In Arkansas, Heavily Armed Cops to Patrol City Stopping Residents at Random

[marmar]

AlterNet / By Alex Kane

In Arkansas, Heavily Armed Cops to Patrol City Stopping Residents at Random
A city in Arkansas is dealing with an increase in crime. The police chief thinks the solution to the problem is granting law enforcement expansive new powers.

December 17, 2012 |


A city in Arkansas is dealing with an increase in crime. So they’ve decided to grant scary new powers to their law enforcement.

The Associated Press reports that Paragould, Arkansas is set to create a new law enforcement unit to deal with the increase in crime. The new unit will patrol on foot and may have the power to “randomly ask residents for identification.” No word on whether the Fourth Amendment is being suspended in Paragould.

The AP notes that “officers will be clad in protective gear and carry AR-15 rifles.” Pargould’s police chief said that “if officers see people on the street, they'll ask why they are out and ask to see identification.” The AR-15 is a powerful, semi-automatic rifle.

"We're going to do it to everybody,” said the police chief, Todd Stovall . “Criminals don't like being talked to.” ..................(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.alternet.org/news-amp-politics/arkansas-heavily-armed-cops-patrol-city-stopping-residents-random

[a geek named Bob]

1. Okay then

They can talk to me... but here in CT, I don't have to provide information...

[Joe Shlabotnik]

2. Of course; more fear is always the antidote to fear.

And we wonder why things never change.

[DJ13]

3. We've seen this before

[AnotherMcIntosh]

4. Papiere, bitte.

[LiberalArkie]

5. It used to be that city policemen walked the streets all the time. And crime was low.

Of course with all the guns, I guess they have to be more heavily armed.

I think if more police stayed out of their cars and walked around, crime would be a lot lower.

[kestrel91316]

6. Walking around is fine. It's a great idea, and does help.

Demanding papers from everyone on the street is not. Unless they have probable cause, it's a violation of reasonable search and seizure.

People have the right to be LEFT ALONE if they are not bothering anyone.

[AnotherMcIntosh]

7. We know that it is a friendly city. They've got the signs to prove it.

[EmeraldCityGrl]

8. What a fucked up place and even

more fucked up citizens that would allow this. I hope they enjoy living in their
fascist, police state. What a pathetic, sad existence.

[Downwinder]

9. I have been IDed many times.

There have been several bank robberies.

The bank robberies have all been during daylight.

The ID's have all been at night.

[EmeraldCityGrl]

10. In this town?

I can't imagine how invasive that must feel. What is the use of living in this country with
our Constitution if local government treats citizens like terrorists.

These are the people that claim Obama is going to take their freedoms away when they have already
taken their own freedoms away?!

I know nothing about you, but I want you to be away from this place. Life is too short to
spend it living in such a soul suffocating environment. My heart goes out to you.

[Downwinder]

11. Different town, posted in the wrong place.

But most of them are the same.

I was told by an Officer: "Pedestrians on the sidewalk after dark should EXPECT to be IDed."