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29 Responses to “Cobb County, Georgia Cops’ New Toy”
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Isn’t the purpose of the National Guard to have that stuff for the rare times it’s needed? This looks more like a politician having friends in the defense industry than responding to a public need.
“You always hope that you don’t have to use it, but this is becoming a fact of life,” SWAT commander Lt. Joel Preston said. “You have to be prepared and make the situation safer.”
Note to the butter bar, I don’t feel safer.
Someone needs to photoshop that to say “COWARDS” instead of “POLICE”.
Wow, you’d think that with all the male “enhancement” drugs out these days, things like this wouldn’t be necessary any more.
I didn’t know that Michael Dukakis was a cop now.
If you ever take a trip down to Cobb County, Georgia.
You better read the signs
Respect the law and order.
You’ll serve hard time.
You’ll be serving hard time.
You know the Big Boss Man will make you walk the line.
You better watch out boy or you’ll be serving hard time.
He carries a big stick, a ball and chain too.
If you’re looking for trouble he’ll be coming after you.
You’ll serve hard time.
You’ll be serving hard time.
You know the Big Boss Man will make you walk the line.
You better watch out boy or you’ll be serving hard time.
You’ll be serving hard times.
You’ll be serving hard times.
You know the Big Boss Man will make you walk the line.
You better watch out boy or you’ll be serving hard time.
You’ll be serving hard time.
You’ll be serving hard time.
You know the Big Boss Man will make you walk the line.
You better watch out boy or you’ll be serving hard time.
Hard time.
Hard time.
You know the Big Boss Man will make you walk the line.
You better watch out boy or you’ll be serving hard time.
Better hope they don’t know any “confidential informants.”
I once lived in marietta, ga. it’s the most right-wing christo-fascist city of anyehwere i’ve ever driven near, around, by, or through.
they’re not preparing for drug raids. they’re preparing for the antichrist.
i wish i wrote this in jest, but i’m not.
does anyone think there’s a correlation here between fundamentalist beliefs and stuff like this?
the crusaders need a big cross and their freedom chariot!
Right, j.d. and Marty. It has nothing to do with the numerous and lengthy police arrogance that Radley has documented over the entire history of his blog. Nope. Instead, it’s those darn Christians.
Honestly. Stupidity and bigotry seem to go hand in hand.
Sydney Carton,
I think j.d. has a valid point. you might dismiss it off hand with your pithy sarcasm, but why the need for such armament in Marietta Georgia? Police forces are being militarized either for or because of the drug war, but how much of the drug war takes place in Marietta? Could they be arming for something else? Sure. You might find it worthy of sarcasm, but hell, I could see those good old boys, who honestly and firmly believe in the coming apocalypse, and have some grants from the fed and taxpayer money to spend, arming themselves well.
Should the local cops be able to outgun the local citizenry? Where is the NRA when you need them?
Sydney-
‘Honestly. Stupidity and bigotry seem to go hand in hand.’ …with your thin skin, apparently.
White supremacists and fundamentalists have a history of using the law to punish those they don’t agree with. All in the name of their god. The crusades were about punishing people who didn’t agree with how gods were worshipped.
Relax, I’m not insulting anyone for their religion. I am being sarcastic and smacking drug warriors around who think they’re ‘fighting the good fight’.
Sydney,
If Marietta Georgia wasn’t the ‘golden ghetto’ that it is, perhaps you’d have a point. But this is the OC of the East Coast. It’s a clash of old money and new money, but it’s money nonetheless. I still have family that lives in Marietta, all converts to fundamentalism (and away from east coast catholicism). It’s a place where sean hannity is treated with reverence, and fox news the hymnal. It’s where Abu Graib is a punchline, and terrorism is defined by the colour of one’s skin (which is funny I think because they’re not really racist, just suspect. The real prejudice comes from whether you’re a christian or not).
If there was any drug use in that city, and I garuantee you that there is (like Traffic), almost everyone is in denial about it, which isn’t difficult to understand when you consider what else they’re in denial about. I recall Penn & Teller did a show on the bible for thier tv show, “Bullshit!”. Here’s part one for your enjoyment: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5D9u0TijWR0
Most people (not all, the city does have a slow influx of NY Jews who want to retain proximity to a big city which cannot really be done in florida) believe that the Bible is the literal word, and same follows for the Left Behind series. 6,000 year old earth. Presidents of banks, firms, school teachers, ad nauseum. It’s as if all the kids from Jesus Camp grew up and moved to the ATL. And with this mindset of ‘us-vs-them’, comes the strong support for more ’security’. The demand that the police force become stronger to protect them. Even if it is irrational. I would go so far as bet that, given the option of surrending a few constitutional rights in exchange for the absolute garuantee of security from terrorists, they would do it. Again the irony must be noted: how can one cheerlead for the god team and at the same time, think he wont provide the security and safety?
Perhaps the city has changed for the better; It’s been four years since I’ve been there. Perhaps the subtle extremism has died down. Perhaps I’m totally wrong on all of this.
