Today we don’t have to look far for examples of the militarism
of police. Here is an article from St. Louis, MO on police who now wear
military fatigues as if they were in Afghanistan or Iraq. Our government tries to
desensitize us to the view of police or military use of fatigues in this country. Why do St. Louis Police NEED military fatigues
to police the population there. This article is just one more example of
military uniforms used to get the US population used to seeing soldiers of any places
in the US where a police presence is needed. -សតិវ អតុ
From The River Front Times;
By Ray Downs
Ever see St. Louis County
cops in camouflage military fatigues on the street and wonder why they're
dressed like they're going to Iraq instead of Creve Coeur?
That's the county's Tactical Operations Unit --
the SWAT team -- and Sergeant Matthew Pleviak tells Daily RFT that the
camouflage is worn so the SWAT cops can "blend in with the
environment."
Blend in with the environment of Creve Coeur?
"If you go to any subdivison, there's grass
and trees and bushes," Pleviak explains.
SWAT teams wearing military
camouflage is not new. It's been done since at least after the Vietnam War when
a few Special Weapons and Tactics teams in police departments around the
country began wearing fatigues as opposed to all-black or blue uniforms during
raids or standoffs.
What is new -- or at least newer -- is that SWAT
teams like the St. Louis County's Tactical Operations Unit are also used during
more mundane situations, such as arresting Monsanto protesters for allegedly
blocking the driveway of the company's campus.
…. And utilizing specially trained officers wearing military uniforms in
such situations reminds some people of that growing topic of debate: Are
camouflage uniforms a sign of police militarization?
For the original article
click here.
No comments:
Post a Comment