Cops Ready for War
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SWAT
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By Andrew Becker | The Daily Beast – Wed, Dec 21, 2011
http://news.yahoo.com/cops-ready-war-094500010.html
Nestled amid plains so flat the locals joke you can watch your dog run away for miles, Fargo treasures its placid lifestyle, seldom pierced by the mayhem and violence common in other urban communities. North Dakota’s largest city has averaged fewer than two homicides a year since 2005, and there’s not been a single international terrorism prosecution in the last decade.
But that hasn’t stopped authorities in Fargo and its surrounding county from going on an $8 million buying spree to arm police officers with the sort of gear once reserved only for soldiers fighting foreign wars.
Every city squad car is equipped today with a military-style assault rifle, and officers can don Kevlar helmets able to withstand incoming fire from battlefield-grade ammunition. And for that epic confrontation—if it ever occurs—officers can now summon a new $256,643 armored truck, complete with a rotating turret. For now, though, the menacing truck is used mostly for training and appearances at the annual city picnic, where it’s been parked near the children’s bounce house.
“Most people are so fascinated by it, because nothing happens here,” says Carol Archbold, a Fargo resident and criminal justice professor at North Dakota State University. “There’s no terrorism here.”
Like Fargo, thousands of other local police departments nationwide have been amassing stockpiles of military-style equipment in the name of homeland security, aided by more than $34 billion in federal grants since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, a Daily Beast investigation conducted by the Center for Investigative Reporting has found. (snip)
“I don’t see us as militarizing police; I see us as keeping abreast with society,” former Los Angeles Police chief William Bratton says. “And we are a gun-crazy society.”
Adds Fargo Police Lt. Ross Renner, who commands the regional SWAT team: “It’s foolish to not be cognizant of the threats out there, whether it’s New York, Los Angeles, or Fargo. Our residents have the right to be protected. We don’t have everyday threats here when it comes to terrorism, but we are asked to be prepared.” (snip)
To assess the changes in law enforcement for The Daily Beast, the Center for Investigative Reporting conducted interviews and reviewed grant spending records obtained through open records requests in 41 states. The probe found stockpiles of weaponry and military-style protective equipment worthy of a defense contractor’s sales catalog.
In Montgomery County, Texas, the sheriff’s department owns a $300,000 pilotless surveillance drone, like those used to hunt down al Qaeda terrorists in the remote tribal regions of Pakistan and Afghanistan. In Augusta, Maine, with fewer than 20,000 people and where an officer hasn’t died from gunfire in the line of duty in more than 125 years, police bought eight $1,500 tactical vests. Police in Des Moines, Iowa, bought two $180,000 bomb-disarming robots, while an Arizona sheriff is now the proud owner of a surplus Army tank.
The flood of money opened to local police after 9/11, but slowed slightly in recent years. Still, the Department of Homeland Security awarded more than $2 billion in grants to local police in 2011, and President Obama’s 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act contributed an additional half-billion dollars.
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December 23rd, 2011 at 3:42 pm
If you want to choke off the funds to government, you have to return to sound money. Then, at least, people will know they are being robbed when it happens, and care more about what is the role of government, rather than having the theft sneak up on them through inflation and then being told Capitalism is destroying the economy (LOL).
December 23rd, 2011 at 6:11 pm
It just goes to show that the federal government is dishing out weapons and armor, so when the president declares martial law, the president has his civilian security force that is “just as well armed and just as well funded as the military”.
Thats the best, and most logical theory.
December 28th, 2011 at 10:21 am
In this article it states the Police bought these items. I can see why given the geographical locations. I feel better knowing they have such arsenal to protect and serve the people they care about. My question is, are they going to keep their oath or give in to the government when the time comes?
With Katrina and the Occupying, I’m starting to question who will honor their oath when the time comes. Sure the militant beating the woman who wouldn’t give up her gun will be in court. But that don’t take away the fact they broke their oath to We The People. Nor does it change the Occupy’s rights.
As the same with guns, I’m not worried about the weapons I’m worried about the user.
Also a question that I have had for a long time now. When will the Oath Keepers start making others keep their oath? When one don’t keep it, you should be at their trial reminding all others why they took their oath in the first place.
I hate to say this but I am begging to lose faith in our Officers. Which is one reason why I feel a little better knowing this site and The Oath Keepers Organization exists.
January 2nd, 2012 at 6:17 pm
Police Confirm Body Found is Gunman Sought in Mount Rainier National Park Ranger Shooting
MOUNT RAINIER NATIONAL PARK, Washington – Authorities have confirmed Monday afternoon that a body found on the slopes of Mount Rainier National Park was that of an Iraq War veteran suspected in the slaying of a park ranger.
