There are many police and law enforcement officials who are concerned with the growing trend of using military-experienced mercenaries to train and work with local police officers in the United States, but there are many who believe the events of September 11, 2001 dictate the need for this new paradigm.
For example, Kentucky’s Lexington Police Department contracted Blackwater Security International to provide what’s described as homeland security training. Meanwhile that city’s Mayor Jim Newberry and its chief of police Anthony Beatty refused free training provided by the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement federal program that prepares police officers to enforce immigration and border security as part of their duties.
Lexington is on the nation’s list of so-called Sanctuary Cities in which police officers are prohibited from working with ICE or Border Patrol agents in the United States. Critics are angry over the use of local tax dollars to hire Blackwater personnel to train the police.
But Lexington isn’t the only city using hired guns to help local police officers. In New Orleans, heavily armed operatives from the Blackwater private security firm, infamous for their work in Iraq, are openly patrolling the streets of that beleaguered city.
Some of the mercenaries were reportedly “deputized” by the Louisiana governor and were issued gold Louisiana State law enforcement badges to wear on their chests and Blackwater photo identification cards to be worn on their arms.
While they are working in Louisiana, Blackwater officials say they are on contract with the Department of Homeland Security and have been given the authority to use lethal force if necessary. Some of the mercenaries assigned to patrol the streets of New Orleans recently returned from Iraq, where they provided personal security details for the former head of the US occupation, L. Paul Bremer, and the former US ambassador to Iraq, John Negroponte.
Blackwater, which is based in North Carolina, is one of the leading private security companies providing security personnel in Iraq and Afghanistan. Along with other companies such as Wackenhut Security, Inc., it has several lucrative US government contracts and provides security services — including bodyguard work — for many senior US diplomats, foreign dignitaries and corporations.
The company received international exposure when several of its security officers were captured, tortured and killed in Fallujah; two of their charred bodies were hung from a bridge in March 2004.
Although many politicos are saying Blackwater is not performing police functions, their own statement seems to imply that they will provide whatever services a government — federal, state and local — desires.
“Man-made and natural disasters require an immediate robust response. Blackwater Worldwide’s extensive training facility and staff of former military and law enforcement professionals can provide the needed training and operational expertise to prepare security teams to effectively support state and federal emergency response units,” according to Blackwater’s mission statement.
“I’m troubled by the use of military personnel — whether they be US soldiers or private mercenaries — performing a police or law enforcement function. While they may be experts in fighting wars, they are not constrained by the US Constitution as to how they operate as cops,” said former NYPD detective and owner of FLT Security Services, Sid Frances.
“Soldiers are soldiers and cops are cops. What’s next? Using smart bombs to crash into drug dens?” he asked.
Since its inception in 2003, the US Department of Homeland Security has faced significant challenges related to recruiting, retaining, and managing its workforce of over 170,000 employees.
Recently, the US Congress requested the Government Accountability Office to analyze DHS’s attrition, efforts to recruit and retain staff, use of external employees such as officers from private companies, and compliance with certain provisions of the Vacancies Reform Act, which requires agencies to report to Congress and the Comptroller General vacancies in certain presidentially-appointed positions requiring Senate confirmation..jpg)
While DHS’s overall attrition rate for permanent employees (excluding those in the Senior Executive Service and presidential appointments) declined from 8.4 percent in 2005 to 7.1 percent in 2006.
These rates, which were still above the roughly 4 percent average rate for all cabinet-level agencies, were affected by high levels of attrition (about 14-17 percent) among transportation security officers at DHS’s Transportation Security Administration. With the security officers excluded, DHS’s attrition rate was 3.3 percent.
DHS implemented agreements under the Intergovernmental Personnel Act, allowing nonfederal employees — private contractors — to be temporarily assigned to a federal agency to meet mission needs.
