# Rise of the Warrior Cop Is it time to reconsider the militarization of American policing? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 21, 2013, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rise-of-the-warrior-cop-is-it-time-to-reconsider-the-militarization-of-american-policing/664128 "2013-07-21T19:16:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2013, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rise-of-the-warrior-cop-is-it-time-to-reconsider-the-militarization-of-american-policing/664128/41 "2013-07-22T16:58:32Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > I would prefer that my municipal police department focus on rapes, murders and burglaries than on drugs and money laundering (which, off the top of my head, are the only common criminal activities likely to generate substantial sums to size.) Can they not do both? I’m not seeing any indication that police are _ceasing to enforce laws against rape and murder_ because it isn’t profitable. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2013, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rise-of-the-warrior-cop-is-it-time-to-reconsider-the-militarization-of-american-policing/664128/42 "2013-07-22T16:59:07Z")
Like I said, you’re being quite superficial in your thought process. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2013, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rise-of-the-warrior-cop-is-it-time-to-reconsider-the-militarization-of-american-policing/664128/43 "2013-07-22T16:59:34Z")
I’m sure they can, and generally do. It just seems like a strong incentive to divert resources away from crimes that don’t result in forfeitures. ETA: I’m not against forfeiture laws in principle. In fact, I rather like the idea of having criminals fund the people who catch them. ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Captor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2013, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rise-of-the-warrior-cop-is-it-time-to-reconsider-the-militarization-of-american-policing/664128/44 "2013-07-22T17:04:29Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > So your answer is that you have no cite. Oh, please. I never advanced the idea that individual cops received confiscated funds from drug busts. Face it … you got nothing. ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Captor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2013, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rise-of-the-warrior-cop-is-it-time-to-reconsider-the-militarization-of-american-policing/664128/45 "2013-07-22T17:05:38Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > I’m sure they can, and generally do. It just seems like a strong incentive to divert resources away from crimes that don’t result in forfeitures. > > ETA: I’m not against forfeiture laws in principle. In fact, I rather like the idea of having criminals fund the people who catch them. Yes. All those evil pot smokers deserve anything they get! ---
**Author:** ![Gray\_Ghost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c0e974/32.png) [@Gray\_Ghost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gray_Ghost)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2013, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rise-of-the-warrior-cop-is-it-time-to-reconsider-the-militarization-of-american-policing/664128/46 "2013-07-22T17:08:26Z")
Piling on, [here’](http://newsok.com/oklahoma-da-halts-i-40-drug-stops-after-criticism-from-judge/article/3864488)s a very recent story out of Oklahoma, where a **private** security company, who had a contract to train local law enforcement, pulled over vehicles without police being present. Oh, and they got a cut of any asset forfeiture proceeds. (25% per the article.) FTA: > [@](#): > > The judge spoke at a hearing after learning the private company’s owner pulled over a pregnant driver along Interstate 40 and questioned her even though he is not a state-certified law enforcement officer. > > “For people to pull over people on I-40 without that license is shocking to me,” Special Judge David A. Stephens said. > > The judge said he hoped Joe David, owner of Desert Snow LLC, wouldn’t do it again. > > “If you do, I hope to see you soon, wearing orange,” the judge said, referring to the color of jail clothes in Caddo County. How he’s not in jail now is absolutely mind-bending to me. Isn’t this aggravated assault with a firearm enhancement and false imprisonment when you or I do this? More goodness: > [@](#): > > [D.A. Jason Hicks] signed a one-of-its-kind contract in January to pay the Guthrie-based company 25 percent of any funds seized during actual training days. He agreed to pay the company 10 percent of funds seized by his task force on other days when the company trainers weren’t present… > > …Sometimes, no drugs were found and no one was arrested, but task force officers took money found in the vehicles anyway after a drug-sniffing dog got excited. > > Forfeited funds are split among the law enforcement agencies of the task force after Desert Snow is paid. > > Hicks has paid the company more than $40,000 so far. The company could get another $212,000 off the largest seizure its officials participated in — the discovery of almost $850,000 in May. Seriously, **Smapti** , this doesn’t scare the shit out of you? ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2013, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rise-of-the-warrior-cop-is-it-time-to-reconsider-the-militarization-of-american-policing/664128/47 "2013-07-22T17:10:00Z")
> [@Evil\_Captor](#): > > Oh, please. I never advanced the idea that individual cops received confiscated funds from drug busts. [QUOTE=Evil Captor;16499605And of course, police officers don’t receive confiscated money themselves … officially … that we know of.[/QUOTE] …Yeah-huh. > [@Evil\_Captor](#): > > Yes. All those evil pot smokers deserve anything they get! I personally don’t have any sympathy for someone who chooses to violate a federal statute which has been the law of the land for 75 years and acts surprised when they get caught and prosecuted for it. It just falls back on the same “The law is unjust because I got caught” argument that one hears from people who get caught speeding, running red lights, and doing other things that endanger innocent lives. ---
