Why America's police look like soldiers

This paragraph discusses the increasing militarization of American police forces, beginning with a peaceful protest near the White House on June 1st that was met with a heavily armed response. It explores the origins of this trend, tracing back to the 1980s when President Reagan called for military cooperation with police in the War on Drugs. Congress passed several bills that allowed police access to military equipment and training through the 1033 program. The result was a significant increase in SWAT team deployments, particularly for drug-related search warrants. The North Hollywood shootout in 1997 further accelerated this trend, leading to widespread requests for military-grade weapons like the AR-15. The 1033 program expanded, and by the 2000s, a variety of military equipment was available to police departments, including controversial items like MRAPs. The withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq in 2011 led to an influx of military surplus equipment for police use. However, the militarization became a national issue after the Ferguson protests in 2014, prompting President Obama to curb the 1033 program. Despite this, the Trump administration later reversed these restrictions, emphasizing public safety over concerns about militarization.

The second paragraph delves into the impact of police militarization on both the officers themselves and the public's perception of them. It highlights that smaller police departments are now more likely to have military-grade equipment, often purchased rather than loaned. The narrative suggests that this equipment has become integral to how police view their role. Arthur Rizer, a former military and civilian police officer, discusses the mentality shift that comes with militarization, citing a poll where officers admitted that such equipment makes them feel more aggressive and can lead to increased violence. The officers also acknowledged that the public finds them intimidating. Despite recognizing the potential dangers and negative public perception, many officers do not seem to be concerned about these issues. The paragraph also notes that while there are instances where such equipment is beneficial, such as the Pulse Nightclub shooting in 2016, these are exceptions. Most of the time, the equipment is used by SWAT teams for drug-related no-knock warrants, which can lead to tragic outcomes like the death of Breonna Taylor. The Department of Justice found that militarized police presence in Ferguson escalated the situation rather than de-escalating it. The paragraph concludes by questioning the role of police when they view themselves as soldiers and the potential for misuse of military-grade equipment in civilian law enforcement contexts.