Massachusetts Police Get Black Uniforms to Instill Sense of 'Fear'

NevermindNevermind Posts: 1,006
edited April 2008 in A Moving Train
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,352471,00.html
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. —

Springfield's men in black are returning.

The city's new police commissioner, William Fitchet, says members of the department's Street Crime Unit will again don black, military-style uniforms as part of his strategy to deal with youth violence.

Fitchet's predecessor, Edward Flynn, had ditched the black attire as part of an effort to soften the image of the unit. Flynn left Springfield in January to become the police chief in Milwaukee.

Sgt. John Delaney told a city council hearing Wednesday that the stark uniforms send a message to criminals that officers are serious about making arrests.

Delaney said a sense of "fear" has been missing for the past few years.


Maritial Law coming to a city near you.

The introduction of black police uniforms has an ominous precedent. In 1932 Hitler's propaganda chief Heinrich Himmler famously introduced black uniforms for SS police, tailored to project authority and foster fear and respect. The choice of color was not by chance.
Post edited by Unknown User on

Comments

  • Nevermind wrote:
    http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,352471,00.html
    SPRINGFIELD, Mass. —

    Springfield's men in black are returning.

    The city's new police commissioner, William Fitchet, says members of the department's Street Crime Unit will again don black, military-style uniforms as part of his strategy to deal with youth violence.

    Fitchet's predecessor, Edward Flynn, had ditched the black attire as part of an effort to soften the image of the unit. Flynn left Springfield in January to become the police chief in Milwaukee.

    Sgt. John Delaney told a city council hearing Wednesday that the stark uniforms send a message to criminals that officers are serious about making arrests.

    Delaney said a sense of "fear" has been missing for the past few years.


    Maritial Law coming to a city near you.

    The introduction of black police uniforms has an ominous precedent. In 1932 Hitler's propaganda chief Heinrich Himmler famously introduced black uniforms for SS police, tailored to project authority and foster fear and respect. The choice of color was not by chance.

    this is not a big deal. it's not martial law. I think he meant it was to instill a sense fear in CRIMINALS. Have you ever been to springfield, ma? it's a mess, and has a huge crime rate. the police should be actively making any changes that they think might be effective.

    and black uniforms look cool. seems like most police are wearing black these days.
  • CollinCollin Posts: 4,931
    How would this work again? :confused:

    Maybe they should start handing out flyers that say: "We're serious!"
    THANK YOU, LOSTDAWG!


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  • Collin wrote:
    How would this work again? :confused:

    Maybe they should start handing out flyers that say: "We're serious!"

    Or have a cop on every corner, chain smoking, and pulling tough faces at passers-by. That'll put the fear of god in them.
    Smokey Robinson constantly looks like he's trying to act natural after being accused of farting.
  • markymark550markymark550 Columbia, SC Posts: 5,174
    this is not a big deal. it's not martial law. I think he meant it was to instill a sense fear in CRIMINALS. Have you ever been to springfield, ma? it's a mess, and has a huge crime rate. the police should be actively making any changes that they think might be effective.

    and black uniforms look cool. seems like most police are wearing black these days.
    I agree, it's not a big deal at all. Don't know about Springfield and it's crime problems, but it shouldn't be all that big of an ordeal. Seems like some journalist had a deadline and didn't really have any good leads and this was the product....
  • BinGnarlyBinGnarly Posts: 508
    Black uniforms arnt scary. If a cop came at me with a spiked bat....that would be scary.
    Shows:
    San Diego 2003
    Grand Rapids 2004
    Grand Rapids 2006
    Detroit 2006
    Columbus 2010

    "With my own two hands I can change the world."
  • Get_RightGet_Right Posts: 13,330
    like it really matters what they wear

    jeeze
  • NevermindNevermind Posts: 1,006
    http://infowars.net/articles/april2008/280408uniform.htm
    A 2001 FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin has summarized research on police uniforms and noted the psychological influence they have:

    Research has suggested that clothing has a powerful impact on how people perceive each other. The police officer's uniform has a profound psychological impact on others, and even slight alterations to the style of the uniform may change how citizens perceive them.

    The studies cited found that black uniforms elicit emotions of anger, hostility, dominance, and aggression:

    Applying the results of these studies in color to the police uniform suggests that darker police uniforms may send negative subconscious signals to citizens. A dark police uniform may subconsciously encourage citizens to perceive officers as aggressive, evil, or corrupt and send a negative message to the community.

