The Local Military or Community Policing?

Social tragedies are being used by the conservative crime fighters to instill a militaristic approach to combating criminal activity, and tensions in communities that have endured horrible treatment by police departments want communal actions that are far less abrasive than the current structure of police work in their areas, and because of this duality, we have this fucked up mess in our police departments across the nation.  For some strange reason, this dilemma has transferred into small towns in the United States.  This is not as difficult as a problem as many people are making it to be.  Police departments in local jurisdictions acquiring military-grade equipment is not helping the problem, but it’s also not the sole reason for this confusion of police methods in the United States in these areas (small towns).  What is the problem, then?  The problem is the people who are hired as law enforcers in these neighborhoods all throughout this country and the federal government’s desire to profit from this equipment.  Meaning that we have people who work in law enforcement (in less populated and less dangerous areas) and federal agencies who are unreasonable human beings; local police officers and federal employees are supposed to be rational people because of the job description that they’re responsible for.  Militaristic policing is only necessary for events that require such aggressive force and the fact is that many of the departments that are purchasing this military equipment really don’t need the shit.    

Small town police departments in the United States do not need a S.W.A.T. Team or fuckin’ military-like command centers because of the horrible traffic violators in the town and other petty offenses.  What the fuck?  Be reasonable.  Military-style police efforts should be reserved for federal agencies, state police, and at the very least, for county sheriff’s departments.  The only exception to the previously mentioned ideas is local police departments in very large cities (Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, etc.).  These military approaches in local police work should not be used for phony reasons (overreactions) or arresting dime-bag dealers in smaller urban communities, or in the rural or suburban areas that they're being used for.  That is, and once more, unless the situation requires this type of police work and, again, if it does then the local police departments should notify the above-mentioned agencies.  Sound repetitive?  Where do we find these people who work in local police departments and federal entities who do this dumb shit?  How in the fuck can anyone think it’s a great idea to use tax payers’ monies to buy a tank or bullet-proof Hummer for their fifty-man police station?  What are they tanking?  And why?  Where are the gun fights in Small Town, U.S.A.?  Are the local high schoolers running that much of a muck in these small towns?  Those damn teenagers – it’s their fault!  This author’s calling bullshit, America.

As Americans, we must demand that all our communities be safe and that police departments are prepared with the proper equipment to handle all types of matters.  Crime statistics and common sense go a long way when dealing with criminal activity.  Being smarter – which includes properly using public budgets – and realistic in police work are traits that are needed.  Apparently, blowing shit up and be ready for war are on the job applications for small town police departments in this country.  Community policing should be the number one priority in every community – especially in small towns and villages – until an event occurs that will not benefit from such practices.  When did local police work turn into low-grade and violent military operations?  Helping people and serving communities via police efforts (in all places; not only small towns) is better than creating explosions and monster truck shows, at least in this author’s opinion.  What the fuck are we doing?  If the federal government is looking for a way to profit off their military surplus, then it should learn about other forms of recycling; such as breaking down the materials and using them for other reasons than “police work.”  Putting a new paint job or label on something is lazy and, at this point in our society, extremely inappropriate.  There’s plenty of companies that would prosper form the military materials and in turn be able to make something cool from it.  Maybe some new bridges or guard rails for our crumbling infrastructure, or a new tire swing at the local playground.  Fuck unnecessary violence and the unneeded tools for it.