Return-Path: I'm a former cop with 16 years of experience including intelligence,
SWAT, tactical operations, criminal investigations. Police depts. are receiving free of charge from the Defense logistics
Agency all kinds of military pattern small arms. these include m-16's
(full auto kind), ammo, and even bayonets. Also included is webb gear,
ammo pouches, ponchos, night vision devices and passive infra-red and
thermal imaging night sights or night vision devices. Sources of mine in the State of WA., say that many PD's are now training
in advanced small unit tactics involving MOUT scenarios at the Yakima
Army Training Center. MOUT deals with street fighting in an urban
warfare context. In addition, automatic weapons instruction (small arms) is also given to
these units at the training center and some units report Army
instructors (mostly special forces types) are instructing them in long
range snipe fire and concenalment mehtods, including reconnaisance and
intelligence gathering in the field. Now here's the kicker. The WA. State Criminal Justice Training
Commision is allegedly (good source on this) considering expanding the
police academy curriculum and training hours from the present 440 hrs.
to twice that amount. Civil unrest and street fighting tactics are to
be included in the new blocs of instruction. Additional emphasis on
sniper and full auto weapons training and intelligence gathering
missions, plus joint tactical doctrine in order to facilitate working
with military units may also be included. I hear other states are to
join in with the same agenda to be implemented. Sources with WA. State Emergency Management Services report that the WA.
State Patrol is now designated the LEAD co-ordinating agency for all
WAs. State police operations in the event of an emergency and in
co-ordinating these operations with elements of the National Guard and
US regular Army! EDITOR'S NOTE #1: (1997) I cannot atest to the authenticity of the facts reported in the above E-Mail, but I do know that some U.S. police departments have received M-16s, so this part of the report is absolutely true. I think more importantly, it would be very nice to know why our police departments are arming themselves to this degree and receiving special military training when there is not yet any signs of civil unrest of the magnitude mentioned in this communique. I am now looking into this and the remaining alleged facts at this time. Perhaps Operation Garden Plot has something to do with the enormous push to nationalize domestic police and use U.S. Military for domestic policing? Editor's Note #2: (1999) By now it's become apparent that the scope by which domestic law enforcement has militarized is far wider than first expected. Quasi-military law enforcement personnel train with military throughout all steps of the process, but, to remain within the law, they received their paychecks from the DoJ, instead of the DoD. The armaments received by law enforcement also far surpass what was first suspected, many times including tanks. To read sections of US Code that allows the Department of Defense to provide training and equipment to domestic law enforcement, click HERE (this will open a new window, close this window to return to this page).
Many urban neighborhoods are also referred to by enforcement operatives as war zones. I am the first one to admit that law enforcement has a tough job in these areas, but the use of tanks in law enforcement can only relate to situations like the Branch Dividians in Waco, Texas where a group of citizens have armed themselves and holed up in a defendable structure. Law enforcement do not use tanks to run down drug lords, that's for certain. It certainly has the flavor of some third-world countries in this regard. Have we forgotten what life was like before this administration?
Date: Mon, 17 Nov 1997 13:47:18 -0800
From: *** Public PC User -- Library Documents
Subject: military weapons issud to police depts.
To: colombo
If anyone should know additional facts or would like to discuss similar action, please contact me via e-mail at: colombo@raex.com. Thank you very much. --Al Colombo
