ABSTRACT
As with the police chiefs, tactical officers were interviewed to gain a street-level understanding of the issue. Tactical officers are the personnel who work in the tactical units and Special Weapons and Tactical teams. These officers are most directly related to the notion of police militarization because they use the tools, equipment, and weapons that make the police appear to be militarized. These officers evinced views similar to the police chiefs, including how the media disseminates inaccurate information, and the role politics plays in arming police officers. There was also the notion that policing itself influences the notion of militarization because national standards for tactical units do not exist, allowing a growth of tactical units across the United States. The officers also indicated that the concern for safety and risk justifies the use of some military-style equipment for some policing responsibilities.
