Obama: US must avoid 'militarized' police culture

[Keith B]

I actually agree with his statements on this one. I believe I have heard this echoed across the forum a lot, especially from Charles.

http://www.masslive.com/politics/index. ... avoid.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[anygunanywhere]

I actually agree with his statements on this one. I believe I have heard this echoed across the forum a lot, especially from Charles.

http://www.masslive.com/politics/index. ... avoid.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

He said this with a straight face as the fed.gov alphabet agencies militarize their law enforcement on his watch and the police chief sits next to him with his silly four star epaulettes on his militarized shoulders?

[Keith B]

I actually agree with his statements on this one. I believe I have heard this echoed across the forum a lot, especially from Charles.

http://www.masslive.com/politics/index. ... avoid.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

He said this with a straight face as the fed.gov alphabet agencies militarize their law enforcement on his watch and the police chief sits next to him with his silly four star epaulettes on his militarized shoulders?

That is common for Chiefs to wear. That is a police uniform and not battle gear.

My Chief wore eagles on his uniform back in the '70's.

EDIT TO ADD: And one of our best supporters for concealed carry. Sheriff David Clarke of Milwaukee has stars on his epaulet's http://www.thepeoplessheriff.com/Views/ ... efenseView" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[anygunanywhere]

I actually agree with his statements on this one. I believe I have heard this echoed across the forum a lot, especially from Charles.

http://www.masslive.com/politics/index. ... avoid.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

He said this with a straight face as the fed.gov alphabet agencies militarize their law enforcement on his watch and the police chief sits next to him with his silly four star epaulettes on his militarized shoulders?

That is common for Chiefs to wear. That is a police uniform and not battle gear.

My Chief wore eagles on his uniform back in the '70's.

EDIT TO ADD: And one of our best supporters for concealed carry. Sheriff David Clarke of Milwaukee has stars on his epaulet's http://www.thepeoplessheriff.com/Views/ ... efenseView" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I know that a lot of chiefs wear the stars. Just because they do so does not make it right. They are chiefs of police, not generals.

I know they want to look all military cool and stuff but they are not military no matter how much they want us to think they are.

[Keith B]

I know that a lot of chiefs wear the stars. Just because they do so does not make it right. They are chiefs of police, not generals.

I know they want to look all military cool and stuff but they are not military no matter how much they want us to think they are.

Well, they have ranks just like the military, so what would you suggest the Sargent's and other's wear? Would you suggest the Chief wear a feather head dress?

[anygunanywhere]

I know that a lot of chiefs wear the stars. Just because they do so does not make it right. They are chiefs of police, not generals.

I know they want to look all military cool and stuff but they are not military no matter how much they want us to think they are.

Well, they have ranks just like the military, so what would you suggest the Sargent's and other's wear? Would you suggest the Chief wear a feather head dress?

Anchors.

Seriously, they go a little overboard with all of the four and five star stuff. I have no problem with the seargents wearing chevrons, lieutenants and captains and the like wearing the appropriate insignia. Four and five stars? Tone it down and stop playing make believe.

[C-dub]

I was wondering the same thing. Not about the feather, but what should they wear to make their level clear? The various LE ranks are modeled after the military rank system. If we wanted to scrap all that, what would or could we go to?

[C-dub]

I know that a lot of chiefs wear the stars. Just because they do so does not make it right. They are chiefs of police, not generals.

I know they want to look all military cool and stuff but they are not military no matter how much they want us to think they are.

Well, they have ranks just like the military, so what would you suggest the Sargent's and other's wear? Would you suggest the Chief wear a feather head dress?

Anchors.

Seriously, they go a little overboard with all of the four and five star stuff. I have no problem with the seargents wearing chevrons, lieutenants and captains and the like wearing the appropriate insignia. Four and five stars? Tone it down and stop playing make believe.

If there were no 1-2-3 star ranks I would totally agree, but there probably is those other ranks.

[LDB415]

Why do they need more than one star? For that matter, most departments have patrol, corporals, sergeants, lieutenants and captains I believe. They could use an eagle for the chief and eliminate stars altogether. I suspect for some/many it's an excess ego situation.

[joe817]

I was wondering the same thing. Not about the feather, but what should they wear to make their level clear? The various LE ranks are modeled after the military rank system. If we wanted to scrap all that, what would or could we go to?

I attended Allen Military Academy in the early 60's. The cadet officers had rank insignia that would be appropriate(IMO) in this discussion:

2nd Lt. - 1 silver circle
1st Lt. - 2 silver circles
Capt - 3 silver circles
Major - 1 silver diamond (vertical 4 sided)
Lt. Col - 2 silver diamonds
Col - 3 silver diamonds

Make the C.o.P. 3 diamonds; Asst. Chief(s) 2 diamonds, Lt's circles, etc, etc, etc. I've no problem with Sargent, or Corporal stripes, etc

[anygunanywhere]

I was wondering the same thing. Not about the feather, but what should they wear to make their level clear? The various LE ranks are modeled after the military rank system. If we wanted to scrap all that, what would or could we go to?

How about the word "CHIEF" on their collar. It takes about the same room as the four silly stars.

[anygunanywhere]

Fire departments have developed their own insignias over the years using different presentations of the old style hose nozzles (I believe). They are quite distinct and very appropriate. Kind of cool actually.

[Keith B]

Apparently the number of stars may depend on the size of the department and number of Assistant Chiefs or other top-ranking officers http://www.careerpoliceofficer.com/Poli ... gnias.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;. The department I was with there was no assistant Chief due to a smaller town, and he wore the Eagles. When my brother-in-law was Chief of the town several years later, they had grown to the point there was an Assistant Chief. I am not even sure my BIL had a uniform; he wore a coat and tie or just a shirt and tie as far as I know. I believe the Assistant Chief did the same. Only the Patrol commanders wore uniforms, and they had ranks of Lieutenant with one Captain over them.

[The Annoyed Man]

I honestly could give a hoot for stars and braid and all that garnish. If they think that's what they need to distinguish rank and command respect, I don't really care about that. I'm MUCH more worried about the militarization of tactics and equipment, the proliferation of alphabet agency SWAT teams, and the increased use of no-knock dynamic entry to serve simple warrants for failure to return a library book on time.

The thing is, the more militarized the state gets, the more I am inclined to think it is illegitimate and to stop caring about or paying attention to their laws.

[lfinsr]

The thing is, the more militarized the state gets, the more I am inclined to think it is illegitimate and to stop caring about or paying attention to their laws.

This