Montana Town Occupied By Private Paramilitary Security Force

[Raineyrocks]

http://www.prisonplanet.com/montana-town-occupied-by-private-paramilitary-security-force.html

Montana Town Occupied By Private Paramilitary Security Force

Organization whose goal is to help the U.S. government "combat terrorism" patrols the streets of Hardin

Paul Joseph Watson
Prison Planet.com
Tuesday, September 29, 2009

A private security force whose biggest role is helping the U.S. government to "combat terrorism" is now patrolling the streets of a town in Montana, acting as law enforcement but accountable to nobody and operating completely outside the limitations of the U.S. constitution in a chilling throwback to the brownshirts of Nazi Germany.

The American Police Force organization is a paramilitary unit that "provides surveillance, investigative, and military services across the world," according to its website, which shows men dressed in military fatigues carrying machine guns.

"As part of our mission, APF plays a critical role in helping the U.S. government meet vital homeland security and national defense needs. Within the last 5 years the United States has been far and away our #1 client. Technologies, programs, and services performed by APF have played a very important role in U.S. military and civilian efforts to protect our homeland and combat terrorism," the website states.

APF were originally contracted to provide security at a previously empty detention center in Hardin, a small town in Montana, but are now patrolling the streets driving SUV's with "Police Department" printed on them despite the fact that Hardin doesn't have a police department. American Police Force has no jurisdiction in the area because it is a private organization, not a police force.

According to Two Rivers Authority officials, having the private security force patrol the streets was not part of the contract. "I have no idea. I really don't because that's not been a part of any of the discussions we've had with any of them," Two Rivers Authority's Al Peterson told KULR 8 News. Peterson said that patrolling the streets was on the "wishlist" of APF's Captain Michael.

The American Police Force is a shady outfit shrouded in suspicion. According to an Associated Press report, questions over the legitimacy of the organization abound.

"Government contract databases show no record of the company. Security industry representatives and federal officials said they had never heard of it. On its Web site, the company lists as its headquarters a building in Washington near the White House that holds "virtual offices." A spokeswoman for the building said American Police Force never completed its application to use the address," reports AP.

Montana Town Occupied By Private Paramilitary Security Force 260909banner

Furthermore, APF was tasked with filling the empty Hardin detention center with inmates, without any clear indication of where those prisoners would come from.

"It's unclear where the company will get the inmates for the jail. Montana says it's not sending inmates to the jail, and neither are federal officials in the state," according to the report.

Maybe the inmates will be the local population of Hardin if American Police Force is allowed to continue to pose as a law enforcement outfit in the town, which is exactly what they intend to do for at least another month.

Having a private security force whose stated mission is to help the U.S. government "combat terrorism" patrol the streets of small towns in America without even having the authority to do so from local authorities is obviously a frightening pretext and harks back to the private paramilitary forces that helped Adolf Hitler rise to power in Nazi Germany.

Many fear that if martial law is declared in response to a flu pandemic or other emergency, private security forces such as APF will be used by the government to oppress citizens by operating outside of the law.

This is completely unconstitutional and a flagrant threat to the liberty and security of the population of Hardin. The County Sheriff is effectively breaking the law if he doesn't immediately kick APF out of the area and end the occupation of the town by a private paramilitary army.

[littlehawk]

The feds fear Montana people. 

[Raineyrocks]

The feds fear Montana people. 

I hope so, but then why do they think they will get away with this crap?

[KBCraig]

There are no verifiable links or statements in that article. The original article makes claims about the APF website and links to it, but it doesn't exist.

[Fluff and Stuff]

There are no verifiable links or statements in that article. The original article makes claims about the APF website and links to it, but it doesn't exist.

Here is the real story, http://www.kulr8.com/news/local/61320122.html

It makes no sense.

[KBCraig]

Thanks, Keith.

Yeah, that story still doesn't offer enough details to make sense of it.

I see that their "americanpolicegroup.com" site is working now, but it looks like an amateur hack job. Seriously? Ravel's "Bolero" on auto-play?

[thinkliberty]

It looks like satire to me. It's not an AP story, but it claims to be.

[KBCraig]

It looks like satire to me. It's not an AP story, but it claims to be.

Like I said earlier, somewhere (facebook?), if it comes through Alex Jones, I automatically suspect it's false. That's a darn shame, because he does cover (and uncover) some news the MSM won't touch, but for the most part, you can't believe anything coming from any of his sites.

