Do you think civilians should start enforcing checkpoints?

We did a survey at a local community college and I was surprised to see how many students were in favor of a "civilian-enforced" checkpoint. When asked, would you and several people in your community enforce checkpoints if needed in a given situation, 85% responded yes. In other words regular armed civilians would set up a checkpoint at the entrance of town, say there was a serial killer or an escaped convict on the loose...Just until the cops caught him, then everything would return back to normal...Do you think this would help catch more criminals?

Do you think civilians should start enforcing checkpoints?
YES. I am all in favor of it. Informed citizens are better citizens. We need to stop taking a back seat to the defense of out nation and start being in the know. Start becoming activists.
Reply:Yes, it is a very good start in establishing a police state...
Reply:civilians need to stay away from Law Enforcement activities...they will have too many axes to grind,too many pwoer hungry idiots etc...dont believe me...take a look at the next volunteer fireman meeting in your arae...how many of those morons have red lights fixed on their vehicles even though it isnt legal for them to run with them in a civilian vehicle..its a power thing....never,ever give a civilian authority over another civilian....bad ju-ju
Reply:No...it won't help a bit.


It will just spawn a lot of "off the wall" vigilante gangs.
Reply:Civilian enforced checkpoints are working wonders in Iraq.
Reply:In a lot of cities there is what is called a Cellular On Patrol. These are volunteers that are trained and monitored by the police to patrol their neighborhoods and instead of taking action, calling in crimes to the police. They get a sort of preferential treatment when they call since the operators know they are trained by the police and usually get all the info up front. Plus the operators know it isn't a BS call either.





It wouldn't take much to adapt this thought to the program. It would of course have to be unarmed and monitored by at least 2 officers. Much better than say 10 cops off the street. I like it. It could easily work.
Reply:Most people don't have a clue how to conduct a checkpoint. Good luck. The answer is no, you won't even let trained cops do it so why should citizens?
Reply:Absolutely not! Armed citizens out enforcing the law with no training? Can you say "VIGILANTEEISM?" That is a TERRIBLY BAD IDEA that will invariably result in an innocent person getting seriously hurt or killed. There are many more "Tackleberrys" out there than you'd like to believe; the absolute LAST thing I'd want to do is tell the average citizen - who knows nothing more of the law and police procedures than he has seen on "Law and Order" - that it's OK for him to go out and play cops and robbers.





Not only no, but HELL no! That's what the police are for, so let them do their job!





Community and Neighborhood Watches are great ideas because they do NOT involve enforcing the law or detaining people; all you do then is watch and report, which is great. But anything else above that....NO, NO, NO!
Reply:I think it's a great idea. Maybe you guys can sell lemonade while your out there. Lets just hope the crooks don't get smart and take a different entrance into town.