actions recorded.
“I don’t know how people can blame the ‘militarization’ of the police on cops”
Because cops are always eager to get more toys and then play with them. Like SWAT. Instead of finding ways to avoid raids, cops choose to raid over the most trivial offenses and with very limited intelligence. Can’t give up the opportunity to strap up.
There was a raid last year on a non-existent meth lab. The cops burned a little girl with their flashbang (a military device) and still LE sees no need for change.
In another mistaken raid, a SWAT man hallucinated a weapon in the hands of a teen girl. Fortunately, he didn’t get much range time and missed. Cops are extremely eager to strap up.
Militarized is more than just the tools. Militarized is mission, attitude, and tactics. And LE has long since crossed the line on all of those.
How come those in LE always cite this as if it's a common every week occurrence?
Leftist politicians use this same exact strategy to ban just about everything. Sandy hook event comes to mind.
Should every small town and rural county have HRT, swat teams and armored military war vehicles?
When I got on our SWAT team there were several Vietnam combat veterans on it. Through the years we picked up several Iraq and Afghanistan vets. Probably 99% of the guys that I was on SWAT with were military veterans.
Don’t know how true that is for other departments.
What department?
“And the cop gets beat over the head repeatedly with a steel baton and then takes it away from the guy wielding it??? Bruce Willis, maybe... “
Ya. That stuff only happens in the movies. You take a serious hit like that and you are down and out.
Why do I suspect the cops ‘forgot’ to document his injuries?
Did ya notice all the pets that are shot to death in their own yards, ya never see posted injuries to the officer? It’s always, “The dog growled or was attacking”, yet in almost all cases, ya never see any injuries documented supporting any these, “The dog attacked the officer” allegations.
Quick question: have you ever been stopped by another police officer for, say, speeding, failing to come to a complete stop, signal out, any of the things you stop us mortals for, flashed your badge and got out of a ticket?
I can answer that...
It’s done all the time...
Trust me.
I cited it because it’s one that just about everybody has heard of. There are more of course and the chance of it occurring anywhere is there. Is it a weekly occurrence? No.
Should every city/town have a swat team? No. But if a city decides to have one I don’t see what’s wrong with equipping them with decent gear.
How and why a swat team is used is a different matter. I don’t believe the average cop is being militarized.
That's probably the very worst thing that they could do regarding civilian law reinforcement.
Then why are even rural towns and counties developing these militarized teams?
“When I got on our SWAT team there were several Vietnam combat veterans on it. Through the years we picked up several Iraq and Afghanistan vets. Probably 99% of the guys that I was on SWAT with were military veterans.
Don’t know how true that is for other departments.”
I’m not a fan of using former soldiers as cops. Certainly not without a lot of retraining to remind them the rules in war are far different than the rules back home. Again, attitude and tactics.
Each SWAT team is different. Far too many have no mission, hence the efforts to lower the bar on what ‘justifies’ using SWAT. They have to justify the expenditure somehow.
And the towns that have no legitimate use for SWAT are highly likely to have poor selection and training. Some look like Beavis and Butthead go to war.
Like I said, the Pima guys were leaning over each other to get in their shot. And you don’t have to be a combat expert to realize that blocking the path of retreat isn’t exactly a good idea.
If I can be honest with ya, this, “Oh remember the N.HWD shootout, is bullshit. The bad guys would have never escaped and would had been dead regardless of what LAPD did regarding more firepower...There were not going anywhere and in fact, one of the suspect shot himself to death.
Most of these towns and counties have no need to armored vehicle or swat/HRT teams...They develop this mentality because they can, and the cities counties can demand more tax bucks to support this BS.
Yes sir, sure have. The last two times I got stopped I got warning tickets. Both were for less than 10 over. Those boys were fishing for drug arrests. And I will also say this, I probably cite about a quarter of the people I pull over.
I have also been asked why I don’t run radar. I told my boss I got tired of pulling over cops, cops’ relatives and watching hypocrite cops citing people for 10 over when they themselves routinely go 20 over.
Most of the tickets I issue are for driving under suspension or to people who have lengthy driving records who ‘just don’t get it’ and earned a ticket.
We also don’t have a lot of time to run traffic, the city I work in has a crime problem.
BTW, I support our vets and am a vet myself. But we're not a war with the American people.
To fill the ranks of swat teams with seasoned soldiers, who are just out of combat, is not a real slick idea, by any measure.
Why’s that? It’s worked out pretty well for us so far. There have been many over the years who, although they haven’t been on SWAT, have, and are, working the road.
Sent you a private message. Hope we keep it that way.
I don’t believe the average cop is being militarized.
Hmmmm..
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