LETTER TO THE EDITOR OF THE NEW JERSEY HERALD

BY BILL WEIGHTMAN

Local police don’t need militarized vehicles

Posted: Nov 08, 2014 10:18 PM ESTSaturday, November 8, 2014 10:18 PM ESTUpdated: Nov 08, 2014 10:18 PM ESTass="wnDate">Saturday, November 8, 2014 10:18 PM EST

Editor:

Many jurisdictions and counties are making the move to militarized vehicles. These vehicles are called MRAPs (mine-resistant-ambush-protected vehicles). I feel that we have enough vehicles now on hand and we are sending the wrong message on the duties of the police with the usage of such vehicles. Some jurisdictions use these vehicles to execute high-risk warrants and to transport dangerous prisoners. I would like to keep the present model of the police, as fixtures on the street and the highway, and always willing to help.

I have long felt that the closer the policing is to the residents of our county, the better the community feelings for the local entities of police. I have been a graduate assistant at John Jay in New York City, which is the local school for police instruction. I have heard lectures by Benjamin Ward, and current Commissioner Braxton known for his “broken windows approach” to criminality, which is based on community policing and boots on the ground implementation.

I do not want to hint to the outside world that Sussex County is a war zone. I do, however, want the preservation of local policing in all towns. I was against the merger of Ogdensburg's police force with Sparta. There is no doubt that both forces do an excellent job, but each knows the needs of its own town. Along those lines, I want to maintain the separation of local police from state and federal upgrades with the usage or merger only in times of emergency.

Local police know the community and they are the ears for what is going on. They are also able to handle some issues with discretionary actions, which is the way it should always be in our relatively small towns. Of the almost 13 million crimes committed in the United States, only some 1.5 percent (Sutherland and Cressey) involve the whole judicial system, and that is a good measure.

We do not need military vehicles on our small community streets. We are not a war zone. I should be honest and tell you that these vehicles are made free to communities by the Department of Defense. I leave the option to you, the reader.

Bill Weightman