Citation

Phillips SW. Policing Soc. 2016; 26(2): 185-196.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2016, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/10439463.2014.922088

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Violence and force have played an important role in the establishment and defence of democratic values, and myths are used to justify the violence. The use of state-sanctioned violence by the police has a long history in the defence of those values, and myths have played a significant role in justifying their ability to use force to protect those values. This article reviews policing myths, the development of Police Paramilitary Units, the role of firearms in policing and their application to the use of 'patrol rifles' by street-level police officers in the USA. Contemporary issues such as terrorism and active shooters regenerate several policing myths. The result is an increased application of patrol rifles to the standard equipment of street officers. This may be viewed as an amplified militarisation of policing. It might also be argued that police agencies are acting in a rational manner to satisfy the expectations of their external environment.

Language: en