Anyone notice a change in their local police

[daepp]

I live and work in So Cal, and I support our police and the fine work they do - sometimes against seemingly insurmountable odds.

That being said, has anyone noticed a class/rank/job type of policeman who looks like a storm trooper? These particular officers frequent a local fast food (El Polo) near my office. They are distinguished by their lack of uniform and their very large pistols strapped down their legs.

They certainly look badass - I would not want to mess with them. They must intimidate the bad guys too - but it's not hard to make the comparison to storm troopers. I hate to think that we need them...

[Porsche-O-Phile]

When those who claim to "protect and serve" the public feel the need to constantly wear ski masks and storm trooper gear to conceal their identities, it's time to start worrying.

Yes, I agree with you.

There are many aspects of police work I wouldn't ever want to have to do and for which I have the utmost respect for those who do. There are other aspects which are very questionable, Constitutionally shaky and very suspect in the context of a supposedly "free" society.

Unfortunately, since government is no longer accountable to the populace, we don't get to pick and choose - it's a "package deal".

[tabs]

Didja notice the BLACK HELICOPTER hovering nearby?

[Mo_Gearhead]

QUOTE: "...constantly wear ski masks..."
_______________

If your cops are riding patrol/walking a beat in ski masks ...then Calif. is worse than I thought!

Officers 'on raids' or special 'ops use ski masks to protect their identity because they are undercover cops. Having their identities revealed as they work inside gangs, mobs, drug cartels, etc. is a sure ticket to a funeral.

You would not like the duty!

[RoninLB]

i can't comment on the subject beyond saying that NYC PD terrorist policies are a model throughout the US. Whatever they are armed with is probably a trend imo.

[onewhippedpuppy]

Originally Posted by Porsche-O-Phile

When those who claim to "protect and serve" the public feel the need to constantly wear ski masks and storm trooper gear to conceal their identities, it's time to start worrying.

Yes, I agree with you.

There are many aspects of police work I wouldn't ever want to have to do and for which I have the utmost respect for those who do. There are other aspects which are very questionable, Constitutionally shaky and very suspect in the context of a supposedly "free" society.

Unfortunately, since government is no longer accountable to the populace, we don't get to pick and choose - it's a "package deal".

I know you live in the LBC, but do your beat cops wear masks to obscure their identity? Damn, I think it's time for you to move.

I think if you actually asked a few cops about it, they'd tell you it's for their protection. If you're entering a home to arrest a dangerous suspect, you'd want all the gear you could get. Considering the risks they have to deal with, I'd say it's justified.

[id10t]

Yes, there is a trend to "militarize" the police forces around the country...

Probably justified for a *few* officers in some locations, but not as much as it is used.

[onewhippedpuppy]

Well, I'm happy to report that our largely overweight local police force still wears their wrinkled khaki uniforms with pride.

Though the small gang unit does wear more tactical gear. 1000% justified considering their job.

[David]

Steroids come to mind when I see these black uniformed cops. I guess as long as my only offense is driving a little fast sometimes, I have nothing to worry about... I hope.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

Originally Posted by id10t

Yes, there is a trend to "militarize" the police forces around the country...

Probably justified for a *few* officers in some locations, but not as much as it is used.

That's exactly the point.

[Mule]

Chattanooga PD had a big problem with juiced cops. The shaved head (or nearly shaved), chrome sun glasses, skin tight shirt & juiced biceps was a pretty common look.

[VINMAN]

Pretty much the main difference I see, is the "bad-a$$, my crap dont stink, I am God, and I can talk down to you" attitude. This is mainly with the newer generation of younger cops hired within the past 5 or so yrs. They all run around with thier shaved heads, and think who the fuch they are. Here in NYC, it isnt as bad as in the town I live in out in NJ. Being a firefighter, I deal with them closely everyday. When I was Chief , the older cops would wave to you when they seen me in my Chiefs vehicle , say hello, stuff like that. The newer guys wont give you the time of day.

One time I was responding to a structure fire, I was going down one of the main highways, and passed a local patrol car who was responding also. When I got to the scene, the cop pulls up behind me, ( he was a guy with about a year and a half on the force). He trots up to me while im sizing up the fire, and proceeds to tell me never to pass up a patrol car. I'm like, "What??" He says he could write me up. I tell him he has two seconds to get the fuch out of my face. He continues to give me a speech, while I ignore him and do my job. Needless to say after the fire I gave a call to the police chief. The next time I seen this guy, he pulls up next to me and reluctantly struggled to apologise to me.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

That's the problem. Cops today are bred/trained to be "better" than the communities in which they work. They talk down to people and I find the condescending attitudes and egos in many cases to be the antithesis of "protect and serve" and "protecting our community". In a lot of municipalities, cops aren't even allowed to live in the communities in which they work. Yet they somehow get to uphold its spirit? How can you even know what that is if you don't live there?

