Deadly Force: Arming America's Police
Fault Lines investigates how the flow of federal dollars and combat equipment is transforming US police departments into military-like forces.
US police forces are increasingly using military-style tactics to carry out even the most routine daily operations. The number of SWAT teams and SWAT-style raids across the county has skyrocketed in the last few decades. SWAT raids occur at an estimated 50,000 raids per year and the majority that take place involve low-level crimes.
It is a trend that is being propped up by billions of federal dollars in Homeland Security grants and access to free military equipment through the Department of Defense for civilian law enforcement agencies.
Fault Lines travels to California and Tennessee to look at the effects of the increasing militarization of local law enforcement.
More from the episode
Fault Lines - Deadly Force: Arming America's Police - full episode
Fault Lines investigates how US police departments are transforming into military-like forces
- Topics:
- U.S.
- Militarization
- Police
A history of police militarization
How has the concept of SWAT teams spread since the Los Angeles Police Department developed the first one in the 1960s?
- Topics:
- Militarization
- Police
- U.S.
- Drugs
‘Military-style raids take place daily’ – tweets on police militarization
A live-tweet about police militarization in the US, during the premiere of ‘Deadly Force: Arming America’s Police’
- Topics:
- U.S.
- Police
- Militarization
When SWAT raids go wrong
Local police are using SWAT teams more regularly to carry out drug raids. These searches don't always go as planned.
- Topics:
- Militarization
- Police
- U.S.
Deadly Force: Arming America's Police, documents behind the investigation
Documents acquired by the Fault Lines investigative team pertaining to two deadly SWAT operations.
- Topics:
- Police
- Militarization
- U.S.
5 things you need to know about police militarization
Get up to speed for Fault Lines' investigation of U.S. police departments' transformation into military-like forces.
- Topics:
- Militarization
- Police
- U.S.
- Drugs
Police militarization on AJAM
Boston PD's new assault rifles raise concern over militarization of police
Saying it has to keep up in arms race with street criminals, department will put AR-15 rifles in patrol cars
- Topics:
- U.S.
- Law & Justice
- Boston
At SWAT team expo, protesters decry police militarization
Vendors market drones and semiautomatic weapons while relatives of those killed by police raise alarms
- Topics:
- U.S.
- Gun Violence
- Militarization
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