Above is a vehicle called an MRAP. It is a mine resistant armored vehicle used in war torn areas by the United States Armed Forces. The newest place that the US has deployed this bunker on wheels is San Diego. Not just in San Diego but towns of all sizes are starting to see a new kind of police car. Police departments across our nation are getting theses vehicles and other military equipment at the cost of the taxpayer for seemingly no reason.
Programs giving police departments military surplus gear started because police were out gunned by gangs in major cities. The programs then grew too big and started to give assault weapons and bayonets to small town police departments. In some cases police departments are asking for military fatigues and vehicles like the MRAP tanks, and the government is happy to give. Some congressmen are worried about what that is saying about police departments in this country.
Americans don't necessarily like the police but in many cases we trust our local law enforcement. In many small towns the sheriff or the few members of the police force know everyone, there remains a level of trust in the relationship between law enforcement and the citizens they protect. The issue with the new equipment that police forces are receiving is not only over militarization but also a breach of trust between the people and the police that are supposed to protect them. In San Diego's case the local department says they will use the new MRAP to save children from school emergencies, the reason being that the tank can hold a classroom of kids at a time. Citizens think this is far fetched, and so do I. If there is one gunman in the school there won't be time to bring the tank in. In that situation officers in the school will have to act fast, rather than call in back up. Also despite getting this equipment for free modifying it for police use cost money that would be better spent elsewhere. Specifically San Diego's department has 10 old patrol cars. The money spent on modifying the MRAP could have been spent on new cars instead. It's harder to trust a man with an assault rifle and camouflage vest than it is to trust a man in the blue of a state officer's uniform. I worry that the militarization has gone too far already, if the police have these overpowered and unnecessary weapons they are one step closer to unnecessary violence instead of keeping the law.
I would be a little uneasy having a vehicle like that in my neck of the woods. I think it's completely unnecessary for most areas to have this type of fire power at their disposal. I understand for army bases to have this in a secure area, but not at the local police station. In most non hostile areas in America, which is most of it, there is not need for this. Having such a weapon would only cause more bad than good. I agree with you that policemen would have too much power and that this is very far over the line to give police the access to practically tanks.
ReplyDeleteI think that if they are using this vehicle to stop gang violence (for example in the South side of Chicago), then most citizens would be ok with it. However, if this were to show up on the North Shore; I think that it would alarm many people, and cause some people to mistrust the police department.
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