The Lisbon Reporter

WELCOME TO THE LISBON REPORTER. In an effort to keep our community informed of what is going on at local and Federal levels of government, we decided to create this on-line newspaper. It is our hope that this on-line newspaper will help you stay informed so that you can get involved and take action for the benefit of our ENTIRE community. Thank you for visiting and please check back frequently for information about what is happening in LISBON/LISBON FALLS, MAINE USA

Sunday, July 27, 2014

WND EXCLUSIVE Top law-enforcement pro fights 'warrior cop' thinking

Jack Minor

GREELEY, Colo. – As police frequently face accusations of responding to calls with excessive force, illegal procedures and military weapons and tactics, one top cop with more than 45 years of law enforcement experience is taking action against the “warrior cop” mentality.

“This isn’t Iraq, this isn’t Afghanistan. I don’t think you want to indoctrinate your officers with the warrior mentality to the extent that if you’re a warrior then you have got to have a war,” Greeley, Colorado, Police Chief Jerry Garner said.

Garner’s department is not a typical small-town America operation. A 2008 situation report by the U.S. Department of Justice, National Drug Intelligence Center showed Greeley is one of many American cities where the presence of Mexican drug cartels has been documented.

In 2010, Weld County Deputy Sam Brownlee was killed in Greeley after a high-speed pursuit in which the suspect grabbed the officer’s gun.

Despite events such as these, Garner believes the warrior-cop mentality isn’t necessary. He told WND he focuses his officer training on avoiding the use of deadly force when possible.

“There’s an old adage in sports that says you play as you practice,” Garner said. “People need to understand that if an officer is trained right, when they get in an armed confrontation many times they almost go on autopilot.”

Much more to this article.