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I don't see the problem.  These aren't "beat" cops.  The cops in my town look like "regular" cops.  The SWAT team doesn't, they have a different mission.  

In my world and how I interact with "the man," motorcycle cops scare me.  

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I know I'll get slapped for this but......

I started this gig 30 years ago, and yes,-we did dress like those guys from Texas, and this was in central Nevada.
No, we did not wear body armor, because it was to expensive, and no, we did not carry handheld radios, because they were to expensive.
I had a JeepWagoner with lights, siren and was a piece of crap. The radio sometimes worked, depending on where you were in the county.

My rifle at the time was an M-1 Garand. And it was issued. I had a choice, an 03-A3 or the Garand.
We did carry wheelguns, and I still have mine, but the Glock 40 I now carry is lighter, holds more, (gasp) dreaded hollow-point ammunition. (Which we were not allowed to carry when I started)
The uniforms were wrangler levis types, and tan shirts, and were expensive as hell at the time when you only made $398.00 a paycheck with a family to feed and other expenses.
The only issue item was the rifle, shotgun, and the car.

These days with the cargo pants, (god, what is the world coming too!), and now the cargo shirts with hidden pockets, what next?

As for the armor and the weapons. It's the changing of the times. Just as the military adapted to changes in their environment, we have adapted in ours.
In the late 80's, I switched to a Steyr-Aug. That was the Cats-ass weapon at the time. The Garand went away back to the armory.
I actually bought my own armor, at $1200.00, because by my 5th year into it, (1989) I had 4 friends who were shot down in the line of duty.

Now––yes, I have a plate carrier, and yes I have an up to date ACH helmet, and yes, I carry a very modern assault rifle with a military light with IR capability and yes, I have modern night vision as well. And I even have a commo setup that's wired to my radios and I wear under my helmet. And the dreaded black uniform, nope, I have green BDU's because I hate black clothes.
Do I wear this stuff all the time, hell no. Do I train with it, ––-all the time. Do I like to "frighten the public". Not a chance.

You know why I have this stuff?
The current body count of friends lost is 17, with others shot up.
Because in the end, if I have to go to an active shooter, or a bank robbery, or a domestic where some clown has a Remington 700 hunting rifle, or AK-47, SKS, etc, etc, I want to be able to protect myself or someone else that the whack-job is trying to kill.

The end result guys/gals, is this. I am going home at the end of the day, unless it is just "my day".
But, I am gonna protect myself and those around me, and those that want to call me a "jack-booted thug, you go ahead, I know different.

My job is still Serve and Protect and always will be––-

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Wrong and wrong.

The us vs them mentality was at is height in the 'good old days'.

The public likes to feel safe. They feel more safe when we have badass toys.
 

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It all starts with those cargo pockets.



Then they want those "spray-n-pray" assault weapons.



Next thing you know, they're marching people into internment camps.



Only makes sense to stop it at the "pockets" stage.

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Don't speak for ALL of us "public" now.

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We haven't changed much.
 

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Many now multitude.
What are you a 13 year old girl?
I nominate you for the Drama Queen of the year award.

Again you know what was being referenced and you get all OMG they're threatening to knock my teeth out!!!

I

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Wrong and wrong.

The us vs them mentality was at is height in the 'good old days'.

The public likes to feel safe. They feel more safe when we have badass toys.
 

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I have never once had the position that in the past you would get tuned up by the officers.

The false dichotomy is saying that if we either have to accept police departments becoming more militarized or civil rights violations.

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Nope we haven't.
Hell I still wear a metal badge pinned to a hot ass polyester shirt.
The same shirt that cost what 3 5.11 embroided shirts cost.

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First: Because it would Vastly improve the public's view and remove much of the US and Them mentality.



Second: Did I ever say They should not have effective equipment?

The Officers I have seen around here wear a vest under their shirt so what

does it batter if it is a Mil type shirt or a Peace office looking shirt?.



As far as weapons which one has more "stopping power" 12 Ga Slug or .223

As far as rifles swap out the Black plastic and put on Wood or wood grain Plastic.

(remember Public Perception, after all a police officer is a PUBLIC Servant)

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Nope we haven't.
Hell I still wear a metal badge pinned to a hot ass polyester shirt.
The same shirt that cost what 3 5.11 embroided shirts cost.

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Eh.  Well marked polo shirts actually make nice, professional looking, uniforms.

So just what do you guys keep in your cargo pockets that would be lost if you went with non-pocketed pants?

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First: Because it would Vastly improve the public's view and remove much of the US and Them mentality.

Second: Did I ever say They should not have effective equipment?
The Officers I have seen around here wear a vest under their shirt so what
does it batter if it is a Mil type shirt or a Peace office looking shirt?.

