In the 1960s, America took stock of itself when scores of low-income cities broke out in riots. It found that racism was at the root of many social problems. Instead of addressing the underlying issues, the country decided instead to militarize the police.
# Stuff You Should Know - Police Militarization Episode Summary
Josh and Chuck dive deep into how and why American police departments have become increasingly militarized over the past 60 years, tracing the trend from the 1960s riots through modern-day tactics like SWAT teams and no-knock raids. They explore the key policies, politicians, and events that incentivized this transformation, from Lyndon Johnson's Law Enforcement Assistance Act to Ronald Reagan's civil forfeiture laws and the permanent 1033 program that funnels military equipment to cops. Along the way, they discuss how smartphone technology has finally exposed these militarized tactics to the public eye and sparked pushback, while examining why the separation between military and police forces matters for democracy itself.
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