If terrorists ever target Fargo, N.D., the local police will be ready.In recent years, they have bought bomb-detection robots, digital communications equipment and Kevlar helmets, like those used by soldiers in foreign wars. For local siege situations requiring real firepower, police there can use a new $256,643 armored truck, complete with a rotating turret. Until that day, however, the menacing truck is mostly used for training runs and appearances at the annual Fargo picnic, where it’s been displayed near a children’s bounce house.
“Most people are so fascinated by it, because nothing happens here,” said Carol Archbold, a Fargo resident and criminal justice professor at North Dakota State University. “There’s no terrorism here.”
Fargo, like thousands of other communities in every state, has been on a gear-buying spree with the aid of more than $34 billion in federal government grants since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on New York and the Pentagon.
The federal grant spending, awarded with little oversight from Washington, has fueled a rapid, broad transformation of police operations in Fargo and in departments across the country. More than ever before, police rely on quasi-military tactics and equipment, the Center for Investigative Reporting has found.
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The homeland security market for state and local agencies is projected to reach $19.2 billion by 2014, up from $15.8 billion in fiscal 2009, according to the Homeland Security Research Corp.
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Gnagey, of the tactical officers association, said there’s a sense among some local police that the price increases when makers know it’s being paid for with federal funds. The minute new equipment arrives, he joked, “if it’s painted black and called SWAT, the price doubles.”
******Read the rest at America's War Within
Some 1,500 beat cops in Philadelphia have been trained to use AR-15 assault rifles – akin to the high-powered weapons issued to war fighters.
“We have a lot of people here, like most departments, who are ex-military,” Ramsey said in an interview. “Some people are very much into guns and so forth. So it wasn’t hard to find volunteers.”
Local police stockpile high-tech, combat-ready gear
By Andrew Becker, Center for Investigative Reporting | G.W. Schulz,Center for Investigative Reporting
This is a form of insanity. Profitable insanity.
2 comments:
Check out the graphics on the drones over NY at Zerohedge ,
thanks to Williambanzai7
GeT ReaDY FoR CHuCK SCHMuCKeM'S AMeRiKaN DRoNe INVaSioN
Submitted by williambanzai7 on 03/04/2011 16:06 -0400
WIRED MAGAZINE-- "Campers may soon be able to regularly see something bigger and badder when climbing the High Peaks of the Adirondack Mountains: Reaper drones flown by the New York Air National Guard’s 174th Fighter Wing based in Syracuse, New York.
And drones aren’t just buzzing over the Adirondacks. The proposal to begin training missions there is part of a bigger push to build a drone infrastructure for flying missions throughout the United States. So new drone bases are being built. The FAA is setting aside airspace for drone flights. And you can even get an accredited college degree in roboplane repair or operations...
The race for a piece of the growing drone pie has begun.
The latest example is the amendment proposed by Senators Charles Schmuckem (D-New York) and Ron Wyden (D-Oregon) to the “FAA Air Transportation Modernization and Safety Act” (S.223) that would increase the number of “National Airspace System” test sites from four to ten."
WB7: Let me ask you folks, in ObamAmerika, how long do you think it will take for these things to wind up flying training missions over your back yard or favorite clothing optional beach?
Toto, I don't think this is Kandahar...
YOU FORGOT THE DUAL PURPOSEFULNESS
THE ROUSE IS THE TERRORIST THING ( REALLY NOW - LIKE TEXAS IS GOING TO LET THAT HAPPEN ) SO THAT THE ARMORED TRUCK IS MORE APT TO BE USED ON PEACEFUL PROTESTORS.
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