Consider This from NPR

Specialized Police Units Are In The Spotlight, Again

Feb 2, 2023

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.

09:31

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Radley Balko

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Episode notes

Intro

2min

A Plea for Reform: The Impact of Specialized Police Units

3min

Examining the Dark Legacy of Specialized Police Units

2min

Assessing the Effectiveness of Specialized Police Units

2min

The Dilemma of Specialized Police Units and Community Trust

2min

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.

In participating regions, you'll also hear a local news segment to help you make sense of what's going on in your community.

Email us at considerthis@npr.org.

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