Arming America
December 21, 2011
Thousands of communities in every state have been on a gear-buying spree with the aid of more than $34 billion in federal government grants since the Sept. 11 attacks. The spending has fueled a rapid, broad transformation of police operations 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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December 21, 2011
A 180,000-square-foot showroom of combat-style equipment and apparel accompanied the International Association of Chiefs of Police annual conference in Chicago in October. More than 14,000 law enforcement professionals, exhibitors and others attended. CIR journalists also traveled to Fargo, N.D., one of many cities across the country that indulged in readiness dollars after Sept. 11.
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December 21, 2011
Despite an overall decline in urban violence since the early 1990s, the past century has witnessed a series of dramatic and bloody events that have prompted law enforcement to examine their tactics and demand more sophisticated equipment to deal with perceived threats. Significant police reforms – from domestic surveillance to SWAT teams and special training on “urban warfare” – have been sought since these flashpoints of violence. No bigger shock changed law enforcement more than 9/11, which prompted a rise in intelligence gathering and the militarization of local police.
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