He's former chief at a New York City housing project in Washington Heights nicknamed "Crack City" by reporters covering the drug war .jpg)
in the 1980s. In addition, he served as director of public safety at a New Jersey university and director of security for several major organizations. He's also served on the National Drug Task Force and trained police and security officers throughout the country. Kouri writes for many police and security magazines including Chief of Police, Police Times, The Narc Officer and others. He's a news writer for TheConservativeVoice.Com and PHXnews.com. He's also a columnist for AmericanDaily.Com, MensNewsDaily.Com, MichNews.Com, and he's syndicated by AXcessNews.Com. He's appeared as on-air commentator for over 100 TV and radio news and talk shows including Oprah, McLaughlin Report, CNN Headline News, MTV, Fox News, etc.
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Comments
Sounds to me like "former NYPD detective and owner of FLT Security Services, Sid Frances" doesn't like the bsuiness competition and is also harboring some sort of "us versus them" mentality between the LE and Military community...
First pictures is not BW they were federal LE.
BW hired LEO's to do security work in New Orleans. No one was deputized.
Yes they were working under DHS, because FEMA is DHS and BW reported directly to the Federal Protective Service. BW guards had very stringent Rules of Engagment which only allowed for strict self-defense which were more restrictive than the regular citizen or LEO.
Blackwater instructors are current LEO, retired LEO and former military. They have a complete library of training from K9's, to courtroom testimony, DUI arrests and firearms training.
i like onions
Military should not be patrolling the streets of any American city. Period, point blank end of story. If the local LE can't handle their job fire them and hire someone else. I live in Louisiana and witnessed the breakdown of LE after Katrina and the majority of the stories of chaos in the New Orleans was due to rumor and innuendo and most of the problems were caused by rogue LE who panicked at the first sign of trouble. I have lots more to say but it makes me sick to my stomach every time I think about how the punks in uniform acted during such a crucial time in our countries history and the disgrace they brought upon the LE community. Where were all of the heroes?
yes there were some bW guys that were LE but most of them that got there and stayed from the start were military, matter of fact it was most of the LE that left in the first 2 to 3 weeks after Katrina that caused all the shortages and problems BW had at the beginning.
then when it was stable (end of Oct. first of Nov. they came back)so no it wasn't a bunch of lEs down there it was military guys, and yes some were deputised. oh and scahill is a liar.
OK "LA Native", had you ever served in the military you would know that the Oath of Enlistment states "to defend the constitution of the United States against all enemy's FOREIGN and DOMESTIC". If someone is acting as some were in New Orleans after the hurricane, they ARE enemy's. Don't be stupid.
I think BW learned their lesson after that little stint in La. If you want the job done right, call in guys with military backgrounds. There were "cops" walking off the job sites like crazy during the first couple of weeks. It's hard to actually do a job when you are used to hanging out with your beat wife or trying to look cool down at the local gas and gulp. The sad thing is once everything was all said and done, the same guys who walked or showed up just so they could say they worked for a big name company were the ones bragging the most. This is just one of the reasons that the contracting community is frowned upon in some circles. The ones who do their jobs are punished for the actions of the johnny come latelies or for the fanboys who are looking to fluff the old resume.
There is no excuse for the use of private contractors as officers of the peace. This is probably a violation of posse comitatus since BW and others are contracted by the Federal Gov't. The biggest problem is lack of accountability - it's bad enough that we have rogue pigs on the streets who are only accountable to internal reviews, but these goons may have no accountability at all! Shame on the quasi-fascist police state that was once known as the land of freedom. Props to LA Native for posting on a clearly pro-pig forum.
That's ok...they'll go down just like any other.
To hell with Pigwater. To hell with Eric"the evil" Prince.
If I see a BW on my street, he'll end up in a F...... morgue!!!!
Just like in Iraq & Afghanistan...
Future of a Nation that can not trust the Government & Propaganda Media?
How many times has the Government & Propaganda Media lied to you?
Chronic lying as career path or intellectual prostitution for paycheck?
