Law Enforcement Organizations in T2K

[Raellus]

Something Web posted in another thread got me thinking again about what civilian law enforcement would look like in the Twilight World, especially here in the States.

I wonder what the average quality of civilian law enforcement organizations would be like in the later years of the war (after the TDM, in particular). In the U.S., I wonder what proportion of law enforcement officers are reservists or National Guard. In the event of WWIII, most of those men and women who are would be called up to active duty. In addition to recalled reservists and activated guardsmen, a lot of younger, patriotic officers, deputies, patrolmen, etc. would likely voluntarily enlist (I don't know if/how the draft would apply to folks in law enforcement). In other words, the creme-de-la-creme would be skimmed off by the armed forces. Who would be left behind

Furthermore, attrition in large cities, especially ones hit by nukes, would be high for law enforcement and other first responders. As MilGov and CivGov snipe at each other, and organized militia groups like New America step up their violent activities, this attrition would only increase. Just dealing with looters and street gangs would take its toll. Add all of these factors up, and what are you left with Worst case scenario is that law enforcement in the U.S. c.2000 would be the dregs of its pre-war self. In some spots, orgnanized local government law enforcement might be altogether absent. In others, what serves as law enforcement might be just as bad as the local criminal elements (if not worse).

Currently, here in S. Arizona, a couple of county sheriffs are only a few steps removed from fledgling marauder bosses. Sherriff Joe Arpaio of Maricopa County (made famous by making county inmates wear pink undies and jumpsuits) is being investigated by the Justice Department for various Civil Rights Law infringements/violations. In some ways, he's only a few short steps removed from a feudal lord. I can only imagine what he'd do if the Feds were distracted by a world war. Just recently, conservative Republlican Sherriff Paul Babeau of Pinal County gave up his run for senate when a illegal immigrant male lover reported that Babeau threatened to have him deported if he left him or told anyone about the affair.

This is a pretty pesimistic projection, I know, but it doesn't seem too far fetched to imagine some parts of the country starting to look like one of the sets from Mad Max.

What do you think

[weswood]

I seem to remember from my reservists days that certain proffessions, law enforcement & firemen specifically, can turn down or maybe not be called up at all.

[Targan]

I think that during the Twilight War and particularly after the TDM, many retired police officers would return to the force (too old to enlist in the military or be drafted but still well able to perform law enforcement duties).

[TrailerParkJawa]

I think pre-war police forces would be rare. Perhaps little towns in Jericho might stay intact. But for a big city like San Jose not very likely any pre-war organziation and structure would survive.

Justice will be local and probably brutal. Even if its dealt out my the equivelant of the town Sheriff or local neigborhood watch

[Webstral]

There are a lot of variables. We have the example of Manhattan, where municipal government has collapsed completely. But we know that the actual Mayor of New York continues to hold office in the Bronx (I think). The surviving cops probably are much rougher and readier than they ever used to be in every part of the country. However, in communities where order remains there needs to be a means of enforcing the law that is more sophisticated than having Joe Militiaman butt stroke folks to the ground.

[Tombot]

I think that during the Twilight War and particularly after the TDM, many retired police officers would return to the force (too old to enlist in the military or be drafted but still well able to perform law enforcement duties).

Yep, i guess thats right. The return of the older cops as a cadre for building up the militias. Which do both; policework and defense of the local grainstore from marauders.
And public hangings, since the TV-entertainment must be substituted somehow.

[Medic]

I believe, the law enforcement would pretty much turn back to the Wild West style. It might be, there are no pros left, so the communities elect the best/most popular candidate or someone just takes up the job without consulting his fellow residents. And since there is not going to be judges around too much either, the result is most probably going to be the "sheriff" acting as judge, jury and executioner. If he has no actual training as a peace officer, innocent casualties are more than expected.

Quoting an old Beetle Bailey strip where Chaplain Staneglass tells Brigadier General Amos T. Halftrack "If power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely." Having seen this happen even outside huge (inter)national emergencies, I tend to think, those people who most covet the positions of power are those who should be the last to have them...

[Webstral]

Almost every variation imaginable is likely to be found in post-Exchange America and across the globe.

[Medic]

Most certainly, globally there is some variation due to e differences of local histories. For an example, in Finland you would probably not find just a single "sheriff", but the community as a whole might work in unison to capture perpetrators. Or then, you might find a local magistrate, nimismies. Or there might be a regional unit that used to guard the important buildings and resources in the area and assumed the local police authority, possibly integrating the local police in to their ranks.

[kalos72]

A standard police office is really not much to worry about and would just be another "thug" in most respects.

Now SWAT members are another story...utilize those guys in a storyline and you have some real challenges for the PC's.

[oldschoolgm]

I agree that there are a whole lot of factors that play into how and what police forces would like. A few of points come to my mind.

1. Does the police force exist in a town or city where the populace are organized into a militia or sorts
2. Are the police the only form of security for a community
3. What kind environmental factors exist in and around the communities

I tend to agree that a lot of the younger military age officers won't be around, but for more rural communities I would think the local authorities (cops and sheriffs) will be a bit more militarized as well as extremely prejudiced with regards to the communities and people they are protecting. It wouldn't be surprising to see some municipalities going back to old west style justice, but I can also see small rural towns having paramilitary police forces.

