Rise of the Warrior Cop

[Jerchap2]

I admit up front that I have not had the time to research this as thoroughly as I would like. I will also admit that a book written by someone formerly from the liberal Huffington-Puffington Post should be suspect simply due to those credentials. However, he does make some good points that agree with observations I have been making, especially watching the coverage of the warrentless searches by highly militarized LEOs in the immediate aftermath of the Boston Bombing.

Here is an excerpt from the article:

In a troubling new book called Rise of the Warrior Cop, Balko tackles a subject of growing controversy in communities across the United States: the militarization of police forces. Drones, enormous armored transports, Army-issued helicopters — equipment manufactured for and used by the U.S. military in times of war is finding its way more and more into the SWAT teams of police departments across the country.


"This is just gear that was not designed for use in a civilian, domestic environment. It was designed for use on a battlefield," Balko says. "When you put on garb that was designed for a soldier to wear, it can and often does give you the mentality of a soldier or encourage you to assume that mentality."

Here is a link to the article:

In Rise of the Warrior Cop, Radley Balko tackles the dangers of militarized police units run amok on U.S. soil | City Limits | Nashville Scene

 

[Tactical Flannel]

Oh my......

 

[vitamink]

"This is just gear that was not designed for use in a civilian, domestic environment. It was designed for use on a battlefield," Balko says. "When you put on garb that was designed for a soldier to wear, it can and often does give you the mentality of a soldier or encourage you to assume that mentality."


Hmmm i have a hard time believing that anyone, civilian or cop in a civilian domestic environment would have "gear that was designed for use on a battlefield"...but then i went to INGOs "accessories and gear" sub forum and bought what i wanted in the classifieds. ssssshhhhh don't tell anyone.

 

[Frank_N_Stein]

I'm still waiting on all the stuff that the military has to make its way into my hands, or at least the trunk of my patrol car.

 

[HeadlessRoland]

Dupe of a dupe of a dupe of a dupe of a zombie thread of a dupe.

 

[BehindBlueI's]

"This is just gear that was not designed for use in a civilian, domestic environment. It was designed for use on a battlefield," Balko says. "When you put on garb that was designed for a soldier to wear, it can and often does give you the mentality of a soldier or encourage you to assume that mentality."

Absolutely correct. That's why we need to ban assault weapons. As soon as anyone touches one, they instantly assume the mentality of a solider on a battlefield. Not ever a very good soldier, one that just wants to go to the nearest mall/movie theater/school and start mowing down non-combatants. Right? Who's with me?

Army issued helicopters!!! AHHHHH, PANIC!!!!

1965 HUEY GUNSHIP UH-1E MILITARY BELL AIRCRAFT HELICOPTER UH-1 UH-1H 204 m998 in Aircraft | eBay Motors

Oh, right, you can just go to eBay and buy one if you have the cash. No background checks or nothin'. You'll be enjoying the smell of napalm in the morning as soon as the check clears!

 

[CathyInBlue]

Absolutely no tech/equipment should be available to police any more easily than they are available to the average, individual citizen. Other than that, go nuts.

 

[mrjarrell]

I will also admit that a book written by someone formerly from the liberal Huffington-Puffington Post should be suspect simply due to those credentials. However, he does make some good points that agree with observations I have been making, especially watching the coverage of the warrentless searches by highly militarized LEOs in the immediate aftermath of the Boston Bombing.

You really shouldn't comment on Radley without knowing anything about him. He is not a former writer for Huffington. He is a current writer for Huffington and reports on police excesses and militarisation, among other things. He's a former writer for Reason and Cato, among other places and frequently appears on numerous TV shows, like Stossel and other Fox affiliated shows. He's been around for many years doing what he does and he does it very well. He is an exceptional writer and has been instrumental in freeing at least one person from an unjust prison sentence in Mississippi. Huffington has a number of writers on their staff from a wide variety of backgrounds and outlooks, unlike other sources you have cited. Radley is also a Hoosier and quite proud of it. I'll take his word over many other people who you've linked to. At least he does his research.

