Most - if not all- Stateside posts/bases - have civilian uniformed police - Dept of Defense Police
Years ago all law enforcement was handled by the military police -
So what are your thoughts about the MP's being replaced with civilian police?
DOD police vs MP's
Discussion in 'Vets and Friends' started by Salty, Aug 10, 2018.
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tyndale1946 Well-Known MemberSite Supporter
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About the only postive thing in this program is that civilian cops are not subject to Overseas PCS., thus saving money.
But I bet the civillian cops make more money - so that PCS cost savings is gone.
YES- I want to see MP's
I have always said - the biggest problem in the military is that it is run by civilians. -
padredurand Well-Known MemberSite Supporter
Nothing new here. My father was a civilian police officer at Griffiss Air Force base back in the early 1960's.
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The problem with MPs is that they have little to no authority off base. The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals even ruled that an MP cannot approach a military person and ask for ID unless the MP knows with certainty that the person is military, subject to the UCMJ, and probable cause exists that the person either just committed a crime, is committing a crime, or is about to commit a crime.
Once an MP goes out the gate he is just another person, lacking Peace Officer powers, and that raises issues regarding carrying firearms etc., not to mention running afoul of the Posse Comitatus Act.
The DoD Police, on the other had, are certified as peace officers in the state in which they work. In California they were POST certified (California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training). Here in Texas they are TCOLE certified (Texas Commission on Law Enforcement).
As civil rights issues have been clarified the rights guaranteed by the 4th, 5th, and 6th amendments, as they are now applied, require changes in how the military and peace officers in general perform their duties and are perceived by the public at large.
[Edited to add: In Texas MPs can also be TCOLE certified, but because they are subject to transfer and/or separation from service, and all states will not certify MPs, DoD police fulfill that mission.] -
Squire Robertsson AdministratorAdministrator
Ahh yes, Posse Comitatus Act. A crime happens on base. The base LEO is in hot pursuit. A DoD cop keeps going passing the boundary. An MP needs to stop because of the Posse Comitatus Act.
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This explains a lot! (The Posse Comitatus Act)
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I was just thinking- about 20 years ago - our radio stationed sponsored an Armed Forces Day at a local mall. I had many vehicles
from the different Reserve/NG units in the area. I had contacted an MP and Air Police unit to see if they would be
willing to provide traffic control. In essence, they informed me they could not do so off base. Bummer