The American approach to law enforcement was forged by theexperience of revolution. Emerging as they do from the darkness of British rule,the country’s founders would likely possess viewed police because they can be found today asa standing up army and therefore a danger to liberty. However, extreme forceand disregard for the Costs of Rights have grown to be epidemic in the us today.Relating to civil liberties reporter Radley Balko, they are all symptoms of ageneration-long change to increasingly aggressive, militaristic, and arguablyunconstitutional policing-one that would possess shocked the conscience ofAmerica’s founders.

Rise of the Warrior Cop traces the arc folks police from theconstables and private justice of colonial instances to present-day SWAT groups andriot cops. Today relentless “battle on medications” and “battle on terror” pronouncementsfrom politicians, along with battle-clad police pushes with tanks and machineguns, have dangerously blurred the difference between cop and soldier. Balko’sfascinating, terrifying narrative displays how martial rhetoric and reactionarypolicies have put modern law enforcement on the collision course using the valuesof a free of charge society.