Supplying Law Enforcement With Military Style Gear

In the past, police officers and the public only had their word as their testimony. They had no choice but to try convince the jury that their side of the story was the truth. High profile cases between officers and the public have left the public searching and wanting answers. Some law enforcement departments have added another piece of equipment to their police officers for their added protection, while they patrol the streets. This controversial piece of

Police work is dangerous. Sometimes police put in situations that excessive force is needed, but, because some officers use these extreme measures in situations when it is not required to use excessive force. The use of excessive force it should be looked into by the system in the misuse of power among officers. Most police officers throughout the ranks of the U.S. police departments are just seeking more authority/recognition among the population or the district his/he is working. The U.S. law enforcement that misuse their authority would get away with it in the past it would only be he or she said. Since the invention of cameras more of the excessive force used by police officers use gets caught in a circle around due to the social network. Law enforcement agents need to wear cameras with their uniforms and a penalty for any tampering with cameras view or shutting down the cameras with a 20 year sentence.

Since these multiple cop shootings and cases of police brutality, many people have lost faith in the police force and do not trust nor respect them. In a survey from about a year ago, people were asked how the police do on holding other cops accountable for their actions, and 65% of the respondents said the police do a poor job of doing so.(Chumley) In an editorial about a New Jersey police chief pondered why nobody trusts the police anymore, Deo Odelecki gave this explanation “I don’t know what to tell you chief. It’s not us pointing out all the disrespectful, violent things cops do every day that is making you look bad. It’s the cops doing those disrespectful violent things and chiefs, like you, covering up for them that is making you look bad”(Odelecki). This sums all the police mistrust in one quote, police committing violent and unnecessary things and other police officers trying to cover it up. If the police were to wear body cameras and fix their behavior, the trust in police would eventually be

However, for much of America’s history, its police agencies themselves have been quite distinct from the military, serving numerous roles that range from “crime fighting” to “social peacekeeper” (Winright, 2014, p. 10). However, in recent years the crime fighting role of the police – sometimes referred to as “the military model of policing” – has become increasingly emphasized, often to the detriment of other police roles (Winright, 2014, p. 10). In conjunction with this, and in response to changing threats and mandates, police agencies have increasingly come to resemble the military in their tactics, equipment, and training (Bieler, 2016). Increased police militarization in response to changing law enforcement roles and specialized criminal threats is a necessary component of modern policing, but poses real dangers of abuse, escalating violence, and miscasting of the police role that warrant significant oversight and

According to Tom Retterbush of Conspiracy Watch , a survey was conducted and determined that for the 1st time since 9/11, people have been more afraid of the authorities than the criminals that they’re supposed to be arresting. The reason people don’t stand up for themselves against crooked authorities is because of fear. Fear, that is the reason badge abuse thrives in the U.S. In recent events, hundreds of cops dressed in military grade gear have barged in on protests, wrong addresses, etc. Now people might say that police only do that when the problem is major, when it’s necessary for criminals and rioters out there to be intimidated, so that they can be set straight into line, but here’s a great example where that’s not the case. In 2014, the Phonesavanhs, a Georgia family and their baby, fell victims to this during a no-knock house raid by S.W.A.T units. A stun grenade was thrown into their child’s crib, exploding and causing the 3 month-old’s face to be severely injured. The S.W.A.T officers involved weren’t charged for the incident, and even though it might’ve been an accident, the family never received an apology. Now that there is enough to intimidate just about anybody.

The Warrior Cop Project Organization represents law enforcement officers. Our ultimate goal is public awareness and education on the origins, the present, and the future of militarization of police and the safety of all American police officers. This paper examines the militarization of the American police forces as it pertains to the increased equipment and training needed by police to remain safe while effectively doing their required jobs. Militarization of police: it is more than just equipment. Our organization is pro-militarization of the police. Our police officers must be allowed to protect themselves when threatened. These threats are manifested on

Due to a series of recent police-involved shootings, our nation has been filled with riots and unrest. American citizens are demanding for more police accountability. One of the most popular solutions to this problem is the implementation of body-worn cameras. There have been very few studies done on the effects of police forces wearing body-worn cameras. I am proposing a year-long research study of the implementation of body-worn cameras with the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department also known as IMPD. IMPD has six distinct districts that cover different parts of Indianapolis and its suburbs. I will include all six districts in my study, and I will look at both the types of use-of-force techniques that were used as well

The colors red, white, and blue in America represents freedom. When a police officer approaches a civilian in today’s times, those colors mean the absolute worst. With recent police mischief including shootings, red, white, and blue could mean absolute panic. Americans today feel as if there is a war with police officers. The most common question civilians have, why are innocent people being killed by police officers? The civic responsibility of a police officer is to serve and protect citizens while upholding the law. With many recent incidents, civilians no longer feel safe around authorities. A new policy proposed to congress by Barack Obama is for police officers to wear body worn cameras, or BWC’s. “... nine in ten Americans support the use of cameras on cops” (Boone). Therefore, police officers should be required to wear body worn cameras in order to have better security, behavior, and evidence for crime scenes.

