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Martial law questions for LEOs

bigcitybillbigcitybill Member Posts: 4,913 ✭✭✭
edited June 2008 in General Discussion
If we live to see martial law imposed, locally or nationwide, what then becomes the role of civilian law enforcement? Do you stand down? Do you collaborate? Will you even still be a cop? Would they take your guns too?

Moreover, what becomes of the state/county/municipal criminal justice systems in general?
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Comments

  • bhale187bhale187 Member Posts: 7,798
    edited November -1
    I could be wrong, but I always thought that if Martial law was declared that civilian law enforcement would no longer have any authority and the military would take up the role of local law enforcement and criminal prosecution.
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  • bigcitybillbigcitybill Member Posts: 4,913 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    That's what I'm wondering about. Does the military then occupy all the buildings, commandeer all the vehicles and hardware, and send the police packing? What about judges and lawyers?
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  • bhale187bhale187 Member Posts: 7,798
    edited November -1
    Again, I'm not well versed on the particulars, but I think judges and lawyers would be the US military's personel that do court martials. I can't see them having any need to commandeer vehicles or equipment, they'd just use HUMVEES and M1 Abrahms as cruisers.
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  • 11b6r11b6r Member Posts: 16,584 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Other than in time of war (American Civil comes to mind) there have been few (handful) of times that TRUE Martial Law has been declared in the US. Further reading for you- http://legal-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/martial+law
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  • txlawdogtxlawdog Member Posts: 10,039 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Did they declare martial law in New Orleans?

    The military was there (after the Governor let them in.) But also Law Enforcment was on the ground?

    I'm not sure what would happen. I don't see the military being able to handle it all. Maybe they would just be in charge?!? Not sure.
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  • mogley98mogley98 Member Posts: 18,291 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    What is it about these countries who declare martial law does that mean the wife is in charge of everytthing
    Why don't we go to school and work on the weekends and take the week off!
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  • watrulookinatwatrulookinat Member Posts: 4,693
    edited November -1
    quote:Did they declare martial law in New Orleans?

    The military was there (after the Governor let them in.) But also Law Enforcment was on the ground?

    I'm not sure what would happen. I don't see the military being able to handle it all. Maybe they would just be in charge?!? Not sure.


    Yes...the military was working with law enforcement. They were going around taking guns away from civilians at their homes and from their vehicles, I watched the video on it. So all they did was leave the criminals with guns.
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  • bhale187bhale187 Member Posts: 7,798
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by watrulookinat
    quote:Did they declare martial law in New Orleans?

    The military was there (after the Governor let them in.) But also Law Enforcment was on the ground?

    I'm not sure what would happen. I don't see the military being able to handle it all. Maybe they would just be in charge?!? Not sure.


    Yes...the military was working with law enforcement. They were going around taking guns away from civilians at their homes and from their vehicles, I watched the video on it. So all they did was leave the criminals with guns.

    Yep, only in that case the national guard was working under the direction of a tyrannical cheif of police and mayor. In true martial law the miltary takes charge.
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  • fideaufideau Member Posts: 11,895 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    In N'orleans case the cops mostly became criminals too, or just hauled axx.
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  • bigcitybillbigcitybill Member Posts: 4,913 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    dano, you think that's the prevailing mindset?
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  • TrinityScrimshawTrinityScrimshaw Member Posts: 9,350 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Martial Law was not in effect in NO.

    If it had been, then the highest ranking Military Officer in the area would have become the top ranking LEO, and all Police Civilian & Militray would fall under his command.

    This why you will hopefuly never see it happen. The Civilian government would have to give up their power to the Military. Even the FBI would fall under the control of some Military Gen, and they would just hate that.[;)]

    Trinity +++
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  • allen griggsallen griggs Member Posts: 35,692 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I was out in central Louisiana doing relief work following Hurricane Andrew in 1992.
    Many, many square miles of Louisiana countryside were wiped out, New Orleans was not hit.
    The area that was hit was under martial law. The local law enforcement was cooperating with the feds.
    You would see the fire trucks riding around at night, enforcing curfew. On the back of the firetruck, instead of a fireman, stood a National Guardsman with an M16. The driver was a fireman.
    At the shopping center the roof had caved in at Wal Mart.
    Two Guardsmen were posted outside. I went up and talked to them. They said the orders were to shoot looters on sight.
    But they said they only were allowed 5 rounds in the magazine.
    The SO was still patrolling, in addition you saw Humvees with Guardsmen, all were armed with M16s.
    I don't know if there was any looting in Louisiana following Andrew, but it looked like it would be a good way to get shot.
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  • select-fireselect-fire Member Posts: 69,525 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Martial law means your on your own..[:0]
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