HomeMy WebLinkAbout9-24-14 Gallik-FW_ Militarization of Police DepartmentFrom:Chris Mehl
To:Agenda
Subject:FW: Militarization of Police Department
Date:Tuesday, September 23, 2014 9:00:24 PM
Chris MehlBozeman City Commissioncmehl@bozeman.net406.581.4992________________________________________From: Brian Gallik [brian@galliklawfirm.com]Sent: Tuesday, September 23, 2014 6:12 PMTo: Jeff Krauss; Carson Taylor; Chris Mehl; Cyndy Andrus; I-Ho PomeroyCc: Jecyn BremerSubject: Militarization of Police Department
Dear Commissioners:
I write to express my opposition to the acquisition of the armored vehicle by the Bozeman PoliceDepartment. My opposition is both substantive and procedural.
With all due respect, it appears the Chief of Police acted like a kid in a candy store. It was clear tome, in listening to his responses to questions posed by some members of the Commission last night,that he had no clear vision as to what exactly the equipment would be used for, let alone any identifiedneed for it in Bozeman and southwest Montana. His incredible suggestion, if I heard him correctly,about putting this vehicle in a parade, drives home this point. Not only is Bozeman not yet Red Squareon May Day, but that suggestion is entirely inconsistent with the City's slogan of being the "most livableplace." If there were really a need for this type of vehicle, as claimed, the Chief would have consultedwith all of you and the public before acquiring such a ridiculous vehicle.
In a recent article concerning police response to protests in Ferguson, Missouri, the Boston Globe wrote:
The photographs and video images of armored vehicles and billowing tear gas, of explosions, of officersdonning gas masks and armed with assault rifles made Ferguson, Mo., look like a battleground.
“This is America, not a war zone,” US Senator Elizabeth Warren said in a tweet, echoing concerns ofpublic officials and civil rights groups from across the country.
The level of firepower that law enforcement officials demonstrated over the last week in response to theprotests in Missouri has become a growing concern of civil rights groups, which see it as themilitarization of local law enforcement agencies that are supposed to build community partnerships.
“It is similar to what we’re seeing nationwide, that there is an increased militarization of our state andlocal police officers, in terms of the tactics they’re using and the equipment they’re using,” said Jessie
Rossman, a staff attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts.
Hundreds of people have stormed the streets of Missouri to protest the questionable police shooting ofan unarmed black teenager, and police said they had to quell violent rioting and looting at the onset,but the deployment of military-style equipment has reignited the debate over the arming of state andlocal police departments.
http://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2014/08/16/ferguson-raises-concerns-militarization-police-forces/gjA76rEL94nYHwzViJsAdM/story.html
In short, this is not a "cool vehicle." It is not needed and has no place in this community -- whether ina parade or in a garage. Regardless of my views, this is, in the end, a policy decision vested in you, theCommissioners, after the opportunity for public input. How the Chief of Police could consider actingwithout consulting you is beyond my comprehension. Right now, there has been no decision on theneed for such equipment and certainly no policy on how or when it would be used.
Send it back.
Brian Gallik--
Brian K. GallikAttorney at Law421 West MendenhallPO Box 70Bozeman, Montana 59771(406) 404-1728brian@galliklawfirm.com<mailto:bgallik918@gmail.com>
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