Ferguson, Riot Control & Lessons Learned

Various law enforcement agencies are still coordinating to allow the constitutional right of protest to occur in Ferguson, Missouri. It is key to point out County Police Chief Jon Belmar’s comment, that his officers have responded with “an incredible amount of restraint” as they’ve had rocks and bottles thrown at them and several patrol cars destroyed.

Ferguson: The last two weeks

The display of helmets, gas masks, and riding atop armored vehicles was to serve as a deterrent to quash criminal behavior. This tactic seemed to have a divisive theme, as the scene took on a militarized atmosphere. Protecting officer’s lives, while balancing it with citizens’ civil liberties, is indeed a difficult topic.

Protecting officer’s lives, while balancing it with citizens’ civil liberties, is indeed a difficult topic.

Police departments and other law enforcement personnel may require military style equipment, but the focus in Ferguson, Missouri should be on technologically advanced crowd control alternatives. Well-trained and equipped police have the power to lessen the tensions of an angry crowd. Arming them with proper, technologically advanced tools allows them to do their jobs much more effectively. When police officers are properly equipped and trained with safer crowd management options, they are more confident to safely deploy these tools, and less fearful of the result, thus allowing de-escalation when rioters continue to exploit the situation as it begins to go awry. The solution for a large-scale protest where police must defend the free speech rights of participants, while maintaining public safety, is to determine the correct types of crowd management tools that will protect protesters, other civilians and law enforcement. Additionally, these measures must allow for the fastest, most precise and humane way to remove agitators from the larger crowd.

Not reaching for the proverbial “biggest stick”

In an era where social media eyes are everywhere, it is integral for police officers to research and be properly equipped. Attending professional conferences, which train the importance of de-escalation and a controlled defined force continuum rather than immediate intimidation, is also crucial. Part of the answer in Ferguson is equipping our nation’s law enforcement with technologically advanced crowd management measures, providing the crucial training and not necessarily reaching for the proverbial “biggest stick”.