- Defense Secretary Mark Esper has informed the Trump administration of his concerns with the appropriation of the US military uniform by law enforcement agencies.
- “We saw this happen in June, when there were some law enforcement officers wearing uniforms that made them look military,” Defense Department spokesman Jonathan Hoffman said, referring to George Floyd protests across the country in early April. this year.
- This confusion has been exacerbated by members of the armed militia who use military-style equipment for protests.
- Visit the Business Insider home page for more stories.
Defense Secretary Mark Esper has informed the Trump administration of his concerns with the appropriation of US Army uniforms by law enforcement agencies as they confront protesters in cities such as Portland, Oregon, he said. a Pentagon spokesman on Tuesday afternoon.
“We saw this happen in June, when there were some law enforcement officers wearing uniforms that made them appear military,” Defense Department spokesman Jonathan Hoffman told reporters, referring to George Floyd protests across the country. at the beginning of this year.
“The secretary has expressed his concern about this within the administration, that we want a system where people can see the difference,” he added.
The confusion became apparent after video footage and footage showed law enforcement officials, many of whom refused to identify themselves or the agency they worked for, wearing the camouflage uniform. of the US Army in confronting protesters.
This confusion has worsened after other activists, such as members of the Boogaloo movement, wore pieces of the same uniform or brought military-style equipment with them to the same protests across the country.
The Customs and Border Protection Immediate Response Force, also known as the Border Patrol Tactical Unit, often wears military uniforms with custom patches.
Members of this group were sent to Portland to quell the protests, which continued for more than 50 days and were linked to the destruction of federal buildings, according to CBP. The Border Patrol Tactical Unit’s actions in the protests were scrutinized after video footage showed its officers arresting someone suspected of assault or destruction of property and taking them in an unmarked minivan. The incident prompted lawmakers to demand an investigation.
US Army General Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, previously highlighted his concerns about the view of law enforcement officials who dress as members of the military when responding to protests, saying there should be a clear “visual distinction” between the two organizations
“In my opinion, you want a clear definition between what is military and what is police,” Milley said during a hearing in Congress on July 9. “Because when you start introducing the military, you’re talking about a different level of effort there.”