Barnes is believed to have fled to the remote park to hide after an earlier shooting at a New Year’s house party near Seattle that wounded four, two critically. Authorities suspect he shot ranger Margaret Anderson later Sunday.
Mount Rainier National Park Evacuated for Gunman Search
Suspect is an Iraq War veteran with survival skills and deep emotional scars
Washington authorities are conducting a manhunt after Park Ranger Margaret Anderson, 34, was fatally shot.
Police cleared out the park of visitors and mounted a manhunt for Barnes, who was believed to have weapons and survivalist training. The body was found face down, Washington State Patrol spokesman Guy Gill said.
Barnes has had a troubled transition to civilian life, with accusations he suffers post-traumatic stress disorder and is suicidal.
Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/us/2012/01/02/police-hunt-gunman-after-mount-rainier-national-park-ranger-shot-and-killed/#ixzz1iMELH2gz
January 2nd, 2012 at 6:17 pm
Army Sergeant Charged for Allegedly Bringing Explosives Into Texas Airport
Trey Scott Atwater, a 30-year-old Sergeant First Class, was in custody Sunday, KVUE-TV reported. He will be held at least until Tuesday when he is arraigned.
Atwater was taken into custody for questioning Saturday after the C-4 plastic explosive was found in his carry-on luggage at a Transit Security Administration checkpoint at Midland International Airport.
The discovery prompted authorities to close the airport terminal for an hour.
C-4 is a military-grade high explosive that will not ignite without the use of a detonator. No other components were found in an initial search of Atwater’s bags.
Atwater was headed to Fort Bragg in North Carolina after visiting relatives when the C-4 was discovered.
The US Army said in a statement that Atwater had no known connection to any terrorist activities.
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2012/01/01/army-sergeant-charged-for-bringing-explosives-into-texas-airport/
January 2nd, 2012 at 6:20 pm
Still waiting for Oath Keepers to denounce this failure of keeping ones oath when it’s military personnel….Two cops have been killed in recent months by military personnel, yet we have silence on that front from OK…..
January 6th, 2012 at 8:39 am
I read where Salina Kansas, a town of about 45,000 bought a armored personel carrier. For????? I guess it will go well with their HiWay Patrol’s STATE OF THE ART ‘SWAT BUS’.
January 6th, 2012 at 7:49 pm
The system is dysfunctional. All this money, borrowed money that is, being spent for a threat that doesn’t exist. Here in California I have seen the sheriffs dept continue to chase down medical marijiuna people. It dawned on my they are able to do this cause it is federal money that is paying for such nonsense. Dui check points, federal money. It will disrupt everyone’s life when the federal credit card is maxed out, I look forward to it.
January 7th, 2012 at 2:27 pm
yeah the police up here in Maine make it up as they go, and if you dont know they will take advantage of your ignorance, there are a few decent officers here though, and a lot of thugs behind a badge.
January 20th, 2012 at 5:33 am
Here is an opening on Oath keepers, and It is not for me Judge, or to say I am at a Point where I Honestly believe that all Freedom loving Org. and Militia are being infiltrated by Law Enforcement including here. That said; here is the opening:Below is a letter composed by one of our peace officers in Ohio. This letter was written to raise awareness of the ominous problems in the National Defense Authorization Act of 2012. Because Jim Singleton is a State chapter officer for Ohio Oath Keepers and is Ohio’s Peace Officer Liaison, this letter will be circulated within LE communities around Ohio. I am placing this letter on our national website as a guide and/or template for all Peace Officer members in Oath Keepers in all State chapters. All are encouraged to write their own letters and mail to all Peace Officer offices in respective States. Oath Keepers is mobilizing on various fronts in response to the travesty called NDAA-2012. Oath Keepers salutes current-serving Peace Officer Jim Singleton, our Ohio chapter Secretary.
I live in OHIO. I can tell all of you that it is a Highly Energized Gestapo State. Even OUR Fire Departments are taking the Gestapo Approach, all in the guise of ” NO TERRORIST” especially Home Grown, say Vets, Hunters, Target Shooters, those on motorcycles, the list here is endless. Every Time I hear Innocent till Proven Guilty, it galls me. Ever hear ONE COP say in any interview, “No one is suspect yet” no, they say, everyone is suspect, and that is why we see so many INNOCENT men behind bars that thankfully DNA Proved them Innocent beyond what the COPS said. Think hard about what Obama, Congress, the Justice Dept and many others are doing to ready us and ours for the DAY of RECKONING my Fellow Brothers and Sisters. Sorry to ramble. RICK 67-69