The scenes from Ferguson, Mo., have a lot of people asking: Why are cops in full riot gear, backed up by tanks and fully automatic weapons?

In a phrase: Because we demanded it.

MONTINI: 5 ways Phoenix is (and isn't) like Ferguson

OUR VIEW: Militarizing police neither protects nor serves

The turning point came in 1997, when heavily armed bank robbers outgunned the Los Angeles Police Department. Eleven police officers and five civilians were wounded as the robbers terrorized North Hollywood.

The shootout was widely televised (and re-televised).

Citizens were outraged. They questioned whether rank-and-file officers had what it takes to keep our communities safe.

Thus, the militarization process began.

I'm not defending the Ferguson police response. Nor am I saying that every 911 call requires tanks and tear gas at the ready. We need to renew the public debate about appropriate use of force, recognizing that police can just as easily escalate situations and they can diffuse them.

But it's also disingenuous to criticize officers for arming (and armoring) themselves.

We wanted it that way.

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