Guardians Or Gladiators?

Almost a year and a half ago I published a short post titled: Following Orders.  I was musing about how a future Trump administration might deploy the military within the country's borders.  Fast forward to the present and we're learning more about this almost every day; and while I am famous for bad predictions that post from April of 2024 was seemingly prescient.

J. Scott Applewhite / AP

I've never served in the military; consequently I can only speak as a civilian.  What I think I know is that fundamentally there are significant differences between local law enforcement officers and army national guard soldiers.

Civilian law enforcement academies and technical colleges focus on things like criminal law, civil rights, de-escalation and community engagement.  Day-to-day law enforcement includes enforcing criminal law, traffic safety, conducting investigations and community policing.  Sheriff deputies and police officers are seen as front line guardians of law and order.  And, at least where I live, they are a familiar presence as a consequence of daily interaction with the local population.

National guard soldiers receive military training including things like combat readiness, tactical operations, discipline and a military occupational specialty.  Some military police units train for law enforcement, but their orientation is different from civilian policing.  Guard units are populated by citizen soldiers who have civilian jobs or perhaps attend school while training part-time and sharpening their readiness to act when called upon by their state governor or the President.   

Nevertheless, national guard troops do serve in temporary support roles.  This can include crowd and riot control, (civil unrest events), disaster response (hurricanes, floods, wildfires), infrastructure protection (power plants, airports, hospitals) and augmenting first responders when local resources are overwhelmed.

Mostly, the guard is our federal reserve force for wartime missions and overseas deployment.  They blow stuff-up, defeat opposing forces and achieve battlefield dominance.  Soldiers are war-fighters; modern day gladiators.  

Between you and me I think having armed troops on our main streets is unsustainable for the long term.  It is an expensive short-term fix.  Furthermore, it is poor optics; if it were to happen around here the tourists would stay home and businesses would be grumpy.  The former is fact the latter is opinion.

There has been chatter on social media including people suggesting that president Trump is seeking to accomplish a couple of things; namely the normalization of military deployments to conduct law enforcement.  Secondly, provoking some kook or nutjob to commit an act of political violence thereby escalating tensions by such means that he can invoke the insurrection act, declare martial law and suspend elections.  Sounds rather conspiratorial, eh?  Inexplicably, most of my previously self-identified libertarian acquaintances have gone silent on this subject so we can save a discussion of the Posse Comitatus Act for another day.  

I happen to believe that Donald Trump eventually gets around to attempting everything he says he wants to do.  And he has repeatedly said he would consider or invoke the Insurrection Act, including in public statements in June 2025 during his current presidency.

Meanwhile, Speaker Michael Johnson's home state of Louisiana, and New Orleans in particular, boast some of the the highest murder rates in the country.  One has to wonder why Governor Jeff Landry called-up and deployed Louisiana guard troops to Washington, DC; instead of Speaker Johnson's home district?  The correct answer is political theater; nevertheless, all of this can be combustible.  See paragraph eight (above) about the president shouting Fire! in an otherwise quiet theater.

The administration is populated with pliant sycophants who will unquestionably act on the president's orders.  Therefore, the execution of sketchy orders will fall to the next line of senior military officers.

It is gonna be interesting how this unfolds.....

Assault With a Deli Weapon

 

Credit - Banksy

Following Jeanine Pirro’s WWF performance a grand jury declined to indict the man who threw a sandwich at a federal officer in Washington D.C.  Further evidence a grand jury won't indict a ham sandwich after all.  

Never thought I’d live thru the American Clown Show Age…

Highway Patrol

From the interweb we learn that this is a portrait of Trooper Clay W. Keith standing next to  his patrol car in Bartow, Florida.

Born on July 4, 1917 in Asheville, North Carolina. He was one of Florida's earliest troopers joining the FHP in 1941, a few years after it was officially established. He served 30 years in uniform, rising to the rank of major and becoming the state's first director of driver licensing in 1963. 

He left the FHP in 1978 to become the civilian head of driver licensing, and he remained in that post until retiring in 1987. In retirement, he became the official historian of the Florida Highway Patrol. Clay Keith died on December 18, 2000.

