N.G. Troops "Deputized"

[Evan]

While getting ready for work this morning, I was surfing the channels and came across CNN. The scene was activated National Guard Troops standing at attention while some WASH D.C. Police Captain read the oath, swearing in and "deputizing" the troops to have full l.e. authority and powers of arrest. The story went on to say that the WMDC officers have been working 12 hr. shifts, 6 days a week since 9/11. The story did not mention any kind of training the troops would be required to take.
Any words, thoughts, or opinions???

[Watchman]

I dont like it. For one, they are trained to be soldiers, not police. The missions are completley different. If they werent, the Army would'nt have MP's.

Secondly, they are all over the place at the nuclear plant where I work. I know most of them , as I have coached many in baseball or basketball as kids growing up. They are good kids, but some of them are dumber than rocks. Seeing them walk around with a fully loaded M-16 does NOT make me feel more protected.

Deputizing NG troops as deputys is setting them up to fail. As a result,we will see violations of civil rights and due proccess just because the young men dont have a clue about the laws that they are trying to "uphold". If they are held to the same standards that CLEO's are, then they are in for a heap of trouble.

We lose "local " control of our law and we give it up to state or federal control. Not a good thing.

We have delibratly avioded that in our state. The NG is only there to stop an attack. Our deputys' patrol and in the case that someone needs to be arrested and put in the pokey, they do it. The NG can hold someone at gunpoint, but the Deptuys are there to cuff em and stuff em.

Just my .02 cents worth.

[ 11-17-2001: Message edited by: Watchman ]

[Ron757]

Bad idea, I was in the gaurd for approx. 10yrs and the influx of flunkies was tremedous. It also sets up the Sheriff for liability and lawsuit issues. My last two years in the gaurd I was already in law enforcement and couldn't wait for my ets. date.

[Jim Burnes]

Originally posted by Watchman:
We have delibratly avioded that in our state. The NG is only there to stop an attack. Our deputys' patrol and in the case that someone needs to be arrested and put in the pokey, they do it. The NG can hold someone at gunpoint, but the Deptuys are there to cuff em and stuff em.

Just my .02 cents worth.

[ 11-17-2001: Message edited by: Watchman ]

I concur. I've 21 years as an MP (NCO) and have worked in civilian areas, handling civilians not at all related to the military. It's dicey.

The MPs should rightfully be used to deter, to observe, identify and detain, should be able to escort. But not to place under arrest and process suspects. Too much can go wrong and people are going to get hurt that should not.

Jim Burnes

[Highpockets]

It wasn't clear to me if the NG troops they are using are MP's or not. I recently (couple years ago) went through the MP training \ certification for the National Guard and we have several LEO's in our unit. I'm auxiliary myself. Our LEO's said the current MP training is pretty close to what a Civilian LEO goes through plus Urban Assault training – not too different from SWAT training. If they were to use MP's I can go along with that. Our unit is listed as Combat MP's but have gone through the same training as Garrison MP's - they are the Army's equivalent to City COPS. The Posts & Bases are like a city in itself. Housing with domestic calls, Stores with burglaries, clubs with fights, murders, anything a city cop deals with is possible and sometimes happens on Post or Base. Our unit functions as Combat or Garrison – whichever is needed at the time. One thing an MP deals with is our domestic calls often involve not just your average person but most of the time someone who is in pretty good phys condition with Ranger or other training under his belt - sometimes hard to deal with if they want to be. We also have to be careful of the person's rights too, the UCMJ is pretty tough - we don't just bang everyone on the head and put them behind bars. Traffic stops on Posts and everything - dealing with Servicemen\women AND civilians too. As far as one post saying he knew some of the guys and doesn’t feel comfortable with them guarding him - I've been with several civilian LEO's on duty and most I'm very confident of BUT their are some I feel the same way about - problem waiting to happen.