Now the proximity of military units, marauders, large nomadic gangs and such would probably have a big effect on what this would look like.

I also think it would be a bad assumption to think that a lone cop would not be dangerous. If a cop or sheriff has survived to 2001 with only a handgun and shotgun to protect people from marauders and gangs and such, he is probably a lot more resourceful than a soldier that has come to rely on his unit members and fully automatic weapons.

My 2 cents.

[Canadian Army]

Here are couple of things to keep in mind:

1.) The average sheriff's department in the United States employs 24.5 sworn officers.

and

2.) Currently their are roughly 58,000 federal law enforcement officers operating throughout the United States and in San Juan, Puerto Rico; who would be available in aftermath of the nuclear attack.

3.) Historically, the sheriff was also commander of the militia in that county. In Twilight you could see the local sheriff or the local State Trooper Commander holding a commission in the State Guard; after all how would the State Guard recruit and screen new members without help of local law enforcement.

[Legbreaker]

Here in Australia I think in regional centres not a lot would change, although fuel is likely to be limited and horse patrols probably become more common than vehicle borne. Fuel would be reserved for emergencies.
The cities are on the other hand likely to suffer badly from nukes, particularly Sydney, Melbourne, Newcastle, Wollongong, and perhaps Adelaide, Darwin, Brisbane, and Perth.
Army reserve units as well as 1st Armoured Regiment would be tasked with assisting the Police and other emergency services in and around the cities. Again, with fuel having to be rationed (nukes having taken out the refineries to deny NATO, particularly those western forces in Korea), much of the day to day work would be done on foot.
Civilian ownership and use of oil based fuels and lubricates would be strictly rationed to those who can prove a genuine need (farmers, food transportation, medical staff, and the like). Martial law may need to be implemented in some areas (particularly those with military units assisting the police, or around vital installations and facilities).

After a few months, perhaps a year, civilians may be "drafted" into the police, and receive a brief training course. These draftees would probably be used for administrative tasks, guarding of prisoners, and other relatively simple jobs, freeing up the fully trained police for the streets. Likewise, there's likely to be a influx of volunteers to the military, perhaps just so they can guarantee being fed each day, or in the hopes of being sent to Korea (the only conflict zone outside Australia and New Guinea) to give the Ruskies a little payback.

It's unlikely we'd see any deputisations here - it's a completely different culture when it comes to law enforcement to the US. Only those who have received training would be allowed to act as police and carry a weapon, although everyone would be encouraged to assist where possible with information on criminal activities.

[James Langham]

Here in Australia I think in regional centres not a lot would change, although fuel is likely to be limited and horse patrols probably become more common than vehicle borne. Fuel would be reserved for emergencies.
The cities are on the other hand likely to suffer badly from nukes, particularly Sydney, Melbourne, Newcastle, Wollongong, and perhaps Adelaide, Darwin, Brisbane, and Perth.
Army reserve units as well as 1st Armoured Regiment would be tasked with assisting the Police and other emergency services in and around the cities. Again, with fuel having to be rationed (nukes having taken out the refineries to deny NATO, particularly those western forces in Korea), much of the day to day work would be done on foot.
Civilian ownership and use of oil based fuels and lubricates would be strictly rationed to those who can prove a genuine need (farmers, food transportation, medical staff, and the like). Martial law may need to be implemented in some areas (particularly those with military units assisting the police, or around vital installations and facilities).

After a few months, perhaps a year, civilians may be "drafted" into the police, and receive a brief training course. These draftees would probably be used for administrative tasks, guarding of prisoners, and other relatively simple jobs, freeing up the fully trained police for the streets. Likewise, there's likely to be a influx of volunteers to the military, perhaps just so they can guarantee being fed each day, or in the hopes of being sent to Korea (the only conflict zone outside Australia and New Guinea) to give the Ruskies a little payback.

It's unlikely we'd see any deputisations here - it's a completely different culture when it comes to law enforcement to the US. Only those who have received training would be allowed to act as police and carry a weapon, although everyone would be encouraged to assist where possible with information on criminal activities.

I can see a draft being unnescessary, after all it is a job that is likely to feed a person and their family and probably increase their survival chances.

Would they always be armed Maybe unarmed auxilliaries

[Legbreaker]

The main problem I see with arming "auxiliaries" in Australia is the lack of pistols. They're a rather controlled item here with (besides law enforcement and some military units) the main allowable use being on the range (usually the specialist target varieties).
Some security guards can carry pistols, but they are usually .38 revolvers or something equally as inadequate.
Tasers and Capsicum spray are only a recent introduction here. In the T2K period they were virtually unheard off and I don't believe anyone was authorised to carry them, let alone use. Mace and other stronger "self defence" items are unavailable even for police. Batons require the wielder to pass a course before being allowed to carry (I carried a 5 D cell maglite instead when I was doing security work - same broken leg as a baton, but no need for the piece of paper).

The majority of "volunteers" would probably go to the military though given the deployment of troops to Korea (I'm working on a Brigade strength including some New Zealanders) plus the conflict with Indonesia in Papua New Guinea.

I know there was no shortage of L1A1 SLRs and even old SMLE Mark IIIs in storage in the 90's, which are a bit much for law enforcement purposes.