Gravel Kucinich Paul Nader McKinney Ventura Sheehan Kaptur.
Fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me.
Poodles, Puppets, Sham debates, Scam elections.
9/11 liars, AIPAC liars, Federal Reserve liars.
Speak no evil, hear no evil, see no evil?
Greed & corruption or conscience?
Leaks from Whistleblowers.
perotcharts.com
To YUP...How dare you tell me not to be stupid...You are no better than a so called president who said that the Cambridge Police acted stupidly in arresting a person without having all the facts. In your scenario and I quote (If someone is acting as some were in New Orleans after the hurricane, they ARE enemy's. Don't be stupid.") the military should and will be patrolling the streets of every major American city forever because the things that were happening after Katrina happen somewhere every night, the difference is CNN's Anderson Cooper and FOX's Geraldo Rivera and every other news reporter with a camera and a microphone are not there to shine a spotlight on the situation.
BTW...Not having served in the Military doesn't make me incapable of recognizing an enemy. Spending 40 years around some LE has given me the ability to spot cowards in uniform from a mile away. Take away their gun and badge and they are powerless pieces of s**t who can't do anything else but draw unemployment.
If the greatest accomplishment in your life was working hurricane security, then you seriously need to get a life. I see guys on the net that like to use the bear paw as their symbol on these cool guy gun sites. You see them wearing their uniforms while posing in action photos trying to look tough. What a bunch of losers. Get off your high horse and take a look in the mirror and realize what a waste of life you are. Go back to whatever it is you do for a living and leave the old uniforms in the closet where they belong.
Thanks Street Thugs for: "Props to LA Native for posting on a clearly pro-pig forum."
Truth is truth and will always be truth no matter how much pig s**t you pile on it. I'm not 100% anti-pig because I love cracklings. lol (too easy)
Look, I know that there are some good policemen
and women who go to work everyday and do their job with integrity and to the best of their abilities. It is the ones that fly under the radar and do their dirt using their badge as a cover whom I despise. Having known many "rogue" policemen through the years gives me ample cause to question the motives behind so called drug interdiction traffic stops and "illegal" gun seizures which target certain ethnic groups. I am a 45 year old white male and I know for a fact that this happens on a regular basis whether LE want to admit it or not. Here in the deep south racist cops are from the womb raised to be nothing else.
But that is another story for another time.
this is just preparation for MARTIAL LAW, which will be declared when the nation attacks Iran and the proverbial caca impacts the twirling blades.
look for a false-flag event in October/September, and immediate declaration of MARTIAL LAW anytime before Christmas 2009.
I don't mind XE (Blackwater) or our military helping out, as long as they are unarmed. What's up with FEMA bringing in armed foreign troops like NLE 09?
King George still in charge of bringing Merc's to America.
This is open treason and the cowards in charge that have so-called Sanctuary Cities are the biggest traiotrs to Americans.
You better tell your State that training from mercs is equal to working for King George. Enough of this Nazi crap in America. Stand up tall and tell them traiotrs in office you want to start war keep doing this kind of nonsense.
Just another reason why I love my guns & the 2nd amendment.
Looks like their putting the fox in charge of the chicken coop
your day is coming Washington D.C.Your day is coming !America is coming and she is coming soon very soon.
You hear that ?! SOON WASHINGTON D.C. SOON .
So, mercenaries are guys that run ranges and shoothousew That's stupid. Hollywood has infested this whole Blackwater debacle.
take them all out side ,charge them all with treason and shoot them, period.Game Over.
I think its a great trend that private military compines are help U.S.law-enforcement. Mercenaries are the answer the CIA should back them more like back in South-America. In the 60's.
I wish and would love for America to have a Foreigon legion like France,Spain.
I'm suprised Russia,dosent want Mercenaries,fighting the Modern pirates in Somalia.President OBamba is right for hiring Mercenaries for ISREal,ect. and homeland defendself,against terrorism.
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