IndexIntroductionCounterargumentMy ArgumentConclusionIntroductionImages of police officers wearing masks, helmets and holding assault rifles are posted all over social media. These images represent an increase in the militarization of the police. With the help of federal programs such as the 1033 program; made it possible for police departments to obtain surplus military equipment, which created a surge among the public. People wonder whether or not this excess of equipment is necessary for a police force to carry out regular police work. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Heavily armed police officers can escalate a situation or create a dangerous situation if too much force is used. Swat teams were organized to intervene in emergency situations and are now sent out for drug searches and other situations for which they are not intended. The military is designed to protect the state and citizens and act in the event of war against another state, and is also authorized to use deadly force. The purpose of the police is to ensure public safety and assist in emergency situations. These are two separate organizations with different purposes; the militarization of the police is simply useless. I agree that the police force has become too militarized. Counterargument Some believe that the military is far superior to law enforcement and should not be compared to the military. There are some situations where heavy weapons and assault weapons are needed, such as in emergency situations. People argue that it is only in the public interest for policemen to have military equipment. Since SWAT teams were organized in the 1960s, in response to riots, unrest, and violence, the militarization of the police has grown (Harwood, 2014). In Harwood's (2014) article he argues that police across America are trained in a way that emphasizes force and aggression and suggested that most officers "believe that policing is about taking kicking ass rather than working with the community." SWAT has had a huge influence on the militarization of law enforcement. After the shooting in Ferguson, Missouri, the new media and social media headlines were all about the militarization of the police. Throughout the Ferguson riots it appeared that it was necessary for the police to use lethal force, however lethal force may have escalated the situation. The police are progressively becoming more militarized with the unlimited amount of equipment that law enforcement is able to get their hands on. . Although many citizens believe that it is in the best public interest for police officers to carry all this equipment, in reality it is ruining public relations with the police. According to Gross (2016), “the law provides little guidance on when police use of force is justified” (p. 154). There are currently no restrictions on obtaining excess military equipment, and there are no limits set on when it is appropriate to use deadly force. This created a disturbing image of the police in the public mind. The police are becoming less trustworthy in the eyes of citizens and that's a problem because community policing is someone anyone should feel comfortable talking to. The 1033 program is providing equipment to law enforcement, which is directly giving them all the equipment causing them to become more militarized. SWAT was created.