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Pros And Cons Of Militarization Of Policing

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The militarization of police has become an increasingly contentious issue in the United States, with concerns raised about the scope, mission, and perception of law enforcement agencies across the country. The concept of militarization refers to the adoption of military tactics, equipment, and strategies by police departments, a process which began in 1965 with the inception of SWAT teams in Philadelphia (). With the aim of law enforcement being the enhancement of capabilities in high-risk situations, this outcome was inevitable. The militarization of police has intensified and expanded since that time, with military vehicles, equipment, and weapons becoming commonplace across the country. A large contributor to this phenomenon has been the …show more content…

Proponents of the militarization of police argue that such tactics can provide important benefits in high-risk situations. One key advantage is the enhanced tactical capabilities that militarized police units possess, which can allow them to effectively address situations with significant potential risk to officers or the public. Examples include superior weaponry in comparison to any criminal element they face, personal armor and safety equipment, as well as enhanced vehicles to transport more officers or secure thoroughfares. Unfortunately, these situations have become more common in recent years, with a drastic rise in mass shootings and terrorist attacks (). These kinds of attacks are precisely why proponents of militarizing the police insist on its importance. In addition, militarization of police can improve response times, allowing officers to respond to threats more quickly and effectively. This is achieved through higher powered vehicles, greater communication abilities, and an encompassing domestic surveillance apparatus. Furthermore, militarization of police can increase officer safety, ensuring that law enforcement personnel have access to the necessary equipment and protective gear to carry out their duties in hazardous …show more content…

Critics argue that militarization can lead to over-policing in communities of color, leading to unnecessary and sometimes deadly confrontations between law enforcement and citizens. Several high-profile cases have demonstrated the negative consequences of militarization of police, including excessive use of force and civil unrest. One example is the 2014 protests in Ferguson, Missouri, which were sparked by the killing of an unarmed black teenager by a white police officer. The police response to the protests, including the use of military-style tactics and equipment, was widely criticized for exacerbating tensions and leading to excessive use of force. While violence may not have been avoided by downscaling the armaments of the police, it may have lessened the severity of the fallout. Similarly, the 2020 protests across the country following the killing of George Floyd highlighted concerns about police militarization and its impact on civil liberties and community trust. While the killing was not a direct result of militarization, it raised tensions about entrusting officers with the level of weaponry that the military

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The deadly shooting of Michael Brown by Officer Wilson, unveiled numerous issues within local law enforcement, that resulted in social controversy aimed at all of law enforcement. According to the BBC news, Brown was unarmed when he was fired upon by Wilson (“Ferguson unrest”, 2015). A projection from this incident has emerged, claiming that African Americans are killed more frequently than other races when confronted by law enforcement. The statistics have revealed that African Americans who are unarmed have been victim to violence with

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Instead of facilitating the war on terrorism and drugs, the program has breed a new type of law enforcement officers who carry out every operation in a military manner, relying on military tools and a military mindset even in situations, such as peaceful public demonstrations, that do not call for the use of excessive force. The police are needed to be a symbol to communities, that they are indeed there to protect becoming a more aggressive force does not give people that same reassurance. "However, the program has been heavily criticized for militarizing law enforcement agencies that has led to increased violent conduct among law enforcers" (Kraska, 2007) Its thought that aggressive policing is what's needed to stop crime in America but its a tactic that

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The topic that I chose to research is the “use of force” by the police specifically in the case of Michael Brown. The shooting of Michael Brown occurred on August 9, 2014 in Ferguson, Missouri, a northern suburb of St. Louis. Brown, an 18-year-old black male, was fatally shot by Darren Wilson, 28, a white Ferguson police officer. The disputed circumstances of the shooting of the unarmed 18-year-old sparked existing tensions in the predominantly black city, where protests and civil unrest erupted.

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Since August, you can not turn on the news without hearing about Ferguson, Missouri. There has been much debate over the police officer’s use of deadly force against an unarmed teenager and if it was justifiable. The country watched as protests and riots broke out during the summer months when the officer was not immediately arrested. And again when the grand jury returned their decision the country watched waiting to see the reaction of the community. There was hope that all the talks and trainings leading up to the verdict, that peaceful protests would be the only reaction, but deep down the community prepared for what was to come that night.

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Ever since the shooting and death of Trayvon Martin, more shootings and deaths has occurred. Cases such as the Eric Garner case, Akai Gurley case, and John Crawford case has caused outrage from the African American community and Black Lives Matter movement. In order to combat the shootings and deaths of the people in the African American community, people have marched against police brutality in order to make a change in the world. Brad Knickerbocker, staff writer of csmonitor, states that: “Thousands of Americans marched and rallied in New York, Washington, Boston, San Francisco and other cities around the country Saturday, voting with their feet against police brutality – specifically in response to recent police killings in Cleveland, New York, and Ferguson, Missouri, that have wracked a nation still dealing with issues involving racial mistrust and mistreatment of black people at the hands of white police officers” (Knickerbocker). Due to many events that have occurred against black people, “thousands of Americans” marched and fight against police brutality.