The automobile in the image appears to be a 1939-40 Ford Standard Tudor Sedan - commonly used by law enforcement agencies including the Florida Highway Patrol in the early 1940s.  

The rounded trunk and rear fenders are characteristic  of the 1940 Ford models .

Highway Patrol

Preferred by police fleets everywhere this happens to be a 1956 Wisconsin State Patrol Customline police interceptor.  

And a 1957 Michigan State Trooper and his Ford 300 Cruiser.

Available in both two or four-door configurations it features a new easy-handling ball-joint front suspension, Angle Poised Ride (whatever that is) and Ford Lifeguard engineering.

 You can dissect all of the specifications here.

Remember....

You can't outrun Motorola.

Highway Patrol

1957 Dodge Police Car was a high performance pursuit vehicle based on Dodge's standard production models but specifically equipped for law enforcement use.  It was part of the Dodge lineup that featured bold, futuristic styling, a wraparound windshield, tailfins and a wide stance.

Key features included a standard 325 cu in Red Ram V8 and an optional high performance 354 cu in Hemi V8.  Some models were equipped with dual, four-barrel carburetors, producing over 300 horsepower - making them one of the fastest police cars of the time.

Cars came in a classic two-tone black and white paint scheme, roof mounted red or blue emergency light, factory-installed siren and police radio and spotlight and push bars for the highway patrol version.

The 1957 model was adopted by many departments who needed high-speed pursuit capabilities. At the time Dodge was competing with Ford and Chevrolet for fleet dominance and its powerful engines and durability made it a favorite among officers.

 

Highway Patrol

Earlier this month I published some specs on the 1958 Ford patrol car.  

The 1959 Ford police car is a striking example of mid-20th-century American automotive design, combining both power and style. As part of Ford's lineup during a time of post-war optimism, this model featured bold, sharp lines, large tail fins, and an impressive chrome grille, all characteristics of the era’s automotive trends. 

The police version of the car was built to be both functional and imposing, offering a powerful V8 engine for pursuit and a distinct design to symbolize authority. Its appearance made it a recognizable figure on the streets, serving as a symbol of law and order during the late 1950s.

In terms of functionality, the 1959 Ford police car was equipped with several features that made it ideal for law enforcement. It had a heavy-duty suspension, powerful brakes, and extra lighting equipment to ensure that officers could respond quickly and effectively to emergencies. The inclusion of sirens, lights and a radio, allowed the vehicle to serve as both a patrol car and a pursuit vehicle.  As police departments across the United States began to modernize their fleets, the 1959 Ford was one of the standout vehicles, reflecting the era’s technological advances and the growing need for efficient and reliable law enforcement tools.

Naturally, this vehicle has since become desirable by car enthusiasts and collectors for its design and historical significance.  Its place in the history of American law enforcement vehicles is cemented by its iconic look and its role in shaping the image of police cars during a transformative period in American culture.  Nowadays, restored versions of the 1959 Ford police car are often displayed in museums and car shows, a nostalgic reminder of a bygone era when law enforcement vehicles were as much about style as they were about function.

Vintage NYPD 1959 Ford Police Car, Brooklyn, New York City.

Highway Patrol

The 1958 Ford police car was a rugged and powerful vehicle used by multiple law enforcement agencies across the US.  It was based-upon Ford's mainstream full-size Fairlane, Custom 300 or Galaxie models.

The muscle in these automobiles included a powerful 5.4L or 5.8L Interceptor V8 giving them ample margin for pursuit.  Transmissions offered a choice of a 3-speed manual or Ford-O-Matic.  Livery was either black-and-white or solid colors, a roof-mounted gumball and siren.

The roomy interior featured heavy-duty vinyl seats, basic and police instrumentation and radio hook-up.

Highway Patrol

The 1969 Chevrolet Bel Air police car had a really long wheelbase and a choice of:  454 CID. 270hp; 427 CID, 425hp or a 402CID 240hp V8 engine.  Unusually, the transmission was a four-speed manual.

