Monday, August 18, 2014

Police Departments Weigh In On The Use Of Military Gear

Via avordvet

 


LA Times:
The department has posted the list, complete with pictures, on its SPD Blotter website.
It includes floatation vests and binoculars, signage and gloves, pistol holders, a radiation detector and rifle sights “used by the approximately 130 officers who have passed the department’s rifle-certification program.”
“We have equipment that we feel is necessary for a city of our size,” Whitcomb told The Times. “The equipment we have serves a police purpose. Our No. 1 priorities are protecting people’s lives and looking after their well-being. Our second most important is looking after possessions and property.
“The gear that our department employees use … is primarily defensive in nature,” Whitcomb said. “Our equipment is police specific. We don’t have any military weaponry. The weapons we do own are specific to our profession. … No rockets, no predator drones, no cannons, no tanks.”
The department’s SWAT team does use a BearCat – an armored truck for situations where there may be gunfire, Whitcomb said, but such a vehicle is standard operating procedure for modern police departments.
“It’s used to get our personnel in and out safely, so we can rescue people and evacuate if necessary,” Whitcomb said. “You cannot do that in a sedan. Though we have put some armored plating on the doors in our cars. We also have purchased ballistic shields. It all goes back to the problem of gun violence in our country. … But ultimately we are a police service. We are not the military.”
This is a red herring.  Only seven percent of all SWAT deployments are for hostage, barricades or active shooter situations.

10 comments:

  1. That is a great big pile of used bull.

    Terry
    Fla.

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    Replies
    1. Yup and what a person they picked to represent them. (Above) :)

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    2. Is that George Foreman? Where's the electric grill? ;)

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    3. :) I can't believe that someone signed off on that picture.

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  2. I'd like to know why cops need to wear military camo? As for the weapons, really? Do you really need military issue assault rifles? I'm going to call him a liar. There is zero doubt in my mind that if the SPD had the opportunity to aquire, drones, tanks or helicopter gunships they would take them in a nanosecond.

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    1. There is zero doubt in my mind that if the SPD had the opportunity to aquire, drones, tanks or helicopter gunships they would take them in a nanosecond.

      You got it.

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    2. That's what happens when a generation or three watch too much Ironman and not enough Rifleman.

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  3. Some one spray the Febreeze, I smell bull crap. Anything to justify the build up of civil disobedience weaponry for martial law enforcement.

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    Replies
    1. Anything to justify the build up of civil disobedience weaponry

      Yup.

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