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On September 11th, 2001, the United States witnessed the deadliest day in law enforcement when 72 officers were killed while responding to the attacks of the World Trade Center. Due to this attack, impacts and demands for change devastated law enforcement. This overwhelming attack redirected priorities to the United States, our government, and our law enforcement agencies. Homeland security, information systems, and security related implications became the forefront of change for state and local policing. Not only have tactics, and trainings been changed since this event, we have also established new measures have been written and passed; these would include the Patriot Act and Homeland Security.

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For the past 70 years, the U.S. has been the world’s police force, whether in Germany, Korea, Vietnam, or Afghanistan, and the defense budget has grown accordingly. Writing in The New Yorker, journalist Jill Lepore said, “Between 1998 and 2011, military spending doubled, reaching

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A news report released by CNN on April 10, 2015 displayed three examples of use of force abuse by on duty officers. Of these three incidents the results were a man dying in police custody after a dog allegedly mauled him, a mentally ill man being was shot dead after his family called police asking for help, and an officer who shooting into a vehicle after a car chase, killing a man who was initially suspected of drunk driving. Of all three incidents the deceased happened to all be Black men. Incidents like so have led to the formation of groups like Black Lives Matter. Instances such as these open up debate about if police are using excessive force based upon the suspect’s race.

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When a police officer shoots a young black unarmed man in the streets, than does not face indicement, anger in the city is ineventable. But is Rioting wrong? Protests and Riots began a day after a fatal shooting of Michael Brown by a white officer Darren Wilson on August 9, 2014 in Ferguson, Missouri. Many that were unsettled by the shooting sparked vigorous debates in the United States, about the relationship between the law enforcement and African Americans, and about the use-of-force doctrine in Missouri and nationwide. A St. Louis grand jury decided not to indict officer Wilson, and he was discharged of criminal wrongdoing by the United States Department of Justice.

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Sadly, during the last few years the relationship between the community and its police has significantly deteriorated. This has been due to the way some officers have handled certain situations in which the use of violence or deadly force could have been avoided. Because of this, some sectors of the community no longer trust their police; such distrust has gotten to the point that they rather take matters into their own hands than calling them for help. Although not all officers misbehave and abuse their power “it only takes one bad apple to spoil the bunch”. The media has also contributed in promoting the idea that most cops are bad by transmitting, over and over, videos of police officers abusing their power.

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Thorough studies examine that the distribution of less-lethal weapons have reduced issues such as assaults on specifically police officers, other studies examine that this is increasing the death and injuries of civilians rather than focusing primarily on the safety of officers employed for the police force. It is a growing problem in the United States with increasing health issues related to the cause of police use of force in incidents that occur regularly. It is important to consider whether these less-lethal weapons are associated with the like hood of injuries. The use of force can define a wide range of different variables of force; it is vital to assess the independent contribution of less-lethal weapons on the prevalence and incidence of injury to the suspects and officers involved. Less- lethal weapons have increased the odds of injury to suspects that may be life threatening, it is most likely essential for these officers to stick to less-lethal weapons which can be classified as OC sprays or CEDs.

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Police militarization is when law enforcement officers use military equipment and tactics. This all began when the National Defense Authorization Act was passed in 1990. It increased the budget and spending funds of the Defense Department. The sharp rise in drug violence allowed the Defense Department to transfer military weapons to police departments. After the Al Qaeda terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001 the Department of Homeland Security gave more than thirty five billion dollars in grants to both state and local police departments between the years of 2002 and 2011.

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Police officer’s reputations are reduced and they lose the public’s trust as protectors. Specifically, society talks about the act of a white police officer savagely attacking a black citizen. The black population was enraged by this act and formed activist movements to prevent any police brutality brought upon them. As the controversy rise, society starts picking a side to defend. In this case, the nation is split into two sides.

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Within the last three decades or so, American policing has made great strides and has seen significant changes in both it’s practice and thinking. The study and interpretation of current practices, new theories and perspectives on policing, in combination with the worlds technological advancements have all brought about these changes in todays policing. In fact, this past decade has proven to be the most innovative. “The following information is a brief overview of the key elements and research results for the most notable police strategies; the standard model of policing, community policing, broken windows policing, hot spots policing, Compstat, and problem-oriented policing” (Santos, 2005).

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An incident such as this has been recalled by Jason Henry from Pasadena Star news where "two bank robbers in military-grade body armor and armed with automatic weapons sprayed some 1,000 armor-piercing rounds in a 44-minute gun battle with under-geared police officers. " The gun fight presented on the news made our officers appear as if they were helpless to defend themselves as well as the civilians that were injured or killed. The 1033 program is somewhat useful when purchasing things like body armor or weapon modifications. However full blown military gear makes some areas involving riots such as Ferguson seem as a policed City State. Law enforcement officers more disconnected with their communities using only the newest equipment to maintain order rather than the use of traditional methods.

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