Performance

• Acceleration 0-60 in 8.6 seconds
  
• Could run a quarter-mile in 16.7 seconds at 82 mph
• Could reach 113 mph without a lightbar
• Top speed was reduced by 6–8 mph with a lightbar and 1.5 mph with pillar-mounted spotlights 
  

Here's a really fun story about the search for a surviving Big Block Chevy Police Interceptor  from the Hemmings New archives.

Highway Patrol

The 1973 Torino police car was widely used in cities and rural areas due to its affordability and reliability. It also gained fame through TV shows and movies featuring classic police chases, often depicted sliding around corners in high-speed pursuits.

A popular choice for law enforcement agencies in the early 1970s it was part of Ford’s Torino lineup, widely known for its durability, performance, and muscular styling. 

• Engine Options:

  • 302 cu in (4.9L) Windsor V8 (Base)

  • 351 cu in (5.8L) Cleveland V8

  • 400 cu in (6.6L) Cleveland V8

  • 429 cu in (7.0L) Police Interceptor V8 (High-performance option)

• Transmission:

  • 3-speed automatic (C4 or C6)

  • 4-speed manual (rare for police models)

• Performance:

  • The 429 Police Interceptor engine could produce up to 205-275 horsepower (depending on setup)

  • Heavy-duty suspension for improved handling and durability

  • Larger brakes for high-speed pursuits

• Features:

• Police Package (Code SPP - Special Police Package): Included reinforced frame, upgraded cooling system, heavy-duty alternator, and high-output ignition.

• Interior: Basic vinyl seats for easy cleaning, police radio mounts, and spotlights.

• Exterior: Black-and-white paint schemes were common, with red or blue emergency lights on the roof.

• Tires and Wheels: Heavy-duty steel wheels with police-rated tires.

Highway Patrol

The 1972 Mercury Monterey Police Interceptor was equipped with a 429 V8 producing about 209hp, with a four-barrel carburetor designed to run on regular, low lead or unleaded gasoline and a heavy duty automatic transmission - the only choice for the law enforcement model.

For 1972 there was a shift to lower horsepower as a consequence of new emission standards.  After 1974 the 429 engine was discontinued with later models equipped with Lincoln's 460 V8 as the top option.

Fun video....

Highway Patrol

Here's some recognition of Wisconsin's contribution to the Highway Patrol.  

The 1972 AMC police patrol cars, the Ambassador and Matador, were specially designed law enforcement vehicles offered by American Motors Corporation (AMC). These vehicles were built to compete with police packages from the "Big Three" automakers—Ford, Chevrolet, and Chrysler—offering durability, performance, and affordability.

1972 AMC Ambassador Police Package

The AMC Ambassador was the larger of the two police models, featuring:

• Wheelbase: 122 inches
• Length: 210.78 inches
• Width: 77.24 inches
• Trunk Capacity: 18.2 cubic feet
• Turning Circle Diameter: 40 feet 5 inches
• Engine Options: Likely included the 360, 401 CID V8 engines, providing high torque for police pursuits.

The Ambassador was used by many police departments, including the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), which needed powerful, full-size patrol cars for highway and city duty.

---

1972 AMC Matador Police Package

The AMC Matador was a slightly smaller, more maneuverable police vehicle, featuring:

• Wheelbase: 118 inches
• Length: 206.05 inches
• Width: 77.24 inches
• Trunk Capacity: 18.2 cubic feet
• Turning Circle Diameter: 39 feet
• Engine Options: Similar to the Ambassador, the Matador could be equipped with 360, 401 CID V8 engines for high-speed pursuits.

The Matador became more widely used by police departments across the U.S., especially in city patrol roles. It gained significant recognition when the LAPD adopted it as their primary patrol car from 1972 to 1975.

---

Performance & Legacy

Both AMC police cars were known for:

• Powerful V8 engines suitable for high-speed pursuits.
• Spacious interiors accommodating police equipment.
• Durability & reliability under tough patrol conditions.

The Matador, in particular, gained a strong reputation and was even featured in various TV shows and movies depicting law enforcement. By the late 1970s, however, AMC faced stiff competition from Ford and Chevrolet, leading to a decline in AMC's police vehicle sales.

