Do American Police Departments Need Military Weapons from the Pentagon?
Featuring David Kopel, Research Director, Independence Institute; Mark Lomax, Executive Director, National Association of Tactical Officers; and Cheye Calvo, Mayor, Berwyn Heights, Maryland; moderated by Tim Lynch, Director, Project on Criminal Justice, Cato Institute.
Following the controversial use of military vehicles and weapons by the police in Ferguson, Missouri, President Obama ordered a review of federal programs that facilitate the flow of weaponry from the Pentagon to local police departments. These military transfers raise a host of questions. Do the police need armored vehicles, M-16s, and grenade launchers to do their job effectively? Are the Pentagon programs adequately monitored? Should no-knock police raids be rare, or routine? Please join us for a wide-ranging discussion of modern American policing.