    Even more interesting are further findings that suggest both police officers and citizens are more likely to engage each other violently when the authorities come dressed in black:

    The experiment with the colored jerseys also suggests that police officers in dark uniforms subconsciously may act more aggressively; therefore, departments should consider modifying police uniform colors.

    The police uniform also may influence the safety level of the officer who wears it. Dark colored uniforms may elicit subconscious negative feelings from citizens, who may perceive the officer as aggressive, and subsequently, encourage them to consider violent action when confronted by the police.

    Research has also shown that police uniforms with a lighter half have been ranked by citizens as "good, honest, helpful, and competent, the lighter colored sheriff's uniform rated noticeably higher for warmth and friendliness".

    It is telling that police have ditched these in favor of the all black approach.

    The same black uniform tactics have been adopted by police forces in the UK, who have ditched traditional uniforms in favor of black roll-necks and black combat trousers.

    MPs have spoken out against the move, with David Jones, Conservative MP for Clwyd West describing the uniforms as "sinister".

    "I think that the connotations of black shirts are obvious to anybody. They've got a kind of fascist, militaristic appearance." Jones commented at the time.

    When the role of the police in a supposedly free country is to admittedly appear dangerous and to instill fear, in tandem with enhanced powers and more draconian practices, history tells us that something is most definitely not right.

    http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G1-73845616.html
  • kenny olavkenny olav Posts: 3,319
    Springfield is a dangerous city.

    wearing black uniforms is pretty stupid way of trying to change that.


    but it's easier than working towards social and economic fairness, so of course that's what they'll do.

    assholes.
  • useruser Posts: 19
    Dark uniforms are more difficult to target at night.
  • NevermindNevermind Posts: 1,006
    user wrote:
    Dark uniforms are more difficult to target at night.
    Theyre also switching up their cars.
  • LikeAnOceanLikeAnOcean Posts: 7,718
    Get_Right wrote:
    like it really matters what they wear

    jeeze
    Do you think anyone would take them seriously if they wore pink? lol.
  • inmytreeinmytree Posts: 4,741
    Collin wrote:
    How would this work again? :confused:

    Maybe they should start handing out flyers that say: "We're serious!"


    not a bad idea....

    http://www.wect.com/Global/story.asp?S=7764646&nav=2gQc

    Wilmington Police Send Postcards With a Warning

    Posted: Jan 23, 2008 07:14 PM

    Updated: Jan 29, 2008 07:27 PM

    WILMINGTON - Wilmington police are distributing so-called "stay out of jail cards." The cards serve as gentle reminders to stop loitering, but some people believe it's the wrong approach to stopping crime.

    Nearly every day, Michael McLaurin and his father, Thomas, spend time near the corner of 13th and Ann Streets. The men gather on the porch of a vacant home being renovated to sit and talk. They call it their country club.

    "I come here when I'm not working and hang out," said McLaurin.

    Since the house is vacant, the McLaurins could be flagged for loitering.

    The Wilmington Police Department is starting a new program to stop troublemaking in high-risk areas.

    Officers are making note of people who spend time in areas where they don't live, and they're sending them a message.

    If a car is in a certain neighborhood too long, police will get the license plate number and send the owner a "No Loitering Card." The postcard will read as follows:

    "Officers of the Wilmington Police Department have observed your vehicle, a ______________ displaying plate ______________ loitering in a high-crime neighborhood.

    Your vehicle was observed during a surveillance operation on known narcotics markets.

    DATE: ___________

    TIME: ___________

    LOCATION: __________

    Wilmington Police Department Problem Oriented Policing Team"

    The card is not a legal notice or a citation. It simply serves as a warning that potential drug customers should stay out. Obviously, anyone with a legitimate purpose in the neighborhood need not be concerned if they happen to receive a card.

    The police department is trying to target hot spots for drug and violence offenders.

    Some residents think the extra protection is a good idea, while others see it as racial profiling.
  • AnonAnon Posts: 11,175
    What's the big deal, the uniforms were always black before they were changed a while ago. They are just reverting back to what they had before. Springfield is a mess. It will take a lot more than black uniforms to fix the problems there.
  • CollinCollin Posts: 4,931
    Pj_Gurl wrote:
    What's the big deal, the uniforms were always black before they were changed a while ago. They are just reverting back to what they had before. Springfield is a mess. It will take a lot more than black uniforms to fix the problems there.

    Then why waste money on new uniforms instead of actually doing something?
    THANK YOU, LOSTDAWG!


