"Rise of the Warrior Cop" is an excellent expose explaining how the American police force evolved into the monstrosity it is today. And true to the author's premise, this book is NOT an attack or a "hit piece" directed at cops. Nor is it any partisan propaganda tool designed to make one party look bad compared to the other.
No. Radley Balko simply walks us carefully through the pages of history and delineates how politics and fear combined to organically evolve the police from the "cop on the beat" to the paramilitary, law enforcement, domestic terrorist agency we've come to know and fear today. (My desciption, not the author's.)
If anyone can read this book and STILL come away from it believing that Radley Balko has some sort of animus against the police, or that he has some hidden agenda to promote drug use, then that person is a disingenuous fool at best.
This book is very informative, engaging and easy to read. My lone regret is that I waited so long to purchase it. I held off as long as I did because I thought I KNEW all I needed to know on this subject. I was wrong. I learned a LOT more, both about the history of policing and the current day problems and poliitcs which plague us.
I highly recommend this book to every American who fears where this country is headed.
NOW for my one critique. And this isn't really aimed at the author.
In the book's conclusion, Radley Balko relates a complaint from both former and current military members. These people object to the concept of the "militarization" of the police. It is their conjecture that current police behavior cannot be compared to actual military behavior.
From the book,
"...because from their own experience, the military is more accountable and disciplined than many police departments today."
Accountable and disciplined. Right.
Like the military helicopter crew that was held "accountable" when they gunned down an innocent group of Iraqi civilians and Reuters reporters?
Or perhaps you mean how Private Bradley Manning was held "accountable" (Courts-martialed) for blowing the whistle on that closely guarded MILITARY secret?
And as far as "discipline" is concerned we need look no further for proof of this (or the lack thereof) in the treatment of the prisoners unfairly detained at GITMO, or perhaps even how sexual harassment, abuse and rape is conducted and covered up in all branches.
Also from the book,
"...military raids on residences where they suspected insurgents may be hiding are done more carefully and with more deference to the rights of potential innocents than some of the SWAT raids..."
Carefully and with deference. Right.
So all the videos I've seen of American soldiers kicking down doors, terrorizing entire families at gun point, in a mindless search for terrorists -- this is an example of how the military is NOT like the police? To my mind the ONLY differences are the locations, the targets, the victims and the military are wearing DESERT camouflage. Otherwise, no distinctions at all.
And this behavior is NOT new. For proof go and watch the video footage of American soldiers holding guns to the heads of innocent women and children in Vietnam. Or how helicopter gunships celebrate killing innocent Vietnamese farmers.
Yes. So much caring and deference on display. Brings a tear to my eyes.
Now, I won't speculate as to why Radley Balko allowed these military people to get away with spouting such sophistry. Perhaps he didn't notice it. Perhaps he agrees with it. Or perhaps he's too much of a gentleman and he doesn't want to hurt their feelings by challenging them. I don't know.
What I DO know is that the evidence speaks for itself. Police tactics perfectly mimic those of the military, and therefore "militarization" is a very apt and fair representation.
How could it not be? Does not the military obtain their members from the very same contaminated population pool as do the police? The very same gung-ho, weapons-loving, violence thrill-seeking, civil rights violating mentality is drawn to military service and encouraged by the politicians.
Speaking of which, doesn't the military serve the very same pay masters who train and authorize the civilian police? Ergo, doesn't it follow that the very same irresponsibility and disregard for human life and civil rights will exist in BOTH spheres?
As I said, I don't know why Radley Balko let this slide, but as an intelligent person, as well as a retired military member myself, I couldn't allow this nonsense to go unchallenged.
Hopefully Mr. Balko will see this critique and choose to address it in an updated version of this book.
You never know.
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