HomeUploadUpload DirectHotlinkRandomAbouttheme toggle

5 Lessons Police MUST Learn from the Military on Crowd Control

Views: 828
"If people think that the police are looking like the military, then they assume that this perverted form of policing is what the military looks like. And it doesn't look anything like what the military does," says former Army officer Jason Fritz.

The fatal shooting of teenager Michael Brown by a Ferguson, Missouri police officer in August not only sparked protests but a national debate on the rise of police militarization across the country. The term "police militarization" refers to the idea that the local police units are becoming almost indistinguishable from the military, both in tactics and equipment.

However, some military veterans point out that while many local police departments are using military-grade equipment these days, they haven't been trained in crowd control and other essential tactics. Fritz, a West Point graduate who served six years as an Army officer, including three deployments to Iraq, says the police could learn at least five lessons from the military when it comes to crowd control, as outlined in the US Army Technique Publication 3-39.33:

  1. Training Saves Lives

Leaders and police must have an understanding of how, when, and to what degree to use force, and this is only accomplished through extensive training. Buying equipment is just the beginning. Often having the equipment without training is more dangerous than not having any equipment at all.

  1. Understand the Crowd

Crowds are composed of real people expressing a real grievance. Most protesters are law-abiding citizens exercising their fundamental right to assembly. They must be respected.

  1. Openly Communicate with Protest Leaders

Using open dialogue with protest leaders as this often avoids misunderstandings and results in protesters policing themselves. Coercion of crowds, on the other hand, rarely results in good outcomes and often exacerbates the unrest.

  1. Initiate a Graduated and Proportional Response

Police should negotiate their actions based on crowd behavior. A non-violent crowd warrants a non-violent police response. The unnecessary use of tear gas and guns tends to add to crowd panic and tends to increase rather than decrease unrest. If the crowd becomes violent, police should respond with the least amount of force necessary.

  1. Record Everything

Recording everything in a civil disturbance helps hold everyone accountable for their actions — police and protestors alike. In addition to the police recording themselves, the media should not be treated as an enemy. Stifling and repressing the media only gives the impression that the police are trying to hide something.

By following these guidelines from the military, says Fritz, local law enforcement will be able to build communal relationships founded on trust instead of fear.

About 2 minutes. Produced and edited by Amanda Winkler.


Go to http://reason.com/reasontv/2014/09/25/5-lessons--police-can-learn-from-the-mil for downloadable versions and subscribe to Reason TV's YouTube Channel for notifications when new material goes live.
@ReasonVidsfollow
Thumbnail for Why Civilians Must Acknowledge the Individual Cost of War: War Letter Collector Andrew Carroll2:54
Why Civilians Must Acknowledge the Individual Cost of War: War Letter Collector Andrew Carroll
ReasonVids
875 views
Thumbnail for Semper Diversity9:23
Semper Diversity
AmericanRenaissance
1417 views
Thumbnail for Multiplayer Snake [game]1:00
Multiplayer Snake [game]
PrincessBananas
3149 views
Thumbnail for Global Warming's Real and Capitalism's the Best Antidote4:20
Global Warming's Real and Capitalism's the Best Antidote
ReasonVids
821 views
Thumbnail for Green Lantern Kyle Rayner vs Green Lantern John Stewart - MUGEN (Gameplay) S2 • E201:42
Green Lantern Kyle Rayner vs Green Lantern John Stewart - MUGEN (Gameplay) S2 • E20
memology101
1237 views
Thumbnail for Bikini Banners and F*cking Cops Cracking Down on Curse Words! (Nanny of the Month, June '12)1:36
Bikini Banners and F*cking Cops Cracking Down on Curse Words! (Nanny of the Month, June '12)
ReasonVids
930 views
Thumbnail for This is what happens when you want to go for a walk, but the dog wants to go swimming0:59
This is what happens when you want to go for a walk, but the dog wants to go swimming
bestofvoatxyz
2131 views
Thumbnail for Cheezburger's Ben Huh on Why We 'Snack on Information'2:55
Cheezburger's Ben Huh on Why We 'Snack on Information'
ReasonVids
891 views
Thumbnail for Terry Davis: "Why are we making the kids learn this gay faggot shit?"0:28
Terry Davis: "Why are we making the kids learn this gay faggot shit?"
bestofvoatxyz
4285 views
Thumbnail for Stossel: Harvard Caves to Student Mob6:30
Stossel: Harvard Caves to Student Mob
ReasonVids
934 views
Thumbnail for Black (Face) Comedy in Richmond8:27
Black (Face) Comedy in Richmond
AmericanRenaissance
1427 views
Thumbnail for Will Genetically Modified Humans Be Patented? - Questions For Corbett #06420:33
Will Genetically Modified Humans Be Patented? - Questions For Corbett #064
corbettreport_uo
2117 views
Thumbnail for What's New With Nanotech: A Presentation by Zyvex CEO Jim Von Ehr33:28
What's New With Nanotech: A Presentation by Zyvex CEO Jim Von Ehr
ReasonVids
817 views
Thumbnail for Annual Bodypainting Day 2016 World Bodypainting Festival New York 2016 #SUBSCRIBE PLEASE | Body Paint11:11
Annual Bodypainting Day 2016 World Bodypainting Festival New York 2016 #SUBSCRIBE PLEASE | Body Paint
invidious
404 views
Thumbnail for Nice tits, you commie bitch!0:44
Nice tits, you commie bitch!
AOU
1776 views
Thumbnail for A Canadian man with an intact pair of testicles, never thought I'd see the day 1:55
A Canadian man with an intact pair of testicles, never thought I'd see the day
bestofupgoat
92 views
Thumbnail for Another Mexico: A Conversation with Storyteller Sam Quinones12:41
Another Mexico: A Conversation with Storyteller Sam Quinones
ReasonVids
844 views
Thumbnail for Can a libertarian work for Leviathan?1:04
Can a libertarian work for Leviathan?
ReasonVids
814 views
Thumbnail for Reason's DC Staff - Democrats vs. Free Trade3:19
Reason's DC Staff - Democrats vs. Free Trade
ReasonVids
922 views
Thumbnail for Nigger nogs with a dog on a street corner, watch 'till the end.1:20
Nigger nogs with a dog on a street corner, watch 'till the end.
bestofupgoat
59 views
Thumbnail for Candidate Austin Petersen Says He's the "Bernie Sanders and Barack Obama" of the Libertarian Party6:59
Candidate Austin Petersen Says He's the "Bernie Sanders and Barack Obama" of the Libertarian Party
ReasonVids
857 views
Thumbnail for 3 Myths About American Decline4:44
3 Myths About American Decline
ReasonVids
1113 views
Thumbnail for CNN's Jake Tapper on The Hellfire Club, Donald Trump's Big Lies, and D.C.'s 'Bullshit Waterfall'46:17
CNN's Jake Tapper on The Hellfire Club, Donald Trump's Big Lies, and D.C.'s 'Bullshit Waterfall'
ReasonVids
999 views
Thumbnail for International Men's day0:21
International Men's day
bestofvoatxyz
1209 views

points

Permalink
Reply
TOS  •  Add Keywords  •  Donate  •   Analytics  •   DMCA  •   Puzzle