Comments on: Cecil County Budget: Sheriff’s Deputies Lack Riot Gear, Short-Staffed; Unable to Help Baltimore Cops in Riot https://ceciltimes.com/2015/04/cecil-county-budget-sheriffs-deputies-lack-riot-gear-short-staffed-unable-to-help-baltimore-cops-in-riot/ News and Views for Cecil County and the Eastern Shore of Maryland Fri, 25 Nov 2022 14:21:21 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=4.2.38 By: SchoolMarm https://ceciltimes.com/2015/04/cecil-county-budget-sheriffs-deputies-lack-riot-gear-short-staffed-unable-to-help-baltimore-cops-in-riot/#comment-31978 Tue, 12 May 2015 11:15:17 +0000 https://ceciltimes.com/?p=4396#comment-31978 The way political and quasi-political events are playing out in Cecil County, I suggest some riot gear be purchased for those police assigned to attend the Commissioners meetings and any Animal Control meetings, as least if Commissioner Hodge is correct. Heck, Tuesday night might not be a good night to start.

]]> By: Jackie https://ceciltimes.com/2015/04/cecil-county-budget-sheriffs-deputies-lack-riot-gear-short-staffed-unable-to-help-baltimore-cops-in-riot/#comment-31969 Sun, 10 May 2015 22:14:04 +0000 https://ceciltimes.com/?p=4396#comment-31969 I don’t think we should spend the money on this to be available to help Baltimore, but I don’t think that it is far fetched to think that we will need that equipment here in the not too distant future unless there is a shift in our culture.

]]> By: Jackie https://ceciltimes.com/2015/04/cecil-county-budget-sheriffs-deputies-lack-riot-gear-short-staffed-unable-to-help-baltimore-cops-in-riot/#comment-31968 Sun, 10 May 2015 22:10:48 +0000 https://ceciltimes.com/?p=4396#comment-31968 LE should have the appropriate equipment to handle whatever situations may arise that would fall within its realm to handle. Having this type of equipment does not militarize the police. Police already carry guns, tasers, pepper spray, etc. Suggesting that the possession of this equipment militarizes them is no different than saying civilians possessing weapons criminalizes them. Since I support the 2nd Amendment, I see a huge problem with that thinking.

Just like the private citizen with his/her weapon, it comes down to how the police use this equipment. There is a time and place for using these things appropriately. We’ve seen several examples recently. How police equipment is used (whether it is a weapon they currently carry or riot gear) determines whether or not there is a militarization. Militarization is a mindset and behavior, not determined by helmets and bullet proof vest (which they should have). As long as LE recognizes its role as servants of the public and acts within the boundaries of the Constitution, then there will be no issue.

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