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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: 3, Insightful) by TheGratefulNet on Thursday June 12 2014, @02:55AM
quote:
"If driving a military vehicle is going to protect officers, then that's what I'm going to do."
somewhere along the line, the cops stopped working for US and started to go into business for themselves. they USED to have 'to serve and protect' on their cars but the courts have decided (wrongly so, imho) that they do not exist to protect us. clearly they don't even serve us or our common good anymore, either.
they care more about protecting THEMSELVES. and that's just plain wrong. that's more like gang behavior than being The Good Guys(tm). good guys will work for you and take risks, which is PART OF THEIR JOB!
the simple fact is: they are mostly just overgrown boys who love toys and will do what they can to justify it in any way they can get away with.
they break down doors, shoot your dog and then arrest YOU even if they came to the wrong house. cover your ass, don't cross the Blue Line(tm) and don't ever speak up against internal wrong-doing. meet your quotas and raise money via traffic tickets and citizen property theft ('asset seizure' bullshit laws).
people are now totally fed up with this crap. they would rather deal with problems themselves than call the cops. I won't call the cops even if I need them since I could come to more harm, inadvertently. if they come out, they need to come back with 'someone' and it could be you, the caller. not worth that risk.
I wonder when, if ever, things will change and improve? with the militarization (totally unnecessary, btw) of the police, they are no longer representing the citizens and they are basically declaring war on anyone who is a non-cop.
this is NOT what america was supposed to be about.
but I'm not expecting a change. I know how the world works. best just to avoid cops entirely, for your own safety and security.
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