Blurring the Lines Between Policing and Militarization

Abstract

The purpose of this chapter is to present additional context and background on American law enforcement, police militarization (PM), and the gradual blurring of the lines between police and the military. To begin, a timeline of events and the background on PM is provided, followed by a discussion of the historical events and policies supporting PM. This background information and research will help contextualize the studies in this book, which examine the opinions of the key stakeholders of the militarization of law enforcement in the United States.