Such excessive force by police is particularly disturbing given its disproportionate impact on people of color. Aug 14, 2014 police militarization is out of control, and theres no oversight kara dansky, a senior counsel at the aclus center for justice, is the author of war comes home. May, 2016 atkinson is not the first person to detail the militarization of americas police. Ideology versus reality employs social science analysis to refute claims that the police in the united states have become militarized. With the help of libertarians, the aclu, and a law from maryland, the conservative legislature in. American civil liberties union the american civil liberties union, a national organization that defends individual rights, has been vocal about the militarization of law enforcement agencies. Each era in united states history has posed challenges of how to best maintain the safety and protection of the people. The militarization of americas police forces in new york journal of books.
Beyond one person, party, or side the aclu dares to create a more perfect union. Police militarization american civil liberties union. This is not an antipolice book, but a serious look at the growth and use of. Clrp envisions and fights for a country where law enforcement treats all communities with. Learn liberty the history of police militarization. But tecott and plana use the term differently than most, referencing accountability, discipline, and training when commenters generally use it to refer to equipment and mindset. Police militarization has become an important consideration for departments. The concept of police militarization has gained traction through spectacular acts of violence, such as in the draconian police responses to protests associated with the occupy movement in 2011 and the 2014 urban revolt sparked by the police killing of michael brown in ferguson, missouri. Aclunj lauds njs firstinthenation police militarization law march 19, 2015 the aclunj celebrated a groundbreaking victory for new jersey with the signing of a new law that adds oversight to local law enforcement agencies acquisition of surplus military equipment. Here are four shocking examples of militarized police in americas small towns. Today, the militarization of law enforcement provides an exception to that law through the creation of an ad hock military presence. The militarization of americas police forces 9781610392112 by balko, radley and a great selection of similar new, used and collectible books available now at. There has been a 4000% increase in no knock, militarilyarmed swat team raids over the past thirty years. New aclu report on police militarization highlights.
New aclu report takes a snapshot of police militarization in the. After over a year of investigation, surveying law enforcement agencies in 26 states, the aclu has now released its report on police militarization. The militarization of police does not reduce crime pacific. The militarization of americas police forces 9781610392112 by balko, radley and a great selection of similar new, used and collectible books available now at great prices. His study is published in the proceedings of the national academy of sciences. The trend of police militarization is something that people really talk about starting to happen in the 1960s. Atkinson is not the first person to detail the militarization of americas police. Pdf a conceptualization of militarization in domestic. The aclu released a terrifying report on all the military weapons us cops have. Examinations of police militarization usually focus on special weapons and tactics swat teams, developed in the mid.
Aclu of massachusetts briefing paper militarization of local police june 2014. This is the terrifying result of the militarization of police. Militarization, or militarisation, is the process by which a society organizes itself for military conflict and violence. In a 2014 article on alternet, art kane refers to 11 shocking facts about americas militarized police forces. Whether you are a lifetime, card carrying member of the aclu or the newest law and order politician the rise. Militarization of american policing, american civil liberties union, 2014. It is related to militarism, which is an ideology that reflects the level of militarization of a state, and which is associated with the glorification of the military, armed forces and weapons and of military power, including through symbolic displays e. Militarizing the minds of police officers the new yorker. Aclu launches nationwide look into police militarization. The aclu s mission remains realizing the promise of the bill of rights for all and expanding the reach of its guarantees. However, the aclu encountered this type of story over and over when studying the militarization of state and local law enforcement agencies. It finds the use of swat teamsperhaps the most common and visible form of militarized policingneither reduces crime nor.
Jun 29, 2017 for the past two decades, david grossman, a former army ranger and selfdescribed product of a lawenforcement family, has been conducting police training seminars on the use of deadly force. Aclu report on police militarization business insider. According to the aclu, this militarization is due in large part to federal programs that have armed state and local law enforcement agencies with the weapons and tactics of war, with almost no public discussion or. Aug 26, 2014 police militarization is something we should all care about, and rise of the warrior cop will show you why. Ferguson and the militarization of americas police al. Swat madness and the militarization of the american police. Police militarization involves agencies changing themselves to follow the principles of the military model. Aclu launches nationwide look into police militarization affiliates will send open records requests to agencies to look at swat teams, drones, more by kristen butler.
The militarization of the police top criminal justice degrees. Jul 04, 2014 the aclu report shows that in the cases where police thought weapons would be there, they were right only a third of the time. How conservative, toughoncrime utah reined in police. Increased militarization of american policing would undoubtedly improve civilpolice relations. The militarization of police does not reduce crime. Do not resist and the crisis of police militarization. Drawing from the authors fieldwork and his personal experiences in law enforcement, the militarization of the police. In 2014, protests in ferguson, missouri mo, and the subsequent law enforcement response, shined a light on police militarizationthe adoption of military styles, equipment, and tactics within. This includes the use of armored personnel carriers, assault rifles, submachine guns, flashbang grenades, grenade launchers, sniper rifles, and special weapons and tactics swat teams. The irony is that the goal of the police is to protect the rights of citizens, while in reality, the police has come to violate those same rights. Our neighborhoods are not warzones, and police officers should not be treating us like wartime enemies.
The times, the washington post, usa today, and the marshall project did it earlier. Apr 18, 2017 the issue of the militarization of police has become an increasingly popular topic of conversation in the past year. As hubert williams, a former police director of newark, new jersey, and patrick v. Kara dansky, a senior counsel at the aclu s center for justice, is the author of war comes home. Critics alleging the militarization of american police lament the.
