Police State?

[Engine 21]

I can only hope this type of response is the post child of how not to respond. I have been associated with so called Swat Teams on multiple occasions - some times that type of response is called for - most times it's over reaction. On one occasion we got called out for a "barricaded gunman" at an apartment complex. It took an hour + to set up. The Operations Commander - who looked like a ninja ran across the grass area for 500 feet - zig-zaging with a gas mask banging on his leg - did a forward roll when he got to the building - stood up and tried to open the exterior door to access stairs to the second floor of the apartment building - it was locked. He disappeared around the corner and no one saw him for quite a while. Mean time - the on duty Police Lieutenant interviewed the girl who had been in the apartment "conducting business". The guy wouldn't pay her. She grabbed his wallet and he grabbed a revolver - no shots fired, he just brandished the revolver to get his wallet back. Lieutenant takes the wallet from the girl. We obtain the phone number of the "barricaed gunman" - and call him. He's asleep - answers the phone - we tell him to come out. The Police Lieutenant looks around and sez "JEEZ" walks up the apartment - the perp is on his knees outside the apartment. Regular on duty P.O.'s take him into custody, for brandishing a firearm, pat him down and and put his wallet back in his pocket, put him in a scout car and leave. Meantime, Barney Fife is in the bushes on the side of the building with his band of ninjas. I think they were embarrased to come out. The citizens are standing on the sidewalk on the other side of the street in robes drinking coffee and pointing. Then a helpful citizen points out to me the Swat trucks back doors are open and people are looking in and it looks like the gun rack is unlocked. I secured the gun rack, closed the doors, took the keys out of the ignition and gave them to Barney. I also told the Chief I just cannot be associated with Barney and his band of merry men so please do not order me out to these circuses because, well it's embarrasing to the average cop on the street and worse it's unsafe not to mention the liability. This guy shouldn't have a BB gun leave alone an MP-5. Within a month Barney was gone and his band of merry men were reevaluated and proper well trained people were put in place.And the policy for call out of the SWAT team was revised. I laugh now - but I didn't then. You just can't make this stuff up.

 

[hs125]

Over the top.

In my small college town of 30k citizens, our PD traded in a Winnebago (command center) for a UAV (Urban attack vehicle) which is "deployed" for the most silly situations.

Too, there was "use or lose" money (our money) from DHS which is used for toys, rather than honest police work. Our PD used to work closely with the community and had it's fingers on the pulse of town. Now they sit in their cruisers with the windows rolled up on their cell phones. The attitude is much more punitive and accusatory.

I'm not sure any of today's techno toy LEO's could catch a cold!

 

[David LaPell]

I can tell you that it is a new thing over the last few years that alot of LE agencies are going to. The old common sense police work where they try to talk to people is getting replaced by a military style "Do it now!" attitude. I think that as these new guys replace the older guys on the job, more of this will continue. The other thing is that states, like here in NY is ditching the old pension systems. It used to be for cops 20 years and out and us CO's 25 and out with a 50% pension. Now it is 30 and out and you get 40% which you can't collect until you're 62. If the governor gets his way, the new pension will be you won't retire until you are 62 and you will get 30%. I expect a high turnover and burnout rate as cops get fed up and quit not to mention a lower quality of employees.

 

[bk43]

...and feeling confident they will go home after their shifts!!

Do you mean like Columbine where people bled to death inside while LEO's waited outside to be sure they were not injured? Or attacking a child while in full combat gear with an auto like in this picture? Sorry, this train has come off the tracks and we're headed toward an us vs them that is not sustainable in a civilized society. It's going to get a lot worse unless changes are made.

Sadly, we will probably go through several years of playing the blame game and everybody over reacting before solutions are found. And during that time people are going to die needlessly, LEO's and private citizens alike.

Bob

 

[brucev]

My default is to support LE. The LE and LEO I know in my local area are not at all the wanabe mil-type operators so regularly featured in articles, reports of over the top foul-ups such as the incident mentioned in the op, etc. In general, I'm for LEO doing their job with the least amount of drama necessary. I will say I have absolutely no use at all for officers running around in combat gear, ie., BDU's, boots helmets, etc. It is simply out of place. If they want to play army, let them join the U.S. military. If they are retired military and can't leave that life behind, they need to get psychiatric help. If and when a officer speaks to me, he'd best not be shouting "order." He'll get a much better and more cooperative response if he speaks to me in a reasonable voice. I don't blame anyone for reacting negatively if a officer begins the interaction at a high level... i.e., shouting, demanding, challenging. If LEO want to be supported by the general public, they must take seriously the first part of an old motto that once was seen on the doors of cruisers... "To protect and serve."

 

[handejector]

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