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  • CollinCollin Posts: 4,931
    inmytree wrote:
    not a bad idea....

    http://www.wect.com/Global/story.asp?S=7764646&nav=2gQc

    Wilmington Police Send Postcards With a Warning

    Posted: Jan 23, 2008 07:14 PM

    Updated: Jan 29, 2008 07:27 PM

    WILMINGTON - Wilmington police are distributing so-called "stay out of jail cards." The cards serve as gentle reminders to stop loitering, but some people believe it's the wrong approach to stopping crime.

    Nearly every day, Michael McLaurin and his father, Thomas, spend time near the corner of 13th and Ann Streets. The men gather on the porch of a vacant home being renovated to sit and talk. They call it their country club.

    "I come here when I'm not working and hang out," said McLaurin.

    Since the house is vacant, the McLaurins could be flagged for loitering.

    The Wilmington Police Department is starting a new program to stop troublemaking in high-risk areas.

    Officers are making note of people who spend time in areas where they don't live, and they're sending them a message.

    If a car is in a certain neighborhood too long, police will get the license plate number and send the owner a "No Loitering Card." The postcard will read as follows:

    "Officers of the Wilmington Police Department have observed your vehicle, a ______________ displaying plate ______________ loitering in a high-crime neighborhood.

    Your vehicle was observed during a surveillance operation on known narcotics markets.

    DATE: ___________

    TIME: ___________

    LOCATION: __________

    Wilmington Police Department Problem Oriented Policing Team"

    The card is not a legal notice or a citation. It simply serves as a warning that potential drug customers should stay out. Obviously, anyone with a legitimate purpose in the neighborhood need not be concerned if they happen to receive a card.

    The police department is trying to target hot spots for drug and violence offenders.

    Some residents think the extra protection is a good idea, while others see it as racial profiling.

    There's a thread on the AET called 'your what the fuck moment of the day'.

    This is mine.
    THANK YOU, LOSTDAWG!


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  • CommyCommy Posts: 4,984
    inmytree wrote:
    not a bad idea....

    http://www.wect.com/Global/story.asp?S=7764646&nav=2gQc

    Wilmington Police Send Postcards With a Warning

    Posted: Jan 23, 2008 07:14 PM

    Updated: Jan 29, 2008 07:27 PM

    WILMINGTON - Wilmington police are distributing so-called "stay out of jail cards." The cards serve as gentle reminders to stop loitering, but some people believe it's the wrong approach to stopping crime.

    Nearly every day, Michael McLaurin and his father, Thomas, spend time near the corner of 13th and Ann Streets. The men gather on the porch of a vacant home being renovated to sit and talk. They call it their country club.

    "I come here when I'm not working and hang out," said McLaurin.

    Since the house is vacant, the McLaurins could be flagged for loitering.

    The Wilmington Police Department is starting a new program to stop troublemaking in high-risk areas.

    Officers are making note of people who spend time in areas where they don't live, and they're sending them a message.

    If a car is in a certain neighborhood too long, police will get the license plate number and send the owner a "No Loitering Card." The postcard will read as follows:

    "Officers of the Wilmington Police Department have observed your vehicle, a ______________ displaying plate ______________ loitering in a high-crime neighborhood.

    Your vehicle was observed during a surveillance operation on known narcotics markets.

    DATE: ___________

    TIME: ___________

    LOCATION: __________

    Wilmington Police Department Problem Oriented Policing Team"

    The card is not a legal notice or a citation. It simply serves as a warning that potential drug customers should stay out. Obviously, anyone with a legitimate purpose in the neighborhood need not be concerned if they happen to receive a card.

    The police department is trying to target hot spots for drug and violence offenders.
    Some residents think the extra protection is a good idea, while others see it as racial profiling.

    Its neither. Its to corrupt culture even further by confining communities to their homes. They want us locked up and afraid-out of the way.

    I still can't get over the images from Cuba on the Audioslave dvd. Those people- as poor as they were, almost all had smiles on their faces. They had communites, hope. Meanwhile the US is looking more and more like a police State every day, taught to fear the stranger and compete against your neighbor.
  • NevermindNevermind Posts: 1,006
    Commy wrote:
    Its neither. Its to corrupt culture even further by confining communities to their homes. They want us locked up and afraid-out of the way.

    I still can't get over the images from Cuba on the Audioslave dvd. Those people- as poor as they were, almost all had smiles on their faces. They had communites, hope. Meanwhile the US is looking more and more like a police State every day, taught to fear the stranger and compete against your neighbor.
    Its good to see common sense is still alive.
  • FinsburyParkCarrotsFinsburyParkCarrots Seattle, WA Posts: 12,223
    What colour was Stone's Village People policeman suit, at Mountain View? :D
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