Aug 20, 2018 curtailing militarized police may be in the interest of both police and citizens, concludes jonathan mummolo, an assistant professor of politics and public affairs at princeton university. Whether you are a lifetime, card carrying member of the aclu or the newest law. I was hoping swat madness, and the militarization of the american police, was going to be an objective, evenhanded examination of swat operations and teams in the u. Yet the aclus recent report on police militarization. Police militarization is something we should all care about, and rise of the warrior cop will show you why. Police training, tactics raise risk of militarization. For the past two decades, david grossman, a former army ranger and selfdescribed product of a lawenforcement family, has been conducting policetraining seminars on. Militarization of local law enforcement erodes civil liberties, encourages overly aggressive policing. The american civil liberties union aclu has recently released a report on a dangerous new trend in law enforcement. Can militarization be a good thing for americas police. Clrp envisions and fights for a country where law enforcement treats all. Journalist balko opens with a history of policing in america, documenting the shift to police officers resembling soldiers more than peace officers, both in mentality and equipment, a trend that has.
In 2014, protests in ferguson, missouri mo, and the subsequent law enforcement response, shined a light on police militarization the adoption of military styles, equipment, and tactics within. Meredith curtis, a spokesperson for the aclu of maryland, shared concerns about the need for military surplus equipment and the presumed cost to maintain it. New aclu report takes a snapshot of police militarization in the united. The militarization of americas police has been hotly debated in recent years.
Data obtained from open records requests for the years 201112 covers over 800 swat deployments in the report. Neighborhoods are not war zones, and our police officers should not be treating us like wartime enemies. The images on the news of police wearing helmets and masks, toting assault rifles, and riding in mineresistant armored vehicles are not isolated incidentsthey represent a nationwide trend of police militarization. The aclu report shows that in the cases where police thought weapons would be there, they were right only a third of the time. Particularly influential in the united states, proponents of this concept claim that the traditional boundaries between war and policing are blurring. The militarization of police is harming civil liberties, impacting children, and. Aug 14, 2017 police militarization involves agencies changing themselves to follow the principles of the military model. The aclu is calling for the pentagon program to be. Police excessive force american civil liberties union. Romero, executive director, american civil liberties union. Police militarization is out of control, and theres no.
The militarization of americas police forces by radley balko book. The excessive militarization of american policing, an aclu report. This is a meticulously researched history book that casts needed light on a central civil liberties issue. Mummolo measured the impact of militarization using a variety of methods. The excessive militarization of american policing from aclu nationals websiteall across the country, heavilyarmed swat teams are raiding peoples homes in the middle of the night, often just to search for drugs. The issue of the militarization of police has become an increasingly popular topic of conversation in the past year. Romero, executive director, american civil liberties union with his thorough reporting and compelling storytelling gifts, radley balko builds a powerful narrative of the militarization of our police forces, which both. Police militarization is out of control, and theres no oversight kara dansky, a senior counsel at the aclus center for justice, is the author of war comes home.
The editors at top criminal justice degrees decided to research the topic of the militarization of the police. The imperfections in police militarization are not recent phenomena. Mar 28, 2014 the aclu is currently working on a major investigation to illuminate the extent of militarization across america. Using military equipment and tactics brought home from wars abroad, police departments across the country and in massachusetts increasingly treat. The militarization of law enforcement is also associated with intelligence agencystyle information. Neighborhoods are not war zones, the report reads, and our police officers should not be treating us like wartime enemies. Massachusetts about police militarization was universally dif. The irony is that the goal of the police is to protect the rights of citizens, while in.
Aclu on the militarization of american policing by chris bellavita published august 14, 2014 updated april 1, 2016 the civilian protest and police response in ferguson, missouri returns the militarization of police issue to the front of the domestic policy agenda. The article offers a critique of the militarization of the police discourse, which has gained substantial attention in both academia and the media. The excessive militarization of american policing, an aclu report released last summer. Aclunj lauds njs firstinthenation police militarization law. Critics argue that effectively turning cops into soldiers risks alienating them from the communities they supposedly serve. How conservative, toughoncrime utah reined in police militarization. New aclu report on police militarization highlights problems. Much of the military gear used by local police is purchased through the department of defenses 1033 program. The militarization of the police shouldnt be surprising. The militarization of the police top criminal justice. New research provides evidence supporting such warnings. Balko describes the history and implications of police militarization. Readers are exposed to research, analysis, and personal narratives that provide insight into the public perception of law enforcement and the.
Do not resist and the crisis of police militarization the. Instead, author jim fisher offers up a slanted, very poorly researched, histrionic screed. Mar 10, 2015 in a 2014 article on alternet, art kane refers to 11 shocking facts about americas militarized police forces. Murphy, former commissioner of the new york city police department, put it nearly 25 years ago, police are barometers of the society in which they operate. Journalist balko opens with a history of policing in america, documenting the shift to police officers resembling soldiers more than peace officers, both. It provides a succinct introduction to how the federal government has supplied american police forces with military. Federal programs providing surplus military equipment, along with departments own purchases, have outfitted officers with firepower that is often far beyond what. The police are being trained to think of the communities that theyre serving as battlegrounds, to think of the people theyre supposed to be protecting and serving as wartime enemies, said kara dansky, senior counsel for the aclu. In a country devastated by the deaths and injuries of hundreds of people, many of them unarmed, at the hands of police officers, drastic changes are needed in our approach to public safety.
1181 1334 128 663 763 1189 167 458 1113 163 114 1487 1095 818 1471 954 1078 1543 622 893 44 935 692 764 811 873 80 1012 229 641 415 263 1354 599 1339 713 859 91 594 8