Yeah, pretty much. I'm not saying that there is no room for improvement in law enforcement, I'd be stupid to say there wasn't.
But the sensationalist news media isn't helping anything. I don't think I'd want to be a cop now, there's too damn many people second guessing and Monday morning quarterbacking your every move.
I just want to listen to the police scanner one day and hear the chief say, "Send in the car."
In reply to Curmudgeon:
I saw this crap coming, unfortunately not before I spent a decent bit of money getting the education to do that job.....but I'd go off on anyone who talked down upon my motives. I'm the happy to help type, and many officers I know are....strangely though, they take all the flak intended for those very few dickweeds.
I believe Cola PD unveiled their MRAP on Nov 2013. I'm not sure when they procured it.
http://www.columbiapd.net/pdfs/news_2013/111213_02.pdf
Commander William Adama: There's a reason you separate military and the police. One fights the enemies of the state, the other serves and protects the people. When the military becomes both, then the enemies of the state tend to become the people.
Too bad there has been so much discussion of MRAPs in this thread.
MRAPs are not prohibited by the new guidelines.
Chalk up another one for really bad journalism.
A co-workers husband is a deputy here and is on the SWAT team. He bought an MRAP and lets the county "borrow" it. I can't say I've ever seen it out and about. He said it gets about 4mpg and the tires are insanely expensive.
I would think the armoured HUMVEEs might be a better choice.
yamaha wrote: In reply to Curmudgeon: I saw this crap coming, unfortunately not before I spent a decent bit of money getting the education to do that job.....but I'd go off on anyone who talked down upon my motives. I'm the happy to help type, and many officers I know are....strangely though, they take all the flak intended for those very few dickweeds.
Aside from a few nutjobs, I would agree that most people who sign up to be police start out as people who have some want to perform civic duty for a living. I think that actual police work, as presented, is not civic minded "protect and serve" anymore. I don't see local cops out helping find lost puppies. I see them ticketing people for not having the dog on a leash. Subtle difference... but one of those two makes people like and trust you, the other ... makes you avoid them and tell your kids to avoid them. I am sure that there ARE cops helping find puppies but they would probably get fired for doing it on the clock around here.
Either way - I am fully supportive of the primary goal being protect and serve, and leave the kevlar vests, black on black tactical SEAL suits and heavy artillery in the SWAT locker until they get the call. It's two different jobs.
In reply to Giant Purple Snorklewacker:
Right.
It's 2 different jobs, performed by the same LEA.
The issue is not the equipment, it's the use.
Federally restricting the equipment only makes it unavailable for SWAT teams when needed.
In reply to SVreX:
SWAT teams always got what they needed before. They can buy anything they want. The idea that every cop is a soldier is nonsense. I don't care one way or another if they can or can't get serious hardware... I only care that the paradigm shift from wanting it to needing it take place. The way you ensure that is to make them pay full price. No one drops major coin on unnecessary scary looking tactical gear when they have to pay for it with taxpayer money if they want to keep their job. If the fed gives you a billion dollars worth of goon gear free you bet your ass people will stalk around the public swimming pool looking like GI Joe heading to a fire fight. For the same reason dentists wear black T-shirts, chain wallets and skull logos when they ride motorcycles. Everyone wants to look like a badass if they can.
So, I wish this banned ALL military freebies but after seeing the actual meat of what is in the order, it does look like it is an empty gesture to just say "Hey, guys, this is sorta they way I'd like you to go from now on".
Giant Purple Snorklewacker wrote:yamaha wrote: In reply to Curmudgeon: I saw this crap coming, unfortunately not before I spent a decent bit of money getting the education to do that job.....but I'd go off on anyone who talked down upon my motives. I'm the happy to help type, and many officers I know are....strangely though, they take all the flak intended for those very few dickweeds.Aside from a few nutjobs, I would agree that most people who sign up to be police start out as people who have some want to perform civic duty for a living. I think that actual police work, as presented, is not civic minded "protect and serve" anymore. I don't see local cops out helping find lost puppies. I see them ticketing people for not having the dog on a leash. Subtle difference... but one of those two makes people like and trust you, the other ... makes you avoid them and tell your kids to avoid them. I am sure that there ARE cops helping find puppies but they would probably get fired for doing it on the clock around here. Either way - I am fully supportive of the primary goal being protect and serve, and leave the kevlar vests, black on black tactical SEAL suits and heavy artillery in the SWAT locker until they get the call. It's two different jobs.
This. We also have to bear in mind that we have to treat them like that to help change.
I have a feeling that I am significantly more supportive of Mr Obama's executive order than I am of the media coverage of it, but I am having trouble finding a decent list of specifics.
My understanding is that he is restricting tracked vehicles, large caliper artillery, aircraft and vehicle mounted weapons, etc., and that things like riot gear and MRAPs are still available, but require additional training. That sounds pretty good.
But the media presentation of the Police as the enemy, and talk of blanket prohibitions on "military style gear" is bad, and promotes fear-mongering and distrust of law enforcement.
In reply to Giant Purple Snorklewacker:
I wanna see some more badass dentists!!
