Mayberry revisited: a review of the influence of police paramilitary units on policing

Policing Through Subsidized Firepower: An Assessment of Rational Choice and Minority Threat Explanations of Police Participation in the 1033 Program*

“…The predominate conventional explanations for police militarization specifically, and for aggressive policing generally, have been high rates of crime, risks to officer safety, and the changing role of domestic law enforcement in addressing both domestic and foreign terrorist threats. In particular, drug enforcement efforts, and violent crime associated with such efforts, remain the most frequently cited reasons given by law enforcement to explain aggressive policies (Bove and Gavrilova, ; den Heyer, ; Harris et al., ; Kappeler and Kraska, ). For example, police departments that report high rates of violent crime may need superior weapons, armored vehicles, and better surveillance and communications equipment to protect officers and detain criminals (Bove and Gavrilova, ; Harris et al., ).…”

“…Policing is often described as a quasi‐military institution, relying on military ideals and trappings such as formal ranks, uniforms, discipline, structures, equipment, and culture (Bittner, ; Jermier and Berkes, ). Although criminologists and criminal justice scholars have debated the appropriateness or usefulness of using the military as a professional model for law enforcement (see Cowper, ; den Heyer, ; Waddington, , ; cf. Buerger, ; Jefferson, , ; Kappeler and Kraska, ), many American politicians, law enforcement professionals, and average citizens assume that the emulation of military traditions, tactics, chain of command, culture, and equipment can supplement and improve police efficacy (Bove and Gavrilova, ; Campbell and Campbell, , ; Harris et al., ; Phillips, ; Turner and Fox, ).…”

The Effect of Paramilitary Protest Policing on Protestors' Trust in the Police: The Case of the “Occupy Israel” Movement

“…The growing prevalence of paramilitary policing has stimulated a large body of literature in political science, sociology, criminal justice, and criminology, which mostly addresses its definitions, origins, and expressions in the field (e.g., Den Heyer ; Hills ; Perito ; Rantatalo ; Salter ). As for the effects of this policing style on police‐community relationships, scholars have argued that it alienates police officers from the citizens they serve and undermines procedurally‐just treatment, including transparency and accountability (Hill and Beger ; Kraska and Cubellis ; Pino and Wiatrowski ).…”

Police militarization in theUnited States

“…The strongest critique leveled against arguments for police militarization is the lack of rigorous empirical data analyses demonstrating that militarism is inherent to professionalism and improved police efficacy. Many of the arguments made by Cowper () and den Heyer () rely on normative assumptions of professionalism and personal anecdotes with little in terms of empirical analysis to support their claims. Kappeler and Kraska's () rebuttal conveys the sentiment, stating that the notion of police militarization as “a natural and inevitable outgrowth of some unaccounted for telos of ‘police professionalism’ is little more than crass historicism that can be used to justify any transformation in the police institution” (p. 2).…”

“…As such we should study and adopt the particular organizational and operational doctrines and methodologies that the military has developed and are applicable to our profession. (Cowper, 2000, p. 243) Similarly, taking issue with the idea that elite police units using military tactics and equipment is a negative reflection of militarization, den Heyer (2014) argues that such practices instead reflect a "natural progression in the evolution and professionalization" (p. 347) of police work. Put another way, these arguments suggest traditional police forces are unable to deal with increasing crime threats, so rather than turn to the military for help, police need to emulate the aspects of the military that will improve their efficacy.…”