Highway Patrol

Radio Motor Patrol (RMP) is a term used to describe the patrol cars of the New York Cidy Police Department (NYPD).

A NYPD RMP had a short and thankless existence back in 1971.  A 440 cid Mopar Police Pursuit vehicle made no sense whatsoever for the NYPD as most RMPs patrolled at 10 to 15 MPH.  These cars were stripped-down with no options, no prisoner cage, a six-cylinder, warning lights, roof-mounted siren and an analog Motorola radio.  

They ran 24 hours a day and after four years were completely used-up, sold for scrap  or busted-up for parts.  

Which would explain why this vehicle is not a restoration - it is a replica.  You can read about it here.

Highway Patrol

There's an old saying in law enforcement - You cannot out run Motorola.  

It may also be you might find it difficult to outrun the 1969 Dodge Polara Pursuit.  Like these  Royal Canadian Mounties showing-off their RCMP four wheel Polara mounts.

The 1969 Dodge Polara has long been considered the pinnacle of police car performance boasting a 375hp 440 lurking under the hood, heavy-duty suspension and ginormous brakes.

That's more muscle than plenty of peer muscle cars back in the day.  For good reason.

How'd you like to have this California Highway Patrol (CHP) restoration in the spare stall of your garage?

 

Vroom!

Cherry On Top

Growing up in Milwaukee there was this.

Found on the interweb.

Milwaukee Police cars were all white and were called “Cherry Tops” or "Gum Balls".....

 

 

Highway Patrol

Found on the interweb.

Wisconsin State Patrol 1967 Chevrolet Biscayne.

First two photos are originals.

The remaining two are current of a recent restoration.

How cool is that...............

History Lesson

Late last week Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-La.) and Senators Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) and Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) were vocal among Republican leaders suggesting the use of the Army National Guard to suppress campus unrest across the country as students protest Israel's war in Gaza.

Sure, I understand the attraction of muscle-flexing for the GOP base voters back home but personally I think this is a bad idea.  Consider this.

Peaceful protest enjoys a long and storied history in this country.  Violent protest is decidedly rare.  And always wrong.  In most instances campus police and local law enforcement is adequately-equipped to respond appropriately.  Rioting rising to the level of necessitating the deployment of national guard troops is rarer still.  The most recent example, of course, was the Capitol riot on January 6, 2020.  Border governors have also deployed national guard troops to deter border crossings.  That is their prerogative.

Campus protests today generally have not risen to the level of widespread riot, criminality such as arson, looting, property damage and physical assault or loss of lives over vast numbers of campuses and American cities.  I'm not seeing it where I live or the destruction of large Wisconsin campuses and urban areas.

What I am seeing has been largely peaceful protest.  If someone want to live in a pup tent on a campus green to demonstrate solidarity with Hamas that's their business.  It may be misguided - but it is nonviolent protest.  And campuses have the authority to tolerate it, or to remove the encampment. 

Same for those who close a highway or a bridge to demonstrate against the plight of the Palestinian people.  It is non-violent - but is illegal.  Logically, if I am delayed in my commute to my day job this disruption in my life will unlikely render me sympathetic to the protestor's cause.  Just the opposite; I will be pissed-off.  But college age children (yes children) and young adults don't think logically.  They're too young to have developed mature adult thinking and the consequences of rash decisions.  Easily persuaded their glands and emotions complicate matters further. 

Consequently, much of the response to most of this is driven by social media apoplexy.  Click bait.  An added complexity is first amendment speech rights on public v. private institutions of higher learning.  Private colleges and universities have the advantage of restricting speech; because they're private.  Public institutions play by a less restrictive set of first amendment rules.  To be clear, violence, threats of violence, assault, destruction of property, barricading buildings and depriving others of access to an education is not protected speech.  Hate speech is protected because there are very fine people on both sides.  But I digress. 

One of the advantages of being an older, mature adult is that I've lived a lifetime of experience and had personal contact with the deployment of troops both here and abroad to keep the peace.  I don't take it lightly.

Moreover, I have a vivid memory of a tragedy that took place fifty-four years ago yesterday on the campus of Ohio's Kent State University.

