Quote:
Originally Posted by Ron61
Ok, I will explain the situations we teach here for the use of deadly force... etc... ...Never even had to take it out of the holster.
Ron  |
That's actually pretty good, Ron. Thanks for the insight.
I wonder if this country isn't due for some innovative law enforcement. We now have volunteer fire departments. I wonder if we couldn't have similar volunteer law-enforcement departments. There would immediately be a cry of Vigilantism, that it wouldn't work. But in reality that is what conventional law enforcement and firefighting units are made up of, ordinary citizens, trained and dedicated to a job but none-the-less. With proper controls and safeguards in place, I think it would work. It's really the same thing only part-time and volunteer.
It would be so important that no unnecessary public harm inadvertently occur which would mean a lot of volunteer training. Also, I have been told, and observed, that law enforcement jobs attract not only the altruistic, but also an unstable "Dirty Harry wannabe" element that must be most fortunately discovered and eliminated during a probationary period. Some cost involved sure, but quite possibly worth it.
There is a precedent. Back in the '60's and early '70's I was assigned to a newly formed MP company in the National Guard. The reason was that the Army was starting to crack down on excessive alcohol and drug use and the traditional wild two-week camp for National Guard tended to overwhelm local law in the nearby small town. Subsequently, we were sworn in as temporary deputies with the right to make an arrest or at least detain offenders until more professional help arrived.
The "deputy" idea worked pretty good although there were the usual overzealous enforcements from some rooky MP's with their "new-found" power. Wisely, they did not arm us with firearms, only nightsticks, but I think they would have provided .45's under the lethal threats found in your neighborhood. Keep in mind this occurred not too long after the Kent State/guard disaster.
Hard to believe a new-found MP gate guard would confiscate beer away from the same guy he abused alcohol with last year, but I saw it happen. Lucky we patrolled in pairs through bars. I recall the term "pig" was in popular use referring to police (us) at the time. After the first swipe attempt, I kept one hand on my nightstick. Probably wouldn't have been the first cop conked with his own stick, eh?
Before I was assigned to the 191st MP Company, I was a member of the 131 Engineering Battalion. Abuse beer?... heck, we were known as the hundred-and-thirsty-first (131).
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