RT Article
T1 Militarization of police: a comparison of police paramilitary units in Canadian and the United States
JF International journal of police science & management
VO 22
IS 2
SP 137
OP 147
A1 Cyr, K.
A1 Ricciardelli, Rose 1979-
A1 Spencer, Dale 1979-
A2 Ricciardelli, Rose 1979-
A2 Spencer, Dale 1979-
LA English
YR 2020
UL https://krimdok.uni-tuebingen.de/Record/1761106783
AB In comparison with Canada, the more pronounced ability to acquire special weapons and tactics (SWAT) equipment in the United States suggests the resulting proliferation of SWAT teams with adequate material resources is likely to continue. This proliferation has stimulated media and public discourses against the “militarization” of police. In Canada, however, the amalgamation of SWAT teams has led to increased standardization in SWAT training, member specialization and protocols of applied practice. We argue that, in comparison with the United States, the proliferation of paramilitary activity is limited in the Canadian policing landscape by public safety governance structures, acquisition processes, and judicial scrutiny. In consequence, Canadian police services are better positioned than their counterparts in the United States to withstand the public scrutiny tied to police tactical responses.
K1 Police
K1 Governance
K1 Militarization
K1 Public discourse
K1 special weapons and tactics (SWAT) teams
K1 Paramilitary forces
DO 10.1177/1461355719898204