It's not just military uniforms and big guns that have alienated the people from the police

In the 1960s, President Johnson established a commission to study crime and policing in the United States. The report produced by that commission found that America's police had lagged behind the private sector and even other areas of government in adoption of science and technology. "More than two hundred thousand scientists and engineers are helping to solve military problems, but only a handful are helping to control the crimes that injure or frighten millions of Americans each year," the report found. Technologies that followed this report include the 911 system and less-lethal weapons, like the Taser.

Fast-forward to today, when the subject of police brutality and militarization has gained a renewed national prominence following the slaying of an unarmed teenager named Michael Brown in Missouri. The shooting itself, which has raised questions about racial bias and violence in policing, ignited a bigger debate in the days that followed as the St. Louis County Police descended on the suburb of Ferguson with an intimidating show of force. The nation has watched for more than a week as police officers wearing military apparel and using surplus military equipment have cracked down on protests, using tear gas, rubber bullets, and sound weapons to control and disperse crowds.

Police now no longer seem to be lagging behind the military in the acquisition and use of technology, chiefly because they're now getting it directly from the military for use on domestic streets. But for most police departments throughout history, acquisition of new equipment and technology happened through the consumer market.

What's in your bag, police?