After Friday bar time, May 1, 1970, several hundred students broke shop windows, sprayed anti war graffiti on buildings, harassed motorists and generally behaved like drunken vandals.  The following day the mayor contacted the governor convinced that outside agitators were fomenting violence and that the Ohio National Guard be deployed to Kent State University.    

Because they already had a sense of the emotional state of the student body, officials at the university already had a plan.  Namely, relying on university police along with county sheriff deputies, and the Ohio State Highway Patrol.  But nobody consulted them.

Saturday evening student Vietnam war protestors set fire to the campus ROTC building.  Equipped with riot gear, university police successfully made arrests, dispersed the rest and put out the fire.  Nevertheless, in short order several hundred Ohio National Guardsmen arrived in jeeps, trucks and armored personnel carriers.

Locked in a close primary race, Republican Governor Jim Rhodes dismissed local and university officials out of hand.  Since performative politics is nothing new, he declared, We are going to eradicate the problem.  They're the worst type of people that we harbor in America.  I'm sure he was referencing the long-haired, commie pinko undergrads exercising their draft deferments.

Monday morning, May 4, 1970, three thousand students gathered for a previously-planned anti-war rally.  It escalated to a flammable mix of both a protest of the war and now the military presence on the campus. 

Just over a hundred weary guardsmen, armed with loaded rifles, advanced to break-up the crowd.  Sweating under gas masks, and helmets they couldn't hear commands, they were poorly led, untrained in law enforcement, and without a plan. 

Clueless protesters continued to march in the direction of the nervous troops.  As the closing distance narrowed shots broke out.  

In thirteen seconds four students were killed outright and nine wounded.  One of them permanently paralyzed.

I recall at the time a popular sentiment that the student protestors got what they deserved.  I disagree.  Nobody deserves to be shot and wounded or die a violent death  I didn't feel that way then and nothing has changed since.  It was a shit show.

My sentiment; deescalate a confrontation by means of civil authorities.  Deploy guard troops as a last resort.  Here's some advice; free advice too.  If someone wants to whip a crowd at a rally into a frenzy and riot; run the other way.

Unjust Forfeiture and Seizure

Police abuse of civil asset forfeiture laws allows police to seize - and then keep and sell - any property they allege is involved in a crime.  If it is your property you need not be arrested or convicted of a crime.  Your cash, vehicles and real estate can be taken from you permanently by the government.

These forfeiture laws were originally pitched as a mechanism to cripple large criminal enterprises by seizing their resources.  Because many of these statutes are deeply flawed many police departments use forfeiture to fatten their bottom line making seizures a means of profit instead of crime fighting. 

Forfeiture laws pose one of the greatest threats to property rights in our nation.  These laws encourage law enforcement to favor the pursuit of property  over the pursuit of justice.  Citizens are encouraged to be vigilant when it comes to action by government without criminal due process protections.  Abuses of forfeiture proceedings have been well documented.

Between 2001 and 2018, Texas law enforcement agencies forfeited more than $781 million under Texas law.  In Texas, law enforcement doesn't need to arrest, charge, or convict someone to seize your property.  All that is required is a need to articulate probable cause based upon the officer's suspicion that it is linked to criminal activity; or even that it could be used to facilitate a future crime that hasn't even been committed yet.  

Texas prosecutors rush to civil court - not criminal court - to use this flimsy standard.  In criminal court you have a right to counsel and the government must prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt.  Neither of which apply in forfeiture cases.

Be grateful you live in Wisconsin and not Texas or another state with flawed laws on their books.  On April 3, 2018, Governor Scott Walker signed Wisconsin Act 211, a bill that changed the rules the State has to follow when it seeks to forfeit property seized in relation to a crime.  This Act significantly changed Wis. Stat. § 961.55, which had previously permitted law enforcement agencies to seize and later forfeit property, in many cases for their own benefit.  The act now protects citizens whose property is seized but who are not prosecuted or whose criminal case is dismissed.  Furthermore, the fruits of any forfeiture is turned over to Wisconsin's School Fund and not the law enforcement agency that seized the property.  