**Author:** ![Gray\_Ghost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c0e974/32.png) [@Gray\_Ghost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gray_Ghost)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2013, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rise-of-the-warrior-cop-is-it-time-to-reconsider-the-militarization-of-american-policing/664128/48 "2013-07-22T17:18:48Z")
Having large amounts of cash does not equal drug smuggling. (Especially given [the rate of drug dog false positives.](http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/drug-sniffing-dogs-create-probable-cause-where-none-existed-says-supreme-court/)) The cash is still confiscated anyway. Again, go ask the people in Tenaha how easy it is to get their stuff back in a civil forfeiture action. It’s difficult, when you have the burden of showing that the money weren’t the proceeds of illegal activities. As you seem to be a member of the “If you’re doing nothing wrong, you have nothing to worry about,” crowd, I wish that you don’t ever run afoul of any of our country’s law enforcement officers. You’ll rapidly find out how wrong that above sentiment really is. Especially in a country with such a tangle of obscure, often contradictory laws that the average professional commits [three felonies a day](http://www.amazon.com/Three-Felonies-Day-Target-Innocent/dp/1594035229). Which seems crazy, but then so are a lot of sections of the USC. That said, if you can’t see the giant conflict of interest in a law enforcement community that’s allowed to eat what they kill, then I think our positions are so far apart that there’s no point in discussing this issue further. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2013, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rise-of-the-warrior-cop-is-it-time-to-reconsider-the-militarization-of-american-policing/664128/49 "2013-07-22T17:20:00Z")
> [@F.U.Shakespeare](#): > > Assuming it’s true, I find this part mind-blowing:I wasn’t even aware that police even arrest people for betting on sports with buddies. Let alone launch investigations into it. Let alone call in SWAT. The Sal Culosi thing might actually have had its own thread here, I remember this story. His family ended up getting a $2 million settlement, but of course the officer who raised his gun, pointed it at Culosi, pulled the trigger, and shot him to death wasn’t even charged with anything. I wonder if I’d get away with that. As to the general issue… I mean, I hate to say this, but it’s it really obvious the police are becoming militarized? The problem in Canada isn’t as bad as it is in the USA, but it’s growing. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2013, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rise-of-the-warrior-cop-is-it-time-to-reconsider-the-militarization-of-american-policing/664128/50 "2013-07-22T17:25:47Z")
> [@Gray\_Ghost](#): > > That said, if you can’t see the giant conflict of interest in a law enforcement community that’s allowed to eat what they kill, then I think our positions are so far apart that there’s no point in discussing this issue further. Well, I suppose we could always fund the police with a massive tax increase on the middle class instead. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2013, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rise-of-the-warrior-cop-is-it-time-to-reconsider-the-militarization-of-american-policing/664128/51 "2013-07-22T17:27:46Z")
> [@Gray\_Ghost](#): > > As you seem to be a member of the “If you’re doing nothing wrong, you have nothing to worry about,” crowd, I wish that you don’t ever run afoul of any of our country’s law enforcement officers. You’ll rapidly find out how wrong that above sentiment really is. Especially in a country with such a tangle of obscure, often contradictory laws that the average professional commits [three felonies a day](http://www.amazon.com/Three-Felonies-Day-Target-Innocent/dp/1594035229). Which seems crazy, but then so are a lot of sections of the USC. Then shouldn’t you be complaining about the legislature rather than complaining about the enforcers who have no ability to either make or repeal laws? ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2013, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rise-of-the-warrior-cop-is-it-time-to-reconsider-the-militarization-of-american-policing/664128/52 "2013-07-22T19:07:28Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > Then shouldn’t you be complaining about the legislature rather than complaining about the enforcers who have no ability to either make or repeal laws? Do you only allow yourself to complain about one thing? lol. As has been pointed out to you, there doesn’t even need to be proof of a crime for police to seize money so you don’t even have the “it only happens to bad people” shield to hide behind. But on the other hand “Grrr! Taxes!”. If you can’t see a problem here, I have to agree with **Gray Ghost** , no point trying to convince you. Hopeless. ---
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2013, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rise-of-the-warrior-cop-is-it-time-to-reconsider-the-militarization-of-american-policing/664128/53 "2013-07-22T19:26:21Z")
We **must** do WHATEVER IT TAKES to keep teh eeevil drugs off the streets! I don’t care how many civil rights are violated, how many innocent bystanders are killed. Think of the children!!! If _even one_ child is prevented from smoking a joint, it’s worth it. ^Sarcasm, by the way. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rise-of-the-warrior-cop-is-it-time-to-reconsider-the-militarization-of-american-policing/664128.md?page=2)