As far as weapons which one has more "stopping power" 12 Ga Slug or .223
As far as rifles swap out the Black plastic and put on Wood or wood grain Plastic.
(remember Public Perception, after all a police officer is a PUBLIC Servant)

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Smart man.

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Yep. It's a shame that training isn't as high of priority as gear.

In a perfect, non-GD retardfest world, they would have both.

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It all starts with those cargo pockets.

Then they want those "spray-n-pray" assault weapons.

Next thing you know, they're marching people into internment camps.

Only makes sense to stop it at the "pockets" stage.

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So what's the real excuse for the ninja gear?

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So dressing up a Police Office as a Military Member makes People feel safer?





Remember I am talking about the uniform.

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It all starts with those cargo pockets.

Then they want those "spray-n-pray" assault weapons.

Next thing you know, they're marching people into internment camps.

Only makes sense to stop it at the "pockets" stage.

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How does an old-school uniform improve the public's view? What is the public's view of the police? Do you have any sort of data to support your argument other that it is what would make YOU comfortable?

That you believe in silliness as "stopping power" tells me that you really don't grasp the differences between a shotgun and a carbine.

That you think wood is more friendly than plastic tells me you are completely out in left field. Let me guess, weapon mounted lights are bad too?

You must be a chief of police somewhere.

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How does an old-school uniform improve the public's view? What is the public's view of the police? Do you have any sort of data to support your argument other that it is what would make YOU comfortable?

That you believe in silliness as "stopping power" tells me that you really don't grasp the differences between a shotgun and a carbine.

That you think wood is more friendly than plastic tells me you are completely out in left field. Let me guess, weapon mounted lights are bad too?

You must be a chief of police somewhere.

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Eh.  Well marked polo shirts actually make nice, professional looking, uniforms.



So just what do you guys keep in your cargo pockets that would be lost if you went with non-pocketed pants?

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Remember I am talking about nonsense

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I've seen the train cars and plastic coffins!

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So what kind of furniture is on your AR?

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Given the OP's initial post, I think a pertinent question would be why are departments spending all of their money on paramilitary gear and not on training when training has a greater impact on any given situation than gear?

The obvious answer is that departments have a love affair with "tacticoolness". So while the officer may have better gear, the public impression of police is that that they are well equipped morons, because they lack even a basic level of training.

Before you flame me for being a hater, let me say that my dad and other guys in his department feel the same way - but they'd never say it publically.

Choosing gear over training will be a losing game for law enforcement. Going this route will make every department look like my county sheriffs department, where every deputy is issued a FA M 16 as a trunk gun, but the department won't spend the money for drug testing those deputies. Obvious results are obvious.

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Eh.  Well marked polo shirts actually make nice, professional looking, uniforms.

So just what do you guys keep in your cargo pockets that would be lost if you went with non-pocketed pants?

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I know what was being referenced in the origional post:  How officers appear the effect that has on how the citizenry views you.
I know what the response was to the origional post:  Reminders of how the officers behaved back then.

As for the nomination, go ahead I'll even write my bio for the award ceremony.

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First sentence: Why? Because you say so? Fuck that. Let me guess....you are against facial hair too?

Second: You do realize that killing badguys quickly and effectively is part of a police officer's responsibility and that activity is part of serving the public right? Yes, they have a whole myriad of other tasks that don't involve force. But when that force is needed it should be delivered quickly, effectively and without remorse.

Giving them the tools to do that only makes sense.

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I say we immediately go with wood panels for the cars too––––it will make us more approachable.

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BEslan, not in the US, so there is no comparison.
Mumbai, not in the US, again, specious and not comparable.
Columbine, they stood around outside.

TRG

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Oh. I wouldn't know. Police officers around here don't wear military uniforms.

 

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Snip
I say we immediately go with wood panels for the cars too––––it will make us more approachable.

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I wish Alabama would get some white shirts or something cooler for the cops.
My hometown still wears what you describe. At least last time I was home.
When I visit my other hometown in PR, the cops wear thin light colored shirts.

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How do you know they get less training and more gear? You get that info from the scary JBT internet pictures you've seen?

Departments around here get very good training.

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Ask yourself this question

Which rifle looks scarier to Joe Q Public an all Black rifle, or one with wood Furniture?


If I was going to walk down the road to the range with a rifle which
one would tend to get someone to freak out over me carrying it?

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You have zero duty or authority to kill badguys.  If they die by your hand during your duty to stop a threat, subdue and arrest, or defending yourself, that's a lawful side effect of your deadly force authorization.

It is not your job to KILL bad guys.

Pretend swagger is what that is.

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Nor the majority of ours (except for swat teams etc).