Marine Corps creates law enforcement battalions

Associated Press ^ | July 23, 2012 | JULIE WATSON

[Makana]

CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. (AP) -- The Marine Corps has created its first law enforcement battalions - a lean, specialized force of military police officers that it hopes can quickly deploy worldwide to help investigate crimes from terrorism to drug trafficking and train fledgling security forces in allied nations.

The Corps activated three such battalions last month. Each is made up of roughly 500 military police officers and dozens of dogs. The Marine Corps has had police battalions off and on since World War II but they were primarily focused on providing security, such as accompanying fuel convoys or guarding generals on visits to dangerous areas, said Maj. Jan Durham, commander of the 1st Law Enforcement Battalion at Camp Pendleton.

The idea behind the law enforcement battalions is to consolidate the military police and capitalize on their investigative skills and police training, he said.

[Makana]

Conspiracy theories aside, why does the Corps need to spend resources on this and take them away from "hurting people and breaking things." They are among the world's best at those skills.

[PetroniusMaximus]

[Pecos]

Because it will water down their ability to kill people and break things.

[robowombat]

What ever reason, bureaucratic empire building, careerist ambitions, or worse this is a very bad idea and contains the germs of a blurring of police and military identity. Many here are becoming very uncomfortable with the suspicion that the armed forces are being deliberately through PC activities being turned into the government's armed force not the nation's military services. This is just one more indication of that sinister possibility.

[Tzimisce]

Ready for action when Obama seizes the election in Nov?

[ilovesarah2012]

Military stands ready if needed at RNC, other conventions

http://www2.tbo.com/news/republican-national-convention-2012/

[BuffaloJack]

What does the Marine Corps need with a permanent law enforcement batallion?
The Army has lots of them; they call them MPs.
Law enforcement is not in the Marine Corp job description.
Marines are created to blow stuff up, kill the enemy and destroy stuff.
If you want to fight a war, send a marine; if you want to train cops send the FBI or the Army’s MP Battalions.

[riverrunner]

There only 500 of them

[Tallguy]

Command slots for females?

[BIV]

Maybe, 500 now. How many in one year?
I do not like this development one bit. I think it’s scary.

[Buckeye McFrog]

Worst......Gomer......Pyle.......Episode......EVER!!

[WKUHilltopper]

When they’re pounding on your door, it won’t be to collect “Toys for Tots”.

[Dead Corpse]

Marines have their own MP/SP types as well. Normally, they aren't the most tightly sprung individuals out there.

I knew one MP who would beat himself with a pool cue to "desensitize" himself to being struck with blunt force weapons.

Their own Battalion though? That just sounds weird.

[JimC214]

When I was aboard ship, all Marine Cpls and Sgts would be assigned extra duty when in port. they would take turns as Shore Patrol to control any Marines and Sailors who were out of control during Liberty. Also they would be assigned Brig watch if there were any Marines in the Brig.

[Dead Corpse]

Stood my share of fire watch. Never did do SP while I was in Japan. Go figure...

[5th MEB]

Marines aren't cops, they are killers. Killing the enemy and destroying their country and their ability to harm other people is what we were trained for. This street cop crap is best left to the Army and Air Force. Just another way to pussy down Americas most violent and effective fighting force. When I was in we were trained to assault with M-14s, grenades, knives or any other thing that could be used to KILL the enemies of the United States. We did not need to Mirandize the enemy before we killed them or took them prisoner.
PC is already killing every branch of the armed services, this is just another Obastard nail in the coffin. Glad I was Honorably Discharged in 72; back then we did not have to tolerate queers, cowards or the shy and weak. This type of crap will kill Americans in the next war, and trust me it is coming.

[huldah1776]

Might be because it takes NCIS too long to arrive.

[elkfersupper]

Ruh-Roh.

Now, we're going to have to fight marines.

[Fat Tiger]

"I knew one MP who would beat himself with a pool cue to "desensitize" himself to being struck with blunt force weapons."

Common practice in hard style martial arts.

[righttackle44]

Okay, I'll ask you my mother's question:

What are you guys who are afraid of more Marine MP's doing that's wrong?

Hmmm?