Police Militarization? What Police Militarization?

On the plus side, at least the purse snatcher was involved in a real crime with a real victim. I mean, it's a good thing the swat teams don't go after harmless pot smokers.

get out while you still can|7.17.08 @ 9:07PM|#

It had to be the state I live in too...

Anyone who lives in Ohio deserves to be tased by a SWAT team.

Travis |7.17.08 @ 9:11PM|#

At least someone's grandma wasn't gunned downed this time.

Elemenope|7.17.08 @ 9:26PM|#

At least someone's grandma wasn't gunned downed this time.

Always look on the bright side of life, eh?

|7.17.08 @ 9:29PM|#

Militarization of domestic police forces is an overly complimentary term for these strutting, cowardly vermin.

In truth, 90% of them are SEAL and Delta Force wannabes, utterly lacking in the smarts, skills, perseverence, and courage to do the real thing. They get off on smashing in harmless people's doors, screaming at them and spraying them with saliva, throwing them to the ground, shoving gun-muzzles in their faces, terrorizing them to the maximum extent possible, and doing as much property damage as they can in the process.

If anybody actually fired a live round within 100 yards of one of these gutless worms they'd soil themselves and run screaming from the scene.

Oh, and by the way, why aren't these steroid-pumped morons being drug-checked?

|7.17.08 @ 9:47PM|#

Coward-John,

Who are you to criticize these people? While they are out protecting your ass, you are sitting in your mothers basement typing away on your keyboard. Show some fucking respect for the people that protect you

SIV|7.17.08 @ 9:49PM|#

If anybody actually fired a live round within 100 yards of one of these gutless worms they'd soil themselves and run screaming from the scene.

To be fair the SWAT guys at Columbine didn't run.
They bravely cowered beneath vehicles until a reasonable amount of time passed since the last gunshot. They then courageously brought the surviving students out at gunpoint.

Eric Haskell|7.17.08 @ 10:00PM|#

"A swat team surrounded a Moraine motel looking for a suspected purse snatcher, but the man has (sic) already gone."

Gotta love the local media.

|7.17.08 @ 10:01PM|#

SWAT Team Looks for Purse Snatcher

Did they also establish a perimeter around the perp, maintain crowd control during an hours-long standoff, and bring out a negotiator to persuade the suspect to release the purse unharmed?

shecky|7.17.08 @ 10:07PM|#

Apparently, the War On Jaywalking has been going well.

|7.17.08 @ 10:19PM|#

Apparently, they must use crossing guards to quell the gang wars.

|7.17.08 @ 10:24PM|#

I have to agree with a previous poster about another story on that page...the "Dayton Police tase Blind [and diabetic and with cancer and nearly 50 years old] woman [and then send her to the hospital]" is perhaps even more bizzare. I can't even imagine the fight she was putting up before they decided they needed back-up.

Mike|7.17.08 @ 10:28PM|#

This will not do!

emerson|7.17.08 @ 11:59PM|#

John,
You ARE a coward. Not being a police officer, you have no right to criticize them.

All you do is pay their salary.

|7.18.08 @ 2:29AM|#

A SWAT team looks for a purse snatcher? Aren't these the guys who are supposed to only go in on very high-risk arrests?

They show themselves for what they really are: rank amateurs. Children with real guns.

They have no idea what they are doing, they do not have the talent, the discipline, the knowledge and the courage of real police special forces. It takes more than a sticker and a big gun, sweethearts.

Real police SWAT teams, the world over, deserve respect for doing a really hard job. And they are very qualified for it. A real SWAT team would never go after a purse snatcher. There is proportion in force escalation required to face a tactical situation. Hostages, bank robbers, that is their job. Arresting purse snatchers? Are you serioius, that is not what they are for. A SWAT-like team going after a purse snatcher is a bunch of pussy poseurs who want to intimidate people with the loud noises they make. These people do -not- impress me.

What's the next thing: "SWAT sniper takes out repeat-offender jay walker" "SWAT team descents full force on a delinquent parking ticket offender"?

@Emerson: of course John has a right to criticize them. If he's paying their salary he gets to have a say in what it is spent on, wouldn't that be fair?

Timmy Mac|7.18.08 @ 9:37AM|#

You want creepy fetishization of SWAT? My 3-year old son told his grandfather he wanted a police suit for his birthday. You know, something to play dress-up in. The only thing my father in law could find was a child-sized SWAT uniform, complete with tonfa-style nightstick, plastic bulletproof vest, ballistic goggles, military-style helmet, and a little radio that says, "Don't make me have to take you down" when you push the button.

|7.18.08 @ 10:04AM|#

I just did a cursory glance at Greene County demographics.

Population - 152,298 (2006)
Median household income - $51,173 (2004)
Per capita income - $23,057 (1999)

In a nutshell, it's a quiet middle class bedroom community a bit on on the smallish size. They have no valid justification for having a SWAT team so they send the goons out on chicken shit stuff like this.

Chief Wiggins: But Mayor Quimby, Shelbyville has a SWAT team. Why can't we have one too?

|7.18.08 @ 10:52AM|#

The only thing my father in law could find was a child-sized SWAT uniform, complete with tonfa-style nightstick, plastic bulletproof vest, ballistic goggles, military-style helmet, and a little radio that says, "Don't make me have to take you down" when you push the button.

You better pray no cops see him in that, or they'll probably gun him down. I mean, they've shot kids for having toy guns, just imagine what they'll do to a kid togged out in paramilitary gear.

Sam-I-Am|7.18.08 @ 11:14AM|#

A SWAT team looks for a purse snatcher? Aren't these the guys who are supposed to only go in on very high-risk arrests?

Maybe it was a Gucci purse. Those things can be vicious.

|7.18.08 @ 11:34AM|#

Hey, I am with John... If these SWAT types were ex operators I would feel better. But what you get for $35,000 a year is more than likely a poorly trained ex mil type, with an MOS in supply or some shit.

Guns and Kevlar don't make the man. Its training, training, and more training...something most police don't get.

|7.18.08 @ 11:50AM|#

What you get from the New Hanover Sheriff's departments verson of "dynamic entry" on an suspected Playstation 3 thief's appartment is them shooting thru the door.
What ever happened to serving a search warrant by ringing the door bell?
Anyhow..if they do the same "dynamic entry"to me I will not be the only one getting killed.
Anybody can dress up with black ninja outfits.

|7.18.08 @ 5:08PM|#

"""You ARE a coward. Not being a police officer, you have no right to criticize them. """

They are public servents doing a job for the public, often on public property, in the view of the public, and we pay their salary. So we not only have the right to criticize, we have a responsibility to do so. If they don't like it, they should find a less public job.

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