#96: Why Militarizing Police Is a Bad Idea

Jonathan Mummolo

Jonathan Mummolo

 
 

Since the creation of the first SWAT teams in the 1960s, militarized police units have multiplied. SWAT teams can rescue hostages or handle emergencies – but are they used that way? Do they increase public safety? And what’s the impact on the public, and on officers? Guest Jonathan Mummolo, Professor of Politics and Public Affairs at Princeton University, discusses his new research into the effect of police militarization – on crime, on communities of color, and on police agencies themselves.

Militarization Fails to Enhance Police Safety or Reduce Crime but May Harm Police Reputation