We recognize that the power of the federal government with regard to state and local police forces may be limited. However, recent events in Ferguson, Missouri have demonstrated the escalation that can occur with an overly militarized police force.
While the case of United States v. Jones did establish that tracking devices and other surveillance devices on vehicles require a warrant, we contend that police forces which display military capabilities far in excess of what is required for their job present "reasonable suspicion" for threats to civil liberties and enforcement of federal law. As such, warrants should be obtained under the Patriot Act to continually review military grade hardware purchases by police and to implement broad and ongoing surveillance of all state and local police