August 9th, 2014 is a day that will live on in infamy in the United States and the law enforcement community. On this day in Ferguson, Missouri, a member of the Ferguson Police Department, Officer Daren Wilson, shot and killed Michael Brown. From all accounts of the investigation at this time, Michael Brown was unarmed and had been stopped by Officer Wilson due to walking in the middle of the street (jaywalking). What happened next is in dispute and shocked the conscious of America. While investigators are still trying to answer the question as to what caused this tragic event to take place and evidence is being presented to a grand jury; a secondary discussion has emerged. Should all law enforcement agencies be required to purchase body-worn cameras for their officers to wear? Are body-worn cameras a good idea or will this help to create an Orwellian environment? Will body-worn cameras increase transparency for the law enforcement community or will it create a greater divide?

“When you’re training’s all about shooting, handcuffing, the physical part — and not about the verbal part — it can create an imbalance,” (Swart). The way that the public is treated by police officers at times is unacceptable. With getting the responsibility of having a badge and gun can negatively impact a person, that responsibility could get to someone’s head and one could abuse that power. “If he hasn’t been trained in that yet, he’s going to go straight to something he does know: handcuffing, defensive skills, shooting,” (Swart). This alone could be the negative impact on how an officer is being

As stated by Rizer and Hartman, “When police officers are dressed like soldiers, armed like soldiers, and trained like soldiers, it’s not surprising that they are beginning to act like soldiers. And remember: a soldier’s main objective is to kill the enemy.” The authors of this article argue that while it is logically understandable, these new policing methods blur the distinction between soldier and law enforcement. Their new training and technology is no longer limited to counter terrorism, it is involved in daily patrolling now. Officers walk around in full armor, armed with M-16 and M-4 Rifles. Also, previously, only the largest of America's big-city police departments maintained S.W.A.T. teams. Today, almost every police department has

Nine hundred eighty-six is the number of people killed by police officers in 2015 in the United States, which is more than double the deaths reported annually over the past decade (The Washington Post). That number given is a total count of deaths under any circumstance of the fatality. Police force against citizens has become more and more aggressive each year, all though some of the force is needed for the situation, hundreds of people each year get killed by police that use force that is not necessary. The FBI did a five year study on deaths of citizens by police officers, and compared the percentages of races killed. Outcomes of that were not surprising if you keep up with modern day news, with the myth floating out in space that blacks are more likely to be killed by police than any other race. The percentages read 51.1% black, 46.3% white, and 2.6 other races murdered by police (FBI: Uniform Crime Reporting). If all police officers were required to wear body cameras during the line of duty, it would greatly reduce police brutality and create a much safer working environment.

Very insightful post! You made several interesting points in your discussion. I do agree that the mass majority of American law enforcement personnel have become militarized in their attire, as well as their approach in addressing various community issues. There is certainly a degree public intimidation whenever law enforcement gets involved in local matters. There is a value system that is supposed to permeate a police department. Working with the community, local leaders, individual citizens and public/private organizations should be at the fore front of any police department. However, the increased workloads and loss of confidence in police departments have made it difficult to foster such relationships. According to Tom Casady, “Community-based

I believe the military-style training positively effects the recruitment in law enforcement. When attempting to select a new recruit, it is difficult to gauge their flaws with only a few moments of contact prior to their hire. The academy provides an opportunity for the department to see what type of person they have hired and if they have the will power and self-discipline to do the job. I have seen it at my own department where a recruit was hired, sent to the academy, and then gone within the first day. Police departments across the nation could use a more military style approach in their training to instill the warrior mindset to persevere through bad situations in all new recruits (Stoughton, 2015).

When a Police Officer is on duty and wearing that uniform, it is not uncommon to stereotype Police Officers for having status, too much authority, attitudes, and motivations (Johnson). But in reality the Police Uniform serves the purpose of the officer being able to be easily identified as a person that is vested with the powers of the state to arrest and use force (Johnson). Research has shown that alterations to the traditional, paramilitary police uniform can cause different perceptions by the public (Johnson). Different perceptions by the public to a police officer can be caused by simply wearing a different hat, or wearing a tie on your uniform. This is why many police departments to this day still wear the traditional “Class A” uniform. Although many departments still wear the “Class A” uniform, many of them are going to a more “Tactical” style