But I still think that does not vitiate that there might be a connection between christian fundamentalism and militarization of police (rather, the acceptance thereof).
What’s funny is that the traffic in that area is so horrible, that I don’t honestly see how that tank could be effective in quick reaction to an event. They said the SWAT team has responded to 50 calls. But this brings into question of whether they responded, whether the tank was necessary or useful in such situations, and whether or not there were false alarms. I’d be interested in seeing what was going on when they had to respond.
Ok, so I just checked out the front page of the Metro section.
Here’s what we’re using the SWAT tank for: Domestic Disturbance. He was the only dude in the house, apparently. Maybe they should have just bulldozed it over with the tank.
http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/cobb/stories/2008/10/10/cobb_swat_arrest.html
Also on the front page for Radley’s file: http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/cobb/stories/2008/10/08/cobb_jail_hooks.html
Fuck, I live in Marietta. This a land of baby hummers and soccer mom suburbans. The cops just wanted the biggest SUV in the area…so they got a damn tank.
A little history of this place. Cobb County was where the Republican party started in Georgia. A lot of powerful Republicans in the state come from this county or have strong connections here. This seems like the home of neoconservative republicansim, but…
It’s also has the largest Libertarian affiliate in the state and is home to Bob Barr. This is where the majority of our candidates come from in the state as well. There are still some good people here who are trying to do what is right. We just have a fucking tank to contend with now.
“COBB COUNTY GEORGIA…FUCK YEAH!!!”
Don’t forget, Marietta is right next to Kennesaw, also in Cobb. Kennesaw is the town where owning a firearm is required by law. I guess when they know (and require) everyone is armed, the cops get scared.
“Don’t be surprised to see an Army tank rolling down a street near you.”
WTF! Why should you not be suprised to see an army tank rolling down your street!!! Here is an example of the media trying to be cute instead of asking serious questions about this shit. This is the Cobb County, not Berlin circa 1945, for Christ’s sake!
The phenomenon of law enforcement getting military leftovers is well documented in Radley’s “Overkill” study. It is a deeply disturbing trend which is pushing domestic policing in a new (and unwelcome) direction. If a police agency attempts to acquire such equipment, citizens and journalists need to ask hard questions, not smile and gawk at the big tank.
Time to make the doughnuts, mother fucker!
This is NOT Christian; it’s Luciferian (Romish-Masonic Inquisition).
The Bible says use the herbs of the earth.
Anyone enforcing or supporting the drug laws are themselves anti-Christ.
[...] Via Radley Balko. Posted at 15:21 by Nick | No Comments | No Trackbacks Add to del.icio.us | Digg this Post | Filed Under: Demotivators | Overkill Name [...]
i know it’s not an excuse, but the APC doesn’t seem to have any weapons on it. just some IR sensors, cameras and some tear gas launchers. seems totally defensive.
also, it seems to be geared more toward crowd control than typical SWAT missions.
that being said, I agree with #5.
I’m not sure if Radley has ever mentioned it, but in Darryl Gates’s autobiography, “Chief,” he talks about getting one of these–the first, I believe–for use with his fledgling LAPD SWAT team. The only way he pulled it off was by calling it a “rescue” vehicle. Sorta like how SWAT was only palatable when they changed it from “Special Weapons Attack Team” (IIRC).
If you ever needed justification for the citizenry to be equipped with anti-tank missiles there it is.
If the government is going to station a standing army amongst the citizenry then the unorganized militia (that’s you and me by the way) should be able to have anti-tank missiles.
Glancing through the “most read” links connected with this story at ajc I came across this story:
One in three recent Atlanta Police Academy graduates have criminal records
http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/atlanta/stories/2008/10/12/atlanta_police_academy.html?cxntlid=homepage_tab_newstab&imw=Y
What could go wrong here? The mind reels……
The Cobb sheriff’s statements, shows that the law is more afraid of the citizenry ,then we are of them. And, if they use it,then they lose it.
#23 | Frank Hummel | October 11th, 2008 at 6:44 pm
…and some tear gas launchers. seems totally defensive.
Ask the Branch Davidians.
#12 | old | October 11th, 2008 at 3:13 am
Sydney Carton,
I think j.d. has a valid point. you might dismiss it off hand with your pithy sarcasm, but why the need for such armament in Marietta Georgia?
Appropriations are spent, lest the budgeting authority think you didn’t need the money and reduce your future budget. Hence the tank, or as it might have been, the 200 coffee makers and 20 donut machines.
Dang! And that guy even has the pig face, and the pig moustache! (worn only by cops and faggots)
No offense to faggots, but y’all really shouldn’t try to look like cops, unless y’all get a charge out of that, of course.
If I were an homosexual now, I would take care not to wear a moustache like that, lest somebody mistake me for a God-damned pig of a dog-fucking cop.
When I write “dog”, I do not mean “bitch.”