The most significant change to the old forfeiture law is that if the owner of the property is acquitted or the charges dropped, the court must order that the property be returned within 30 days.  The bill also requires seized property to be returned to innocent owners of the property unless the owners were involved with or knowledgeable about the crime related to their property.

Wisconsin Act 211 restored balance between the power of the state and the rights of its citizens. 

Yet, there is reason to be hopeful.  Last year, a Texas judge allowed a class-action lawsuit to move forward against Harris County over its unconstitutional forfeiture program.  

Everyday citizens, along with help from organizations such as The Institute for Justice are pushing back and fighting back to reform flawed and unjust forfeiture laws. 

Remain vigilant, people.

Highway Patrol

This entry about the highway patrol features our own Wisconsin State Police.

The livery of their fleet of vehicles has evolved over the years.

including the debut of the first patrol pickup truck...

 

Five Finger Discount

At risk of appearing to be piling-on it would seem you cannot get enough of the ethical lapses from those Moms For Liberty mommas.

Keri Blair, former Tennessee school board member, and member of the book banning, Critical Race Theory conspiracy-mongering, COVID-denying and LGBTQ-hater organization - Moms For Liberty - was arrested on January 5th after allegedly shoplifting from Target on seven different occasions.  According to the Collierville Police Department Blair purportedly engaged in skip-scanning items at Target self-checkout stations seven different times between November 25 and December 20.

Collierville Police Department

The 43-year-old, self-described staunch conservative, was just over a year into her first term on the Collierville school board, resigned last Tuesday citing personal, family reasons.

Blair's departure follows Moms For Liberty-backed candidates being swept out of office late last year in Philadelphia's suburban Central Bucks and Pennridge school districts despite the group holding their annual conference in the Pennsylvania city.     

Listen-up moms, if you live in a glass house; don't throw stones.  And for the love of God and all that is holy, don't engage in retail theft.  Closed circuit security footage is admissible in court.

Sheesh...

Jihad On The Written Word

In case you missed this ongoing skirmish in the larger culture war there's plenty of folks working overtime to make sure they control what you and your children or grandchildren read. 

Beginning in July of 2021 PEN America began tracking public school book bans and has documented nearly 6,000 instances of banned books including 3,362 bans affecting 1,557 unique titles covering the 2022-23 school year.  This included 1,480 authors, illustrators and translators.

New Christmas Ornament for 2023

This represents an increase of 33% from the 2021-22 school year.  Having wrested the title from Texas, Florida now leads the nation in book bans.  

Drivers of these trends include vaguely-worded legislation, national advocacy groups pressuring local school boards with the threat of penalties, lawsuits and criminal prosecution escalating the book bans to record levels.

In the first nine months of 2023 the American Library Association reported more than 1,900 titles challenged, a 20% increase over the same period in 2022. 

Singled-out for particular attention are people of color or anything associated with the LGBTQ community.  When the final three months of 2023 are included the total will certainly rise.

Major findings:

• More than 40 percent of all book bans occurred in school districts in Florida.   Across 33 school districts, PEN America recorded 1,406 book bans cases in the sunshine state, followed by 652 bans in Texas, 333 bans in Missouri, 281 in Utah and 186 bans in Pennsylvania.

• Overwhelmingly, book bans target subject matter on race or racism or featuring characters of color as well as books with LGBTQ characters.  Banned books also include books on physical abuse, health and well-being and themes of grief and death. Notably, most instances impact young adult books, middle grades, chapter books, or picture books specifically written and selected for younger readers. 

• Punitive state laws, combined with pressure from vocal citizens and local and national organizations have created difficulties for local school districts forcing them to either restrict access to books or risk legal and financial penalties for educators and librarians.

In the face of this there is a small measure of poetic justice to be found between the pages of banned books.  Bridget Ziegler, book ban queen and Moms for Liberty member from Florida, and her husband Christian Ziegler, now former Florida Republican Party Chairman, have found themselves embroiled in the fallout from a police report of a consensual sexual threesome including sexual battery allegations against the deposed GOP chairman.

Sniff Sniff.  Do you smell what I smell?  I suspect it's a whiff of schadenfreude in the Florida air. 

A free people do not censor speech or ban books.