Republican slams criticism of police

Sen. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) on Thursday slammed those who have criticized police militarization in the wake of the shooting of two police officers in Ferguson, Mo.

The two police officers appeared to have been targeted by an at-large shooter, and were hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries.

{mosads}In response to the shootings, Blunt said a national conversation over police militarization was “almost totally fact-free.”

“They talked about the police looking for trouble. I have looked at all the equipment the police had there, and essentially they are bullet-proof vehicles,” he said in a statement. “That equipment might not have prevented the tragedy of two policemen being shot, but local law enforcement should be able to make decisions about how they’re uniformed and what kind of equipment they need at any given location.”

Blunt added that “we should be concerned” that protesters were “very near where the police were shot.”

“The police are trying to get home to their families alive. They have a hard job to do, protecting people and protecting protesters,” he said. “I will continue to stay in touch with local officials, as well as the Department of Justice, as we attempt to clarify outstanding issues related to the relationship between the St. Louis County and Ferguson police.”

A debate over whether the police rely too much on military-style weapons and equipment heated up after violent protests in Ferguson followed the shooting late last summer of unarmed black teenager Michael Brown by a white police officer.

Images of police carrying heavy weapons and riding in militarized vehicles were shown widely on cable television, and provoked criticism from lawmakers in both parties.

Lawmakers have since offered legislation that would police the sale of equipment and weapons from the Defense Department to local police.