Quote:There were some examples cited in one of the previous posts of complete overreaction by a law enforcement agency to conduct a relatively mundane task. I understand the need for LEOs to protect themselves, but I see examples watching the news and COPS where force is used when some simple diplomacy and tact would have sufficed. I have rolled through a sobriety checkpoint that had guys in full tactical gear standing to the side. I don't think that's necessary. Rather than projecting an image of competence, it conveys a definite police-state feel.

Tactical gear isn't needed for a DUI checkpoint and this could have been a gaffe, but do you know what had just transpired 10 minutes earlier at that checkpoint? Someone could have just called in a threat to blow up the checkpoint for all you know. People see these police in intimidating gear, but they have zero idea on back stories and just make assumptions.


When you start neutering police, you embolden criminals. When the Border Patrol had a public memo from the Chief come down clarifying their policy on use-of-force like 6 months ago, the aliens thought it meant they could assault agents and that the agent would be required to retreat. Stations that would see 4 or 5 assaults on agents per year were seeing that in the first week. The appearance of police weakness is a strong motivating factor in crime.

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