PoliceLink

  From what I can remember when I was on Active Duty, MP's (Army) have the same arrest powers and deal with many of the same type of calls that their civilian couterpart does. The Judicial System is a little different for the Service Member. My niece is currently an Active Duty Army MP stationed in Iraq. Some of the stories I heard from her prior to her deployment reinforce what I remember about MP's. I became certified in Ohio. If I accepted a job in an other state, I believe I'd have to go to an academy for that state. The Military is trained in their version of Law Enforcement. If they apply for a job in a civilian agency, they would also have to go to that state's academy.

  In my opinion: Yes, I feel they can be considered real cops.

Well I think that they are real cops. And I guess the state of Texas does also. The state past a waiver to take the state test given by the commission of law enforcement. If you were in any of the occupational skills identified as Military Police in any branch of the services with proof of the basic requirements and $150.00 you get three tries at the Texas Exam to become a COP. So if you want a chance come on down to TEXAS, take a shot at the test and hell go to work for one of the many agencies here.

Work near Ft. Hood, I have always considered MP as a real Cop.

I would have to say yes.  I am one and I would have to say all the local and federal agencies in Montana would agree we are as well.  I am on the federal side and have responded to homicides, investigate sexual assaults, child pornography, fraud and espionage.  My agency has even been asked to assist in joint ops with local and state agencies.  Even our military police and K-9 cops have a great deal of involvement in the local area.  Local PD have requested our K-9s respond to assist in drug and bomb detection and have been called upon to assist Secret Service. 

YES WE ARE. It is so good to hear that there are some LEO;s out there that thank us in the mp world are. not menny hear thank so i have seen just as much as most cops have or will. I have been to tripple merders, rapes, DV' s gang fights/shootings child abuse shoplifting bar fights  just to say a few all on bace. The Navy like the rest of the forces are ther own little city with all the same problems of the city and state there in, pluse we have to gard wepons aircraft ships. So i thank if you put up your hand and stated the law enforcment oath as we in the Navy do after gradition then MP or City Cop. we are the same,  thank you to all that thank we are cops that makes what I do to keep the US safe worth it. 

WesternLawman says ...

Hell yes they are!  They do the same job the we civilian law enforcement do but it's on our military bases around the world.  And they also sometimes get killed in the line of duty.  I've know may military LEO's have have given the ultimate sacrifice just as our civilian brothers and sisters have.  Are the LEO'S?   You damn right they are!

              Yes, your damn right they are!

Yes they are cops and then some.  Probably more so.

I say yes.

Yes, they are.  Trust me, I got a speeding ticket from one when I was in the Army, and I had to pay it.  So my answer is yes.

Well thats where I started my police training, FT McCellan Alabama, still had Army WAC's then. The principles are the same except how they investigate accidents, almost like map reading.  Some bases are like small towns, same DV's, Assaults Etc. good old garrison duty. Then things started to change more infantry survival training, hand writing was on the the wall Combat MP's was the new direction.  Bottom line is whether you start as a Military Police, Corrections Officer, Detention Officer the experience is good and makes you a better police officer if you decide to be one.

Thats All I have to Say About That!!!!!!!

Deputy211  is correct.  The great state of Texas will give former military police offficers the opportunity to take the state peace officer commissioning examination, and in addition offer a  large selection of law enforcement agencies and departments to seek employment with.  If you are a former military police officer, and seek a career in law enforcement; come to Texas and become a peace officer!

Well, yes and no. I am sure it is different than it was in the 60's & 70's so hard for me to really give a good answer but I can just offer an opinion. Back when I was in service the AP's or USAF police WERE real cops that dealt with many of the same things as a civilian cops does, just on a military base, and they were well-trained. The MP's usually were not always very well trained and in the Army you could find people that were totally untrained just be assigned to the MP's because they needed them. Their job was basically to see that the guys followed the rules, stayed out of certain bars and off limits places and that they were really on pass. Same for the USN's Shore Patrol. Anyone might find themselves assigned to SP duty for a day or 6 months! I was sent to the Armed Forced Police Detachment for temp duty for 6 months once and we had no training. We did have more power than all other MP types with full powers of arrest, even high ranking Officers! I once 'arrested' very politely a full bird Captain who was drunk driving and involved in a crash. Naturally I had to immediately call the Commander who had to call either the Capt's boss or the Admiral, I am not sure which to "confine" him under orders. We also 'investigated traffic accidents, including fatalities and anything that involved US Servicemen while off-base, still we were not what I would call, 'real cops', even though we had a huge amount of power. Now many are actually trained in LE and those are closer to LEO's than ever. Still, they are confined to the military and operate under the UCMJ which is quite different than civilian laws. I consider them very close and rather like step-brothers. I do know that they make some damn fine Officers!

The duties of Law Enforcement are so diverse and specialized I don't know how one could honestly compare the function of different law enforcement entities with a broad brush. Law enforcement is a pretty self explanatory term, who is given the authority to enforce and regulate is legislated by the governing body who controls the area. I was a local Police officer, and I am friends and work with retired Military Police officers, and they state although the job is different the basic fundamentals are the same. I personally respect anyone willing to enforce the Laws of the land, to protect people and property, it is never easy, and always criticized by the public.Comparing Police authority and powers is like seeing who has the bigger d..k, Everyone serves a much needed and valueable service.

i would just like to say DJW739 and copjimmy106 are dead on with there statments.

To all LEO's Armed Forces, Local, County, State and Fed's: Stay Sharp, Quick, always on your feet, and watch out for all of our Brothers and sister on or off duty. God Speed everyone

Jacob (3 1/2yr Vet.)

DJW739 says ...

Let me educate people a little on what we military police can enforce before they answer.   We obviously enforce the UCMJ, and our prospective branches rules and regulations. But we also enforce the federal criminal code you know title 18 USC because any crime committed on a military reserve usually becomes a federal crime. And also because of the assimilative crimes act the military can adopt any state or local laws as there own. We can arrest anyone we want as long as there in our jurisdiction just like civilian police can. So now that the lessons over please think about your answer before answering to this post.

Fair wind and following seas, stay safe,

 

MA2 Wooten, Dustin J. USN

Patrol Officer, NAS Whidbey Island

P.S. The proper name for each branch’s law enforcement is, Army and Marines Military Police, Navy Master-At-Arms, and Air Force Security Police.

 

 Ahem....In 1997 we changed our name from Security Police to Security Forces...totally not my idea, but what can you do?