[Bloody Sam Roberts]

Among other weapons, it used tear gas and an armored personnel carrier that later rolled down the street and smashed into a car. The operation ended with the targeted home in flames and exactly one suspect in custody—for outstanding traffic violations.

I have long maintained that the underlying motive for the WOD is the militarization of our local police forces.

Look at the evidence. Just about every locale has a police force that has a stockpile of body armor and AR-15s.
What the hell does Maricopa County, Arizona need an APC for?

[usurper]

What the hell does Maricopa County, Arizona need an APC for?

Probably because the local crack houses are hardened to the point that you need one to make entry.

Or it could be watching the experience of the LAPD in the Hollywood shootout having officers down and no way to reach them.

[middie]

That tyrant in Phoenix should be run out of office. Unfortunately, the gullible citizenry there equate torture and inhumane treatment for misdemeanants, petty criminals, non-paying dads, traffic ticket debtors and alimony debtors with competent law enforcement.

And, even worse, a large percentage of the inmates of any county jail is persons who have not been convicted of any crime at all, felony or misdemeanor. They have been arrested and held because they couldn't made bail. A significant number are never charged with a crime or are found not guilt or otherwise have their case dismissed. So, they walk out without a criminal record having suffered from the inhumane conduct of the Sheriff and his band of thugs. The serious felons and really bad guys go to state prison, so he's portraying a tough guy, wild west sheriff with inmates who've committed minor offenses or none at all.

It's not the baloney sandwiches or even the pink jail uniform. This cretin's pride in feeding the inmates on 40 cents a day and confining them to pup tents in the 120 degree heat during the day and 50 degree desert night is simply obscene.

The old rubric that crime has gone down in Maracopa County is an illogical deflection from the real question of humane treatment. His posturing is a disgrace and his seeming willingness to burn homes, shoot pets and children exemplifies his reign of criminality and terror masquerading as law enforcement.

[MplsSteve]

Have you ever seen certain parts of Phoenix?

Gang-ridden and crime-ridden. The criminals are usually armed better than the police on duty.

There are certainly times and places an APC could come in handy. I have no problem with them having one.

[winston2]

I have long maintained that the underlying motive for the WOD is the militarization of our local police forces.

Look at the evidence. Just about every locale has a police force that has a stockpile of body armor and AR-15s.

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Your point made this thread worth reading.

I have looked at the WOD from numerous angles and I have come to believe that militarization of local police departments is one of a just a few underlying reasons for it all.

[Atlas Sneezed]

I have long maintained that the underlying motive for the WOD is the militarization of our local police forces.

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And those local militarized forces are the standing army our founders feared.