Here we come, 1984 anyone? Cops Ready for War

[NeverEndingMe]

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.
Interactive Map: States Spend Billions on Homeland Security

The buying spree has transformed local police departments into small, army-like forces, and put intimidating equipment into the hands of civilian officers. And that is raising questions about whether the strategy has gone too far, creating a culture and capability that jeopardizes public safety and civil rights while creating an expensive false sense of security.

the obama collective has begun, run to the hills! they are coming

http://news.yahoo.com/cops-ready-war-094500010.html

do we need local police that is para military? what else is the obama hiding?

 

[koalabear]

We have that stuff here too and the police department only works 20 hours a month.

 

[NeverEndingMe]

who and what are the police afraid of? a shortage of donuts? a flash mob of 90 year old?

just look at the police response at some of these occupy movements, and there is a real problem with police these days. we better wake up and take a stand, or be snowballed like Germany was in the 30's.....just saying

We have that stuff here too and the police department only works 20 hours a month.

 

[Very_Bad_Man]

the obama collective has begun, run to the hills! they are coming

http://news.yahoo.com/cops-ready-war-094500010.html

do we need local police that is para military? what else is the obama hiding?

The spending doesn't bother me as much as the ability or lack of ability of police officer to use such weaponry safely. I spent some time on a FOP range and was very surprised at the lack of discipline, knowledge and ability of many of the cops. Apparently most states require only an annual qualification. Due to budget constraints they only get enough ammo to qualify with. Most do no combat shooting.

If you really want to shit yourself peer closely at a cops pistol and see the dust that has collected by never leaving the holster between qualifications. Most cops are ill prepared for shooting situations and we have now given them near military grade weapons. Keeeeyaaaaa muthafuckers. Ridem cowboy.

 

[koalabear]

who and what are the police afraid of? a shortage of donuts? a flash mob of 90 year old?

just look at the police response at some of these occupy movements, and there is a real problem with police these days. we better wake up and take a stand, or be snowballed like Germany was in the 30's.....just saying

No fear, just free grant money to all. Plus you never know when the the girl scouts may cause a cookie riot.

 

[zipman]

the obama collective has begun, run to the hills! they are coming

http://news.yahoo.com/cops-ready-war-094500010.html

do we need local police that is para military? what else is the obama hiding?

Exactly how is this due to Obama?

This is about a city police force and Bush put the curretn Homeland Security structure and rules in place.

Is the rash on your ass due to Obama as well?

 

[Very_Bad_Man]

Exactly how is this due to Obama?

This is about a city police force and Bush put the curretn Homeland Security structure and rules in place.

Is the rash on your ass due to Obama as well?

He is black

Get with the program

 

[koalabear]

Exactly how is this due to Obama?

This is about a city police force and Bush put the curretn Homeland Security structure and rules in place.

Is the rash on your ass due to Obama as well?

Both are to blame, partisan mutt.
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.

 

[phrodeau]

Whatever happened to the Obama Youth Army that Glenn Beck warned us about in 2008? Will they be showing up any time soon?

 

[koalabear]

Whatever happened to the Obama Youth Army that Glenn Beck warned us about in 2008? Will they be showing up any time soon?

you will be the first to know yellow neck.

 

[NeverEndingMe]

Whatever happened to the Obama Youth Army that Glenn Beck warned us about in 2008? Will they be showing up any time soon?

didn't you read the obama brochure? the youth Army is coming if obama gets to stay on welfare for another 4 years. then the regime will strengthen its power and we all will become part of the collective

 

[NeverEndingMe]

Exactly how is this due to Obama?

This is about a city police force and Bush put the curretn Homeland Security structure and rules in place.

Is the rash on your ass due to Obama as well?

great so Bush started it and now obama put it on steroids. hopefully you are not a breeder but if you were, do you enable such piss poor qualities in your children as you accept from obama? I'm guessing so since you are the rash growing in my ass