Jeremy Bender reports that eight different law enforcement agencies in Indiana have purchased massive Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles (MRAPs) that were formerly used in Iraq and Afghanistan. The MRAP is a bulletproof, 60,000-pound, six-wheeled behemoth with heavy armor, a gunner's turret and the word "SHERIFF" emblazoned on its flank.
Pulaski County, home to 13,124 people, is one of the counties that have purchased an MRAP from military surplus. When asked to justify the purchase of a former military vehicle, Pulaski County Sheriff Michael Gayer told the Indy Star:
"The United States of America has become a war zone. There's violence in the workplace, there's violence in schools and there's violence in the streets. You are seeing police departments going to a semi-military format because of the threats we have to counteract. If driving a military vehicle is going to protect officers, then that's what I'm going to do."
(Score: 4, Insightful) by snick on Wednesday June 11 2014, @08:52PM
The idea that crime is exploding and police are reacting is beyond fiction. It shows that the Sheriff has had a break with reality.
Crime rates are fairly low and stable.
I'd say that Police crime is at an all time high, but we don't keep honest records of that, so it is hard to say.
(Score: 2) by TheGratefulNet on Thursday June 12 2014, @03:05AM
there you go; you stated it perfectly.
CITIZEN crime rate has gone down.
POLICE ABUSE crime rate has gone up.
if anything, we need to REMOVE weapons from the cops, not ADD to their artillery!
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