Specialized Police Units Are In The Spotlight, Again
Feb 2, 2023
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Radley Balko, journalist and author of "Rise of the Warrior Cop," delves into the contentious role of specialized police units following the disbanding of Memphis's SCORPION unit after Tyre Nichols' tragic death. He discusses the aggressive tactics of these units, their questionable effectiveness, and their impact on community trust. Balko highlights the historical patterns of violence associated with these forces and advocates for a shift towards community-oriented policing to prevent future tragedies.
The Memphis Police Department has disbanded its special SCORPION unit, after five of the unit's officers were involved in the death of Tyre Nichols. But similar units are still operating across the U.S.
Specialized police units are often created after a spike in crime, as officials come under pressure to do something about it. The units often operate with little oversight and develop a reputation for using aggressive tactics.
We speak with journalist Radley Balko, author of "Rise of the Warrior Cop: The Militarization of America's Police Forces." He has studied police tactics and whether special units work to keep communities safe.