Help! Police!

On the way home from grocery-buying, there it was. A paramilitary-looking vehicle driving down Main Street clearly marked "(Our City's Name) Police." It was black, kind of a cross between a tank and a truck. I've read that this is happening all over the USA, but it still hits you hard when it's your own hometown.

For pity's sake! We don't need this kind of firepower. Weapons of war belong a war zone, and last time I checked, this wasn't one. This isn't even a Ferguson, it's a bedroom community for techie types. Like any city, there are homeless, there are gangs, and there are drugs. However, these are overwhelmingly outnumbered by hardworking people trying to get by.

Maybe these weapons and tanks are to fight gangs, but that's a problem. Gangs don't live together in gang clubhouses with signs on the door reading "NØ PØlice alØwd." They live among the rest of us. "Taking them out" with tank-like vehicles is like killing fleas with dynamite. We wanted the fleas gone, but did you have to take the house with it?

It's no consolation that we are respectable, older taxpayers, long-time homeowners, and non-troublemakers. That still doesn't mean a thing if you are in the wrong place at the wrong time. That wrong place could be anywhere, including one's own home. Yep, SWAT teams have been known to raid the wrong address, and people have died.

Regardless of my opinions, military gear has made its way to police departments here, and everywhere. I can see the future now. There will be a knock at the door...

    Me ------------- "Who's there?"

    Voice ---------- "Hi, Ma'am. I'm Officer Jones, selling tickets to the policeman's ball.”

    Me ------------- (Seeing policeman in full body armor) "Eep! We'll take 2!"

    Officer Jones - "Only 2?"

    Me ------------- (Notices MRAP parked in front of house) "Did I say 2? I meant 4!"

    Officer Jones - "Great! Should be a good time, Huh?"

    Me ------------- "Sure! My checkbook's in my purse. I'll keep my hands in plain sight."

    Officer Jones - "Always a good idea."

    Me ------------- "There you go. Sorry the writing is a little shaky."

    Officer Jones - "No problem. (Talks into radio) This one's good. Proceed down the block."

    Me ------------- (Yelling upstairs) "Honey! We have to go buy Kevlar formalwear!"