The Branch Davidians and Waco

Author(s):  
John Corrigan ◽  
Lynn S. Neal

The chapter examines the how and why of the events that led to a fifty-one day siege and ended with the deaths of over seventy Branch Davidians in April 1993. The primary sources demonstrate how the Branch Davidians were constructed as a dangerous “cult,” the ways federal law enforcement relied on this stereotype, the resulting misunderstandings that occurred in the negotiations as a result of this stereotype, and the deadly consequences. The primary sources, including media portrayals, FBI negotiation transcripts, and Koresh’s writings, provide readers with opportunities to explore the tragic results of utilizing the “cult” stereotype. The chapter ends with various perspectives on why Waco happened.

Author(s):  
Max Felker-Kantor

The LAPD’s postwar model of policing routinely served as a standard for departments across the country. Backed by federal Law Enforcement Assistance Administration funds and support from newly elected law-and-order governor Ronald Reagan, the LAPD led the way in bolstering its paramilitary function through riot control plans, the use of helicopters, and the invention of Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) teams, which was quickly adopted by other departments. At the same time, the department sought to legitimize the iron fist with the velvet glove of community relations and improved officer training. As this chapter shows, the LAPD engaged in a process of militarization and enhanced its martial capacity while expanding its reach through community relations programs.


2020 ◽  
pp. 1-6
Author(s):  
James R. Skillen

In April 2014, near Bunkerville, Nevada, Cliven Bundy and hundreds of armed supporters faced off with federal law enforcement officers who were removing his trespassing cattle from federal lands. Bundy described himself as the victim of a rogue federal government that trampled the US Constitution and deprived him of basic rights, and he was ready to “take this country back by force.”...


2020 ◽  
pp. 009102601990052
Author(s):  
Helen H. Yu

Recent scholarship has examined the barriers women experience in well-known federal law enforcement agencies. However, there is scant research that examines a unique subgrouping of agents within the federal Offices of Inspectors General (OIGs). Drawing on survey data from 249 female agents, this study compares responses between female agents working in the OIGs and female agents working in all other federal law enforcement agencies to differentiate their experiences. Findings suggest that female agents in the OIGs experience less occupational barriers, namely, reduced number of relocations and incidences of sexual harassment, as well as higher agency adoption of family-friendly policies to promote work–life balance, resulting in women’s higher representation at those agencies.


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