Who's Your Nanny?

[Shuftin]

December 31, 2006

Militarizing Southern Maryland

Cpl. James Dean, an Army reservist who was killed last Tuesday by a Maryland State Police sharpshooter during a standoff that began when police intervened in Dean's apparent suicide attempt, never really had a chance at surviving his ordeal even if he wanted to.

Take a look at some of these photos, taken by The Baynet, a local online news outlet in Southern Maryland, and published today. This is apparently the response demanded when someone simply wants to end his own life. And from the looks of it, the Southern Maryland SWAT teams are going to make damn sure you get your wish.

Yes, evidentally it's appropriate to send in the armored vehicles in response to someone who poses no threat to anyone but himself. And, of course, we can't have armored trucks without officers clad in military-type fatigues. My personal favorite happens to be the photo of a police sniper in his ghillie suit.

Full Story Here:

bothwell.typepad.com/whos_your_nanny/2006/12/militarizing_so.html

[Shuftin]

He was an army reservist despondent to learn that he would be deployed back to Iraq. When he became suicidal, his family called the police, thinking they'd send a psychiatrist or crisis counselor. He hadn't threatened anyone.

Instead, they sent the SWAT team. You can probably guess the outcome.

I realize there are real cases of "suicide by cop." But those are cases when someone invites a police presence by threatening others. SWAT-like tactics are entirely appropriate.

But when a guy is just depressed, and his family calls the police out of concern for his welfare, sending a paramilitary team is just about the worst thing you can do.