Walton County Sheriff’s Office Mike Adkinson states that their department just got a mine-resistant, ambush-protected vehicle (MRAP) for “an insurance policy,” in order to keep deputies safe in dangerous situations – citing examples past violence in the country.
However one journalist, Justin King, calls out Adkinson’s claims of violence as over exaggerated, instead stating that the county is virtually crime free.
Walton County Sheriff’s Officer Mike Adkinson denied that the purchase of the vehicle was an attempt to militarize the police department, adding that he wouldn’t let public opinion get in the way of the “safety” of his colleagues.
“This is not the federal government intruding on your civil liberties,” wrote Adkinson in a Facebook post. “Would you really want them sent into harm’s way without the best protection available, simply because the military originally purchased this vehicle?”
This didn’t stop residents expressing their anger at the decision to buy the vehicle, with one commenting that the purchase represented “an offensive intimidation method used to controll [sic] and strike fear.”
Another respondent agreed, remarking, “This doesn’t make the officers safer. All studies show that the more militarized a department becomes, the more often officers get hurt. This is Walton County, Florida, not Iraq, not Afghanistan.”
As Justin King points out, despite Adkinson’s effort to justify the purchase by pointing to examples where cops have had to deal with suspects barricaded inside their homes, Walton is such a peaceful and virtually crime free neighborhood that it was used to represent an idyllic American town in the 1998 movie The Truman Show.
“Walton County is a part of Florida that is so crime free you can leave your doors unlocked. When Hollywood location scouts were looking for a community so perfect that it appeared to be fake, they came to Walton County. The Truman Show, staring Jim Carey, was filmed on location in a small Walton County community,” writes King, accusing the Sheriff’s department of abandoning common sense by purchasing the vehicle and pointing out that it is only likely to spur additional violence.
“This vehicle is an implement of war. It has no place in this county. The decision to bring this to a small community will only increase violence against citizens by creating a combat mindset in deputies. This violence will be returned, and deputies will face violence on a level not seen before in Walton County,” writes King.
Wake up people!!
Terry White can you survive with your family on the run for 6 to 9 months without food, money gas anything but survival gear the statistics say that within the first week of martial law in this country 25% of the population will die and over the first 3 months it will be close to 44% will have died it will take close to 7 months to regain some type of order in this country are you comprehending what I am saying I’m not giving you scare tactics I’m giving FACTS believe that
This is part of the depopulation plan. This is what has been planned for a long time. We are on the very brink of the New World Order. AMERICA: BRACE YOURSELVES.
Thumper Ulmer do you think they are listening I see China, Japan, Europe, are already cashing in for gold out of thus country to start the new world order they don’t see their dollar bill not being worth a penny these people think it’s a joke be prepared believe that
SHEEP
It is my opinion that these armored vehicles are the start of Obama’s army when martial law is declared.
Lake County has one too. As long as they use it for purposes that don’t violate the constitution or bill of rights it is outstanding to protect their officers protecting Americans.
GETTIUN READY FOR POLICE STATE AND LABOR CAMPS….THANX DEMS
That’s what they want us to THINK.
WTF are deputies doing with a *#%* MRAP? These should only used by the Military. I am Retired Army Infantry and do not agree with this. What next Deputies patrolling Walton County, Florida with a damn 240B or a fire team with a Grenadier, a automatic Rifleman and a deputy with a Javelin? I personally think that the Army Infantry Should go to Walton County and rip that out of there unknowledgeable Civilian Hands. All Police are is glorified Civilians and would get the c**p kicked out of them by a couple of Infantryman. These glorified Civilians do not need an MRAP. This should be considered a Declaration of War on the Great People of Walton County. It’s time the people get together overthrow the Law Enforcement in Walton County and replace it with an agency that serves the people not declares war on those poor peaceful,deserving of peace in return people of Walton County. This pisses me off horribly