The continuing militarization of police

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jimpeel

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I ran across this on a Bittorrent download site I frequent. It is a Windows Media Player (WMP) .wmv file which is 8.2 megs.

Preferrably, for those of you who have a Bittorrent client, the file may be downloaded from here:
http://thepiratebay.org/details.php?id=3373406

If you need a Bittorrent client you may get one from here:
http://www.bittorrent.com/

I have uploaded the file to my netdrive and those of you who wish to download it from there can simply click here
Secure Link: https://www2.ibackup.com/qmanager/servlet/share?key=lkrxe21202

That link is only good for 20 downloads and then the link expires. I can make another invitation if it becomes necessary.

That said, here is the crux. When you view the video, you would think that this raid occurred in Fallujah. The cops are in full desert camo battle gear with backpacks, helmets, dogs, etc. There is a helo overhead with the nightsun light illuminating the site. The poster even calls them "soldiers" in his synopsis of the raid.

Here is the description that accompanied the file.
Last night, I was booked to play an event about an hour outside of Salt Lake City, Utah. The hype behind this show was huge, they presold 700 tickets and they expected up to 3,000 people total. The promoters did an amazing job with the show.. they even made slipmats with the flyers on them to promote in local shops.

So, we got to the show around 11:15 or so and it was really cool. It was all outdoors, in a valley surrounded by huge mountains. They had an amazing light show flashing on to a mountain behind the site, the sound was booming, the crowd was about 1500 people thick and everything just seemed too good to be true really. Well...

At about 11:30 or so, I was standing behind the stage talking with someone when I noticed a helicopter pulling over one of the mountain tops. I jokingly said "Oh look, here comes big brother" to the person I was with. I wasn't far off.

The helicopter dipped lower and lower and started shining its lights on the crowd. I was kind of in awe and just sat and watched this thing circle us for a minute. As I looked back towards the crowd I saw a guy dressed in camoflauge walking by, toting an assault rifle. At this point, everyone was fully aware of what was going on . A few "troops" rushed the stage and cut the sound off and started yelling that everyone "get the **** out of here or go to jail". This is where it got really sticky.

No one resisted. That's for sure. They had police dogs raiding the crowd of people and I saw a dog signal out a guy who obviously had some drugs on him. The soldiers attacked the guy (4 of them on 1), and kicked him a few times in the ribs and had their knees in his back and sides. As they were cuffing him, there was about 1000 kids trying to leave in the backdrop, peacefully. Next thing I know, A can of ****ing TEAR GAS is launched into the crowd. People are running and screaming at this point. Girls are crying, guys are cussing... bad scene.

Now, this is all I saw with my own eyes, but I heard plenty of other accounts of the night. Now this isnt gossip I heard from some candy raver, these are instances cited straight out of the promoters mouth..

- One of the promoters friends (a very small female) was attacked by one of the police dogs. As she struggled to get away from it, the police tackled her. 3 grown men proceeded to KICK HER IN THE STOMACH.

- The police confiscated 3 video tapes in total. People were trying to document what was happening out there. The police saw one guy filming and ran after him, tackled him and his camera fell, and luckily.. his friend grabbed it and ran and got away. priceless footage. That's not all though. Out of 1,500 people, there's sure to be more footage.

- The police were rounding up the staff of the party and the main promoter went up to them with the permit for the show and said "here, I have the permit." The police then said, "no you don't" and ripped the permit out of his hand. Then, they put an assault rifle to his forehead and said "get the **** out of here right now."
​

Now, we all know that everyone exaggerates the story to make the other side look bad but, for the sake of this argument, lets say:
  • They didn't have a permit
  • They weren't "legal"
  • No one kicked anyone in the stomach
  • No one tore up the permit because there wasn't one

So what was the purpose and how was that purpose served?

There are a couple of other videos here http://thepiratebay.org/details.php?id=3373773

and

here http://thepiratebay.org/details.php?id=3373522

But the first one is 42.15 megs and the second is 23.75 megs.

I have not viewed those two yet and anyone who wishes to will have to download them with a Bittorrent client as my netdrive only has 50 megs total.
 
Without regard to the specifics of this particular situation, the fact of the militerization of police forces becomes ever more worrysome.
 
Curious as to what generally is considered militarization of police?
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Being armed with M-16's, MP-5's, wearing battle gear, coal scuttle helmets, driving APC's, FLIR on aircraft, calling those of us who are not police "civilians".

Remember when the DEA gave several attack aircraft to the BATF several years ago? They had rocket launcher mounts and fixed machine gun mounts, FLIR, etc. There was such an outcry that they gave them to another agency.

After Waco, who in the Hell would want the BATF armed with attack aircraft?
 
Sort of like this thread I started on another forum. If NO, Waco or Ruby Ridge wasn't a wake up call nothing will be.
Militarization of our Police Force
http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?n...id=33071&rfi=6

I find this trend troubling for many reasons. First the Shoot out in LA, which was played over and over again on TV, was an aberration not the norm.

