An article in the Atlantic this week does a great job in exposing how the War on Terror has helped arm “peace” officers with militaristic weaponry and equipment. It has, in essence, completely changed the appearance and often the motivation of police departments across the country. But the War on Terror isn’t the only war that local and state cops are fighting—the War on Drugs remains another costly and deadly domestic war.
Since September 11, 2001 more militaristic weapons and equipment have flowed into local police departments across the country. Much of this was done in the name of “homeland security.” But little, if any, of it was actually used in defending ports, borders, or other potential terrorism zones. Instead, it’s been used in the day to day operations of the respective departments.
“Before 9/11, the usual heavy weaponry available to a small-town police officer consisted of a standard pump-action shot gun, perhaps a high power rifle, and possibly a surplus M-16, which would usually have been kept in the trunk of the supervising officer’s vehicle. Now, police officers routinely walk the beat armed with assault rifles and garbed in black full-battle uniforms.”
Warrant service fifteen years ago compared with today was drastically different. Now, even in cases where there is nothing more than suspected drug use in a home, a SWAT team can be put together armed with assault rifles and body armor. Sometimes they’ll even use a tank or an armored personnel carrier to really make an entrance.
So what does all this mean? Well, there’s little doubt that a cop with a semi-automatic rifle, mask, and shield will strike more fear in the general public than Officer Friendly with his general sidearm, increasing the rift between the police and the people they supposedly serve.
But the greatest problem, according Arthur Rizer and Joseph Hartman, “is the subtle evolution in the mentality of the ‘men in blue’ from ‘peace officer’ to soldier.” Rather than having the mission of peace-keeper for all people in their community being paramount, police now see the public as one of two things—an enemy or a non-enemy. From this viewpoint, their actions take on a noticeably different motivation.
There’s little doubt, when you are arrested, that you are seen as the enemy of the police. Sure, there are exceptions, but many forces (sometimes unintentionally) encourage their officers to take on this we versus them mentality. It’s when you are considered the “them” that the encounter can be quite scary indeed.
About David Matson