In a civilised society, where do police powers end and military powers start?

Question

The reason I asked this is because 3 years ago at Heathrow airport the army was drafted in after an imminent terrorist threat was feared (possible shooting down of a plane), what could the army have done that the police couldn't?

Answer 1

There is a law called the Posse Comitatus Law in the United States. No federal troops, i.e., US Military can serve as law enforcement within the 50 states . The National Guard is a special category and can be recalled whenever there is a state calamity such as when the levees broke in New Orleans, floods, tornados, earthquakes, fire, etc to prevent looting and restore order when local law enforcement is overwhelmed. Their commander-in-chief is the state governor. However, if the President recalls them to active duty, they may be sent in a war zone abroad like army troops. Guard troops have recently been recalled to guard the Southern Border for a year.

Answer 2

U.S. troops can't be used in a police capacity in the United States. They can provide material and training support, but no operational activities. National Guard is an exception. They can be deployed and deputized to assist civil authorities. Now, someone mentioned that when he/she was in the military that should a military personnel tell a police officer to do something then that officer must do it. This is definitely NOT the case nor has it ever been. Department of Defense (War Department decades ago) and the Department of Justice are separate and one does not work for the other.

Cops are using a lot of military style weapons and uniforms. However, to anyone in the know the tactics are vastly different. Cops have to operate differently. They need more advanced weaponry though to deal with today's threats. The threat to officers are not only greater but occur more frequently. The really bad weapons that officers face are either made by underground sources or smuggled into the country so this threat isn't going to just disappear.

Answer 3

When they become one and the same. In the USA, our police use military weapons and tactics, and our "state" militias are all nationalized into global service. Most of our policemen (and women) are recruited from Marine or army troops. Individual liberty suffers.
The Texas Rangers were very proud that only one ranger was needed to settle an issue. Now a truck full of machine-gunn-toting guys in camoflage are called out for domestic disputes! Freedom is over.

Answer 4

As far as I can see, there is barely a line to cross on this issue in america any longer. More and more police departments hire fresh out of the military and from out of state. The attitudes and demeanor of these new police officers is one of "them vs. us" and that the police cannot allow a mere civilian to question their authority even a little bit. They are far to busy doing their job to find a spare moment and actually deal with a member of a public on a one on one basis. When an officer says that he works for the people he or she is not saying you or I employ him, but that the insidious "the people" of the non-entity STATE is his employer and that he work to further the plans of the STATE. I have seen it becoming more and more prevalent on court and legal papers to say "the STATE vs." in place of "the people v.s." I beleive the state is actually being more honest when it prints this, as it does not represent your best interests, or mine for that matter, or the right and interest of all of us as a group. Instead it literally means in affect the STATE, the government, it's employees, it's powers, institutions, policies and politics, regardless of what any or all individuals may think. We are led to beleive we are guilty of voting for these people but that is just a farce as what any of them say while campaigning is not at all what they do once in office. I hope you don't think that I got off the question here, as I feel that this answer and much more would be needed to fully answer your question. I reiterate, though, that at least in this society, the line between police and military powers is increasingly blurred if not completely erased.

Answer 5

Military powers start in times of war...when leaders believe or hype propaganda that America is under attack.

Then you'll do whatever the military wants you to do.

They can usher you into a camp and others can swoop in and take what you used to own. What a vision for America's future!!

Try to stop it before it happens.

Answer 6

they actually don't i was in the military and was told then mayby different now but if a soldier tells a police officer to do somethin he is to do it but for military as a force in a state of emergency or declaration of war is declared then military takes command there hass to be a