For the life of me I see no reason for police issuing M16-A1 weapons to the rank and file. A semi AR15 would suffice and I would say had they been available during the LA shootout instead of raiding a local gun store to obtain them the shoot out would have ended sooner.

It take discipline to effectively fire full auto and in most instances it is a last resort measure. Under stress most untrained people will spray and pray. I think this puts the citizens at risk along with fellow officers.

I also believe this leads us down the path to a Police State.

I wont link to the thread but if you want to look at it search THR. It went on for a couple of days and had the usual crowd.

Sheriff's Office Acquires 25 M-16 Rifles
By Ed Pruneau
01/19/2005
Email to a friend Voice your opinion Printer-friendly


Franklin County sheriff's deputies will soon be rmed with new M-16 rifles obt
The 25 rifles, worth close to $50,000, were delivered recently to the sheriff's office in Union.

The only charge to the county was for shipping expenses, according to Maj. Mike Copeland, chief deputy, who applied for the surplus arms through the 1033 Property Disposal Program administered by the Law Enforcement Support Office.

"It's a heck of a program," Copeland remarked.

A couple of years ago, the sheriff's office acquired 20 M-14 rifles through the program. The department also received a van which is used by ERT (Emergency Response Team) squad members, along with clothing and other surplus military equipment.

Sheriff Gary Toelke credits Copeland, and his meticulous attention to details in the application process, with obtaining the equipment for the department.

"They (DoD officials) said they never saw a cleaner application," Toelke commented. "They've even requested some of the forms that Mike made up."

The 1033 program is designed to transfer excess DoD property to federal, state and local law enforcement agencies with special emphasis given to counter-drug and counter-terrorism activities.

"What helps us is that we have big numbers in methamphetamine offenders," Copeland said. "Also, we have been very pro-active in fighting meth in Franklin County."

The M-16 rifles, while new, are 1976 and 1979 vintage, Copeland noted. However, they have never been fired.

Deputies will have to train and qualify with the M-16s before they will be able to carry them, he explained.

Officials hope that officers will never have to fire one of the rifles on duty. However, it's important in certain situations to be able to match the firepower of some criminals, Copeland said.

More than 17,000 local law enforcement agencies have taken advantage of the 1033 program to acquire surplus military equipment.

Under terms of the program, local agencies may not sell or transfer any equipment, and must turn it back over to the DoD if it wants to dispose of it, Copeland explained.



©Washington Missourian 2005

Broken link
 
Being armed with M-16's, MP-5's, wearing battle gear, coal scuttle helmets
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Unfortuantely, the BGs use of rifles, body armor and the like has CAUSED many departments and agencies to issue this gear to, ususally, tactical units. And it is normally these tactical units that will have to deal with those well armed and armored BGs.
APCs: Most agencies' tactical units use armored vehicles as moving barricades to rescue down officers and citizens (Waco Op excluded)
Use of term civilian: agree with your point
FLIR is a great asset for any platform, whether ground or air. BGs like to frolic in the dark. Helos armed with rocket launchers, not so great.
IMO, especially on this forum where gun rights are revered, why would you want to take away the tools (i.e M4s, MP-5s) that would allow LE to safely conduct an operation? Wearing cammies and the like doesn't necessarily make you more militaristic any more than you wearing cammies to the range. It comes down to attitude and policies.
 
Oh, I get it, civilians should have free and unfettered access to whatever arms and equipment they want, but if the police have it, it's a Bad Thing. Sure.........
 
Who here can cite me the article in which the term "police militarization" was introduced, and the author's name and academic affiliation? Who has actually read it?
 
I'm gonna go right down to my favorite gun store and buy an MP5
oh wait ... I can't + I don't have $16,000.00

I know I'll buy an M16 ... Oh I can't do that either. I never broke the law have a clean record. Worked as an EMT and Firefighter. Some statemants made here are asnine.
 
Oh, I get it, civilians should have free and unfettered access to whatever arms and equipment they want, but if the police have it, it's a Bad Thing. Sure.........
Click to expand...
Hard to argue with that.


We just need to be sure they don't act like a military occupying a foreign land (i.e. they must maintain sensitivity to your rights).
 
Actually, civilians should have access.

Was there any REAL need for cops to go from six shooters to bottom feeders??

Anyone read "Guns, Crime, and Freedom"? Civilians are INSANELY better at defensively using their arms to stop criminals than policemen. Something like 90% more effective. This was based off the shall issue states with CCW permits, and the statistics drawn from when citizens lawfully carrying were able to prevent an attack or robbery, or kill a criminal who was (illegally) carring a gun first.

We, people, working and living etc, is what makes up America. Some of us may work in the military or for the police, but ultimately, the power should reside in with the people. It should be our job to keep our elected officials in line. This is long overdue...for some reason, we get the idea (thank you, JFK) that we're here to serve out government when the opposite is true. Things like Waco, Kent State, NO...it is becoming a list. One such offense by the federal entity should be enough.