Like I said, there are still good ones out there and plenty of guys that put up with stuff I'd never want to have to deal with. I have all the respect in the world for that, and I thank them. However, the whole "jarhead" mentality on the part of some is a troubling trend.

Just think how it's going to be when all our boys start flooding back from I-wreck. Thousands of brainwashed, militarized guys with all kinds of deep-seeded psychological issues. And I guarantee the departments will snap 'em up like hotcakes because they'll (1) be cheap and (2) be easily "trained". This problem is going to get a lot worse in the coming years. I only hope that the commanders are strong enough to rein in the "robocop" types enough to allow the forces to be part of the communities they supposedly serve.

There's already enough "us versus them" stuff when it comes to government. These sorts of plays don't help. I no longer trust government at all and seeing them put legions of jack-booted drones out on the streets with guns doesn't do much for my belief that the government truly works for the people anymore. There's an underlying trend/pattern to this, and it's not good.

[Palum6o]

Cops are getting killed in Philadelphia, its been real bad lately. We had two of them killed in one day the other week. I have to say, Cops are the most hated and wanted. We hate them but we certainly need them. We recently hired the former police chief of Washington DC instead of hiring within.

[Jeff Higgins]

The "War on Drugs" is at the heart of most of this. With the ungodly amount of cash floating about that industry, it is not surprising that we see the folks involved in it becoming increasingly well armed. Think Prohibition and gangland Chicago, fast forwarded 80 years. The money involved in the drug trade today makes their dealings look very amatuerish. I think the cops are entirely justified in taking whatever measures they need to protect themselves. At least as long as we are asking them to fight this useless "war".

It would be very easy to remove most of that kind of danger from their (and our) lives. Throw in the towel on this "war". Granted, there are other situations in which police will still need this kind of equipment; the bank robbery where several got killed is an example. But, we do see this gear (and these tactics) employed far more often in "drug raids" than anywhere else.

Of course we also see these tactics, the gear, and the mindset employed in situations that they clearly should not be, by departments and personel without the training and experience (or discipline). Peyton Strickland's case comes to mind; send a SWAT team to apprehend a teenage Playstation thief? Shoot him through his front door because you thought you heard something? Now we are getting uncomfortably close to the proverbial "jack booted thugs" in some kind of police state.

[VINMAN]

Trust me, I am very supportive of the police and the job they do. I have been on the list to become one and was called for one town. But turned it down due to the drop in pay.
Police need to be "tough" in their tactical aspect. Certain operations and situations require a bit of intimidation factor. My main ***** is when some poor soccer mom parked in the supermarket gets her mini van side-swiped. She calls the police to report it, and when the cop gets there, he treats her like she is a crack dealer. Instead of being polite and a little sympathetic, he is condescending and treats her like she did something wrong. There is just no reason for that kind of attitude. Not everyone is a criminal.
I have friends of mine who are local cops. Some are good some are bad. A few took the job for the power trip. Those are the ones that have no business being a police officer.

[FOG]

Porsche-O-Phile,

I take strong offense at your characterization of the military as brainwashed and the tone that there is something wrong with being militarized. The fact is most come back without deep-seeded psychological issues. The vast majority of those who have actually been in combat are not the ones who have something to prove to anybody, they are the ones who know the value of and protect personal liberties.

Generally addressing the term Jarhead as a good natured pejorative is allowed on a give and take basis. As you are in Long Beach who was it that reigned in the excesses of LAPD, LASO, and the National Guard during the Rodney King riots? Who would not violate the civil rights in New Orleans and stood between cops and other civilians?

While there are lots of wannabe commandos playing cops, and we have problem where I live also, most have little or no actual combat experience and were clerks, cooks, etc. in the military.

S/F, FOG

[Porsche-O-Phile]

Funny, but I just heard a report the other day about how something like 6,000 U.S. troops who have returned from Iraq have committed suicide. That's more than the number of combat casualties. And many more have serious issues like post traumatic stress disorder and other issues which hinder their re-integration into "normal" society. It's a real problem. I'm not blaming the soldiers here or trying to portray them in a negative light, I'm just pointing out that many are going to have issues. These guys (some of them) need help and therapy of some sort. They don't need to be given a God complex and a gun and put on our streets. Recipe for disaster.

[RoninLB]

Originally Posted by Porsche-O-Phile

Just think how it's going to be when all our boys start flooding back from I-wreck.

although i don't agree with your position on returning vets and the PD i can comment on 'Nam vets around here.


for instance.. a 'Nam bud with 3 bronze medals for valor returned with a private problem. He did his thing and never disturbed anyone. He'd go out of his way to help anyone he could. A real sweetheart full time.

PD knew to leave him alone or be ready to shoot an unarmed guy. Not sure if it was part fear or part respect or both.

[911boost]

P-O-P do you try to piss people off on purpose?

As with everything there are cops out there with the type of attitude some of you are noticing. If I worked a detail where my life was in danger every day (drugs, gangs, etc.), I'd have a freaking howizter strapped to my leg.

Bill