In reply to SVreX:
Go to the local Quaker Steak and Lube on bike night. It's a hilarious display of the "Halloween" mentality 
In reply to SVreX:
I wouldn't call it bad journalism (all journalism has biases). . . MRAP (Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected) vehicle designed to protect soldiers in a warzone . . . I posted it because it is a military equipment being used by police. That is part of the topic of this thread, yes/no? 
Whether it is prohibited via the guidelines is another discussion . . .
Edit:
When I found out about our PD was getting a MRAP . . . My first response was "for why"? Many local officers I communicate with were asking the same questions.
Some of that may be tongue in cheek . . .
I do believe the Columbia PD has used theirs to rescue a couple of brodozers from the swamps when tow trucks just couldn't get there, but I could be wrong. Otherwise, it would be something like the one that showed up in Waco at the biker shootout; a good thing to have when needed but not an everyday rig.
Most cops I've met are decent people trying to get through life, just like me. In fact, I'm sitting here with an IV in my arm (chemo) and a Richland County deputy who was a patient here just came through with his poodle (one of those that stands about two feet tall, not the aggravating little lap dogs). He volunteers to do this, it helps a lot of the patients. I do believe if the sensationalist news media would do more stories about this type of cop (the rule, not the exception) you'd see a paradigm shift like GPS wants to see. But I might as well wish for the moon; it ain't gonna happen.
I get the giggles at the 'weekend badass' RUBs (Rich Urban Bikers) as well.
You mean like the LEO here in SC playing football with the kids??
There also CAT where the Deputies come out and hear our issues and follow through on them.
Those guys are awesome!! But for everyone 1 story of good . . . There are many of bad.
Strike_Zero wrote: You mean like the LEO here in SC playing football with the kids?? There also CAT where the Deputies come out and hear our issues and follow through on them. Those guys are awesome!! But for everyone 1 story of good . . . There are many of bad.
BECAUSE GOOD STORIES DONT MAKE "GOOD NEWS".......Yes, that was meant to be all caps due to how peeved I am by that statement.
Strike_Zero wrote: But for everyone 1 story of bad . . . There are hundreds and hundredsof good.
Fixed it for you.
You just described perfectly my issue.
The only stories getting told are the bad, in spite of the fact that they are the miniscule minority.
Current discomfort with law enforcement is NOT law enforcement's fault. It's the media, and the politicians.
Please don't hear me wrong- there are some real jerks in LE.
But I'll bet the real issues and encounters are less than 1% of the situations. But they are 99% of the stories reported.
It is a bit of a self-fulfilling prophecy. Tell bad stories, and paranoia sets in on both sides. Then bad stuff escalates.
Rinse, repeat.
yamaha wrote:Strike_Zero wrote: You mean like the LEO here in SC playing football with the kids?? There also CAT where the Deputies come out and hear our issues and follow through on them. Those guys are awesome!! But for everyone 1 story of good . . . There are many of bad.BECAUSE GOOD STORIES DONT MAKE "GOOD NEWS".......Yes, that was meant to be all caps due to how peeved I am by that statement.
That's because the general public doesn't care about good news.
In reply to z31maniac:
Yes, but to mindlessly think that what is reported on the news is the norm is quite ignorant.
Far too many of those examples from just the last few years that I have noticed. Scary black rifles, tragic murders, LEO misconduct, gay rights, etc.......all blown completely out of proportion for those lacking their own mind. That is what makes me sad.
Don't let the truth get in the way of a good story or we will never get to watch the world burn. Then what will I do with the stockpiles in my bunker?
The cops aren't all angels. Again using a local PD: http://www.thestate.com/news/local/crime/article13861613.html I'm glad they got shut down over this.
Also, even though Lexington County cops are typically professional acting, their boss wasn't real smart: http://www.wltx.com/story/news/local/2015/04/27/james-metts-sentencted/26447279/
As in any line of endeavor, the vast majority are professional and straight up. And of course nobody gives a crap about that; the news media are only going to report on the sourballs. That's how they generate ad revenue.
SVreX wrote:Strike_Zero wrote: But for everyone 1 story of bad . . . There are hundreds and hundredsof good.Fixed it for you. You just described perfectly my issue. The only stories getting told are the bad, in spite of the fact that they are the miniscule minority. Current discomfort with law enforcement is NOT law enforcement's fault. It's the media, and the politicians. Please don't hear me wrong- there are some real jerks in LE. But I'll bet the real issues and encounters are less than 1% of the situations. But they are 99% of the stories reported. It is a bit of a self-fulfilling prophecy. Tell bad stories, and paranoia sets in on both sides. Then bad stuff escalates. Rinse, repeat.
Um . . . I probably should have clarified with "from my personal experience . . . "
There are a few people I know that my stated ratio proves true as well. If a LEO is portraying him/herself as Mr. McBadAss and being a richard head to me or people, I don't need the media or some other source swaying my thoughts of Officer Douchey McDoucherston. He/she ascribed that by his/her actions. Likewise, if a LEO is professional and holds that standard, I sing his/her praise.
In both instances, I issue a report to their direct supervisor. I want them to know that I appreciate/criticize what they are doing.
If my name was Douchey McDoucherston I'd probably have it legally changed.
You'll need to log in to post.
