Chronicle Editorial

Police force militarization a concerning trend

      Recent turmoil in Ferguson, Mo. has shed light on a troubling situation that’s grown considerably throughout the years. Police forces across the country have obtained a stockpile of elaborate military equipment ranging from automatic assault rifles to heavily armored ambush vehicles. A report in the Aug. 24 edition of the Des Moines Sunday Register revealed the militarized trend has even reached some of Iowa’s smallest rural police departments, which is a concerning development no matter how you look at it.

     The Register conducted an inventory on some of Iowa’s most heavily-equipped departments, and the results were indeed surprising. Buena Vista County, a relatively small northwest Iowa county of around 20,000 people, was equiped with the largest stockpile of military-type equipment – 425 items at a value of $1.5 million. That number pales in comparison to Polk County, Iowa’s largest, which had an inventory of 273 military-type items at a value of $707,066. All told, Iowa police forces had a 2,022-item inventory worth around $7.5 million, according to the Register’s data.

     Law enforcement departments aren’t paying for this massive collection of equipment themselves. Federal programs allow military surplus items to trickle down to police departments nationwide at little to no cost. The idea was to provide assistance to small departments against heavily-armed drug cartels and other dangerous criminals, but that seems to have lost credence recently. Countless images from Ferguson have made it look like the suburb was under military lockdown. Authorities were right to quell the chaotic and destructive riots early on, but the strongarming should have ceased once peace was restored.

     Like all well-intentioned plans, these military surplus programs seem to have outgrown their original goal. Our unpredictable world is wrought with disorder that often seems infinite and unsolveable. However, cracking down on that disarray with combative and overbearing force isn’t the way to handle it. Until we learn to solve our problems with diplomic reasoning and understanding, these issues will continue to persist and exacerbate, and no amount of military equipment is likely to stop it.

     Numerous lawmakers have pledged to re-evaluate the surplus programs following the debacle in Ferguson. Whether or not anything changes is yet to be seen, but at least our elected officials have acknowledged a problem exists. Certain situations no doubt call for strengthened police presence, and ensuring our officers’ safety through the best equipment possible is pinnacle. These men and women deal with the most extreme behaviors and some of the situations they encounter are unthinkable.

     Nonetheless, reducing some of these military surplus programs to stem the flow of high-powered assult weapons and other combat-ready equipment seems reasonable. Riot gear, bulletproof vests and other equipment are warranted additions to officers’ safety, but other items seem to air on the side of excess at times. Police departments are meant to keep the peace, and having such heavily armed officers just sends a negative message to the citizens they’re protecting.

Fall sports season is here!

     Dust off those jerseys and break out the bleacher cushions, because the local fall sports season has finally arrived!

     There’s definitely a strong buzz throughout the Hampton-Dumont community this fall. The Bulldog football team has received considerable attention in the preseason, as H-D returns numerous letterwinners from last year’s 6-4 playoff squad. It’s going to be an exciting season and everyone is definitely ready for the first kickoff this Friday in Iowa Falls.

     Of course, the gridiron isn’t the only place where local fans can catch some hot sports action. H-D’s volleyball and cross country teams are rearing to go, as are other local squads at CAL, West Fork and AGWSR. No one knows where our local teams will end up at the end of the season, but it’s certainly going to be fun finding out throughout the fall.

     Please make sure to attend a few games this season and support our local athletes. They work hard honing their skills througout the year, and we should acknowledge that effort by cheering them on from the stands. Be it H-D, CAL, West Fork or AGWSR, get out there and show your support.

     Check out the special section included with this week’s Chronicle for the preseason scoop on all your favorite local teams. It’s chock-full of interesting tidbits and insight about Franklin County’s four schools, and it’s must read for any self-respecting sports fan out there.

     As always, good luck and have a great season, athletes!