Yes, I would be concerned with all police agencies being ultra well equipped with machine guns and full body armor. There are simply too many reasons to be wary of this. I'm a law abiding citizen, but like others have said, I can't quite pinch the pennies for a 20,000 dollar Mp-5. Maybe a fifty dollar Raven MP-25, but quite a different bowl of jello that :).
 
BS! Sendec

You'll do what they tell you. We've done this thread several times and the "Law-Enforcement" types (notice the dropping of "protect and serve, public servant is gone") will do what you're told. Witness the CHP in New Orleans beating up an old woman and taking her gun away. I live in a county of less than 100,000 Our sheriff has a swat team. A Police Officer from an adjoinging state (whose life was all messed up) decided to park himself in our city at the police department parking lot and threated to commit suicide. As the chief of the city was talking the PO down; the "Shuriff" decided to deploy HIS swat team, whose sniper quickly took out the police officer with problems. You talk a good story but you will do what they tell you! :eek:
God pity you if you show up at my door with your little flash bombs and .223. I'll kick your FREAKIN A$$:( TIME TO START OVER!
 
Whoa, fellas, This is going sideways in a hurry. No need to have the thread stopped b/c some feelings are hurt.
Sumabich, the events you describe reveal poor decisions and policies. It certainly does not blanket cover the necessity for officers to have the best equipment to deal with the worst people.
 
Wildboy in the frozen tundra

No, not a bad day just "tellin" the facts. Most LE will do what their told. I don't care what they've posted here at TFL. (Their GOVCO retirement is at stake!)
Whoa, fellas, This is going sideways in a hurry. No need to have the thread stopped b/c some feelings are hurt.
Sumabich, the events you describe reveal poor decisions and policies. It certainly does not blanket cover the necessity for officers to have the best equipment to deal with the worst people. BreacherUp! BS. If I have the "do as I am told mentality" I will do it. I don't mind my local "protect and serve" police officers having the best equipenent they can have. I've got a problem with someone who has the ability to declare Martial Law!
 
Breacherup

I see a big problem when the cops come into a function that is populated by teens and early adults wearing camo at night, armed to the teeth, and acting like a certain group we all disdainf from a few decades ago.
 
Sendec

Oh, I get it, civilians should have free and unfettered access to whatever arms and equipment they want, but if the police have it, it's a Bad Thing. Sure.........
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What we want is parity, not superiority. They get the fun toys and we get the crap.

How good is a full auto subgun in a crowd situation? They have them at the airport anyway. Do you think some cop with a subgun is going to be concerned with whatever else he hits when he is trying the take down that suspected terrorist fleeing through the crowd? Some must die that others might live?
 
Images from http://www.hkpro.com/hkaction8.htm

action8mcyclemp5.jpg

Here's something that you don't see every day, especially on a motorcycle, and especially in California. Torrance, California motor officer with MP5SF riding "subgun." Paul Hern photo.

action8mcyclemp5s.jpg

Another shot of the motor officers from Torrance, California. Though not plainly visible on this photo, far right officer has MP5A5 with burst trigger group, while officer in the middle has MP5SF. I would venture a guess that some officers are SWAT, and have select-fire. Paul Hern photo.
 
And then there's THIS ... and you don't want -- THIS

Bush's Terrible Idea:

David Kopel

The Volokh Conspiracy

September 28, 2005

http://volokh.com/archives/archive_2005_09_25-2005_10_01.shtml#1127923525

President Bush and Senator John Warner (R-Vir.) are pushing to create additional loopholes in the Posse Comitatus Act, the law that prohibits use of the military in domestic law enforcement. The drug enforcement loopholes created in the 1980s have already led to the deaths of innocent Americans. A "disaster" loophole could be even more dangerous.

The fact that local, state, and federal governments bungled some of the initial response to Hurricane Katrina is not a good reason to destroy the principle of separation of the military from civil law enforcement--a principle at least as important to civil liberties as the separation of church and state.

Gene Healy of the Cato Institute is the leading spokesman for the pro-liberty side on the Posse Comitatus issue. A chapter I wrote in a Cato book a few years ago provides some historical background, and details the terrible results of the drug war loophole in the Posse Comitatus Act. You can also watch a RealVideo/Audio of a 2002 Cato Institute panel on the PCA, in which Rep. Bob Barr, Stephen Halbrook, Paul Schott Stevens, and I discuss proposals to weaken or eliminate the PCA.

The RealVideo file: http://www.cato.org/realaudio/cpf-10-16-02.ram

The RealAudio file: http://www.cato.org/realaudio/cpfa-10-16-02.ram
 
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the author's name and academic affiliation?
Click to expand...

That's what we need to solve this problem - a board Demosocialist of Ph.Ds to p*ss away a few hundred million on "research" and engage in an academic circle jerk for the next ten years...:barf:
 
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