1/🧵Speaking as an Army infantry combat veteran and former Special Agent who leans center-right: this isn’t partisan, it’s observational. We’ve quietly normalized militarized police, and the silence around it should worry everyone. 
2/ I’ve worn the gear. Helmet, plates, full kit.
It changes you. There’s a psychological switch that flips when you put it on. You move different. You think different.
It changes you. There’s a psychological switch that flips when you put it on. You move different. You think different.
3/ That gear makes you see everything as a threat. In the Army, that was appropriate. Combat demands it.
On American streets, with American citizens, it’s a problem. This isn’t Falluja
On American streets, with American citizens, it’s a problem. This isn’t Falluja
4/We used to demand higher police standards. Crisp uniforms. Simple tools.
They looked like public servants, acted like public servants, because they were and policed like members of the community, not an occupying force. They de escalated and talked to people.
They looked like public servants, acted like public servants, because they were and policed like members of the community, not an occupying force. They de escalated and talked to people.
5/Now? Tactical gear, beards, ball caps, Oakleys, sleeve tattoos, and kits that would make special operators jealous.
We’ve turned the look into a fetish. We confuse looking hard with being professional. They’re not.
We’ve turned the look into a fetish. We confuse looking hard with being professional. They’re not.
6/I loved the Army. But I'll be honest, I was also blinded by it for a while. Mission first. Team over everything. And that mentality made sense in that context.
7/ “Back the Blue” stopped meaning support and started meaning immunity.
A badge, a gun, and tactical gear are treated as proof of virtue and competence. It doesn’t.
A badge, a gun, and tactical gear are treated as proof of virtue and competence. It doesn’t.
8/ Most cops aren’t special operators. They’re average good people drawn to identity, authority, and belonging.
I understand that pull. It’s why I joined the Army. But desire isn’t qualification. Appearance isn’t competence. And cosplay isn’t capability.
I understand that pull. It’s why I joined the Army. But desire isn’t qualification. Appearance isn’t competence. And cosplay isn’t capability.
9/ Old-school law enforcement didn’t cosplay professionalism. They lived it.
Limited tools forced discipline, communication, and judgment instead of defaulting to force.
Limited tools forced discipline, communication, and judgment instead of defaulting to force.
10/ What I see now in law enforcement is the costume without the culture. The gear without the training. The authority without the accountability.
11/Are there good people in law enforcement? Of course. I know many personally. But this reflexive "law enforcement can do no wrong" mentality is lazy, dangerous, and intellectually dishonest.
12/ A woman is dead. And before we sort ourselves into teams and start assigning blame, maybe we should ask harder questions:
Why do we accept a militarized police force as normal?
Why do we accept a militarized police force as normal?
13/ Why do we assume tactical gear equals tactical competence?
Why have we let "Back the Blue" become a substitute for actual standards?
Why have we let "Back the Blue" become a substitute for actual standards?
14/ wore the uniform. I went through the training. I know what that gear does to your head.
It shouldn't be normalized on American streets against American citizens. @WhiteHouse
It shouldn't be normalized on American streets against American citizens. @WhiteHouse
15/ And we shouldn't pretend everyone wearing it is qualified to carry it. The fact that he called her a "fucking bitch" after he shot her three times should be a huge red flag for all of us. End
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