 

[vitamink]

I thought that guy was agreeing with you

 

[MPH]

Almost done with work for the day. Started off rough..my M113 had to be jumped, then I didn't restock my .50 from last night's shoot. Got to work, then my Predator Drone's feed crashed, so I just could not surveill my local dopehouse. FINALLY, to top it all off, the g-damn MRE's for my Code 3 were dated pre-Desert Storm.
Some days it just sucks to be a Warrior Cop.

 

[BehindBlueI's]

Almost done with work for the day. Started off rough..my M113 had to be jumped, then I didn't restock my .50 from last night's shoot. Got to work, then my Predator Drone's feed crashed, so I just could not surveill my local dopehouse. FINALLY, to top it all off, the g-damn MRE's for my Code 3 were dated pre-Desert Storm.
Some days it just sucks to be a Warrior Cop.

Should have called. There's room in the Apache.

 

[Bunnykid68]

Cops are bad
OC is bad
CC is for criminals
Bacon is good

 

[Whosyer]

Almost done with work for the day. Started off rough..my M113 had to be jumped, then I didn't restock my .50 from last night's shoot. Got to work, then my Predator Drone's feed crashed, so I just could not surveill my local dopehouse. FINALLY, to top it all off, the g-damn MRE's for my Code 3 were dated pre-Desert Storm.
Some days it just sucks to be a Warrior Cop.

Were you camping in Chino last night ?

http://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2013...ts-fired-over-loud-music-at-chino-campground/

 

[MTC]

FINALLY, to top it all off, the g-damn MRE's for my Code 3 were dated pre-Desert Storm.

... and worst of all, the entire lot was #9 from the 1st generation. Now that's just cruel.

 

[j706]

Almost done with work for the day. Started off rough..my M113 had to be jumped, then I didn't restock my .50 from last night's shoot. Got to work, then my Predator Drone's feed crashed, so I just could not surveill my local dopehouse. FINALLY, to top it all off, the g-damn MRE's for my Code 3 were dated pre-Desert Storm.
Some days it just sucks to be a Warrior Cop.

I hate it when my night starts off like that.

 

[IndyDave1776]

I'm still waiting on all the stuff that the military has to make its way into my hands, or at least the trunk of my patrol car.

Come on Frank! You know an Abrams won't fit in the trunk of the Charger!

 

[IndyDave1776]

Absolutely no tech/equipment should be available to police any more easily than they are available to the average, individual citizen. Other than that, go nuts.

Agreed, 'shall not be infringed' should be applied as written to everyone including (but not limited to) the police.

 

[vitamink]

Anyone can be better equipped than the police. I could break it down but it would take forever. Back when i was racing i went up to the fastest guy with all the sponsors and money and told him how envious i was of his success and hoped to be him one day (i was 16). I was shocked when he said he was envious of me. He went on to say that he could only use what he was told to use even if he knew there was something that could make him faster/stronger/better. A free agent can go out and buy the best gear by the best manufacturers that is years ahead of its competition. He said that sponsors only slow you down.

This rings true for police and military who are subjected to the lowest bidder standard and are confined by General Orders in its use.

As a citizen you can go get a class 3 lic, buy an uparmored hmmwv, a minigun, a noveske full auto m4, Penetrator ammo, some crye precision breathable and waterproof clothes, body armor, ops core helmet, some comm gear that doesn't require a repeater to transmit, and a helicopter to airlift you to wherever you want to go.

Airlift yourself to the police department and you can no longer use any of that. after a year of training you get an unarmored police car, a vest that's expired, and a glock handgun (even though you shoot better with an M&P). If you want a rifle you have to wait until there is a class, then if you successfully complete it you get issued a 1968 20...ft long barreled converted to semi auto m16 with a 2 point canvas sling. You'll then get issued ammo that has the consistency of sugar cubes.

Good news though is that you get to feel like a warrior trampling rights of citizens and stringing their ears through your canvas sling.