[Pat McCotter]

The Montana Town That Wanted to Be Gitmo
By Pat Dawson / Hardin Sunday, May. 03, 2009

The coils of razor wire glint in the prairie sun like silver tumbleweeds piled against the tall chain-link perimeter fences of the forlorn Two Rivers Detention Facility in Hardin, Montana. Two years ago, the town (pop. 3,600) celebrated the completion of the state-of-the-art private jail capable of holding 464 inmates. Convinced that it would provide steady employment for over 100 locals, as well as accompanying economic benefits, the residents financed it through the sale of revenue bonds and turned it over to a for-profit prison-management corporation. On a 40-acre field at the edge of town where pronghorn antelope once grazed, they built it. But nobody came.

Hardin tried to recover. It sued the state for supposed mixed messages of encouragement — even though Montana prohibits the incarceration of prisoners convicted out of state. But though Hardin won the case, Two Rivers stayed empty and the $27 million of bonds went into default a year ago.

And then, a new source of hope appeared. A campaign pledge from President Barack Obama to close the U.S. facility holding suspected terrorists at the naval base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, became an executive order. Quickly, the jail's backers made a new pitch. Why not house those 240 detainees at Two Rivers? Hardin's City Council last week passed a resolution to entice the detainees their way, saying they could provide "a safe and secure environment, pending trial and/or deportation." Hardin naturally assumed their federal politicians would lobby their cause.

Well, once again, Hardin's heart was broken. Reaction from Montana's three-man Congressional delegation was swift and unanimous, but hardly supportive. "I understand the need to create jobs, but we're not going to bring al-Qaeda to Big Sky Country — no way, not on my watch," said Sen. Max Baucus, a Democrat.

Many local taxpayers are livid at Hardin officials. "It's been a complete fiasco since the beginning, and I don't see how they built it without any solid contracts," says Mike Carpata, a forester with the Bureau of Indian Affairs, as he shopped for reloading supplies at Lammer's Trading Post, where locals and members of the Crow Tribe come to buy guns and ammo, beading supplies, or to sell for quick cash their saddles, buffalo robes and beaded-buckskin ceremonial costumes. But others remain supportive of the jail project — and the enterprise of the town's administrators. The store's fourth-generation owner, George Lammers, noting the drastic difference between subtropical, humid Gitmo and dry, wintry Hardin, says, "This place would be torture for some of those boys." But, he allows, "I think it would be great for all the law enforcement people to be here. It would help our housing market. Our city fathers wanted the economic benefits, but I guess they didn't foresee the political controversies."

For months, correction officers Glyn and Rae Perkins, husband and wife, were the only employees at the 96,000 sq. ft. Two Rivers facility. They were laid off on Jan. 23. "Those of us who were involved had such high hopes," she says. "The state blocked us at every stage. It could've been such a good thing. I sit here now, watching businesses close and people wondering if they'll lose their houses. It's sad. But the idea of housing Gitmo prisoners here just floors me. It would be scary."

It is easy to understand the economic appeal of the project, as the county's unemployment rate hovers around 10% and Hardin's central business district has seen much better days. On a Saturday morning, two 30ish sisters who had been up all night partying, wobbled along the sidewalk then slouched in the sun against one of many vacant storefronts lining Center Avenue. They said they needed a ride out of town and were afraid they might be picked up by the police and jailed, but then laughed with some relief when reminded that the closest lock-up, the Big Horn County Jail, was now so overcrowded that it was turning away misdemeanor offenders.

[KBCraig]

The Montana Town That Wanted to Be Gitmo
By Pat Dawson / Hardin Sunday, May. 03, 2009

That's interesting. I wonder if there's anything more current? If the only two employees were laid off in January, who's supposedly driving around these "Hardin Police" cars?

[Pat McCotter]

The Montana Town That Wanted to Be Gitmo
By Pat Dawson / Hardin Sunday, May. 03, 2009

That's interesting. I wonder if there's anything more current? If the only two employees were laid off in January, who's supposedly driving around these "Hardin Police" cars?

This was before APF. Two Rivers was originally a "build it and they will come" jail that the city of Hardin hoped would be their salvation.

[leetninja]

and all kind of other crazy stuff from the sounds of it WOW!

http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/09/american_police_force_hardin_montana.php

[Tunga]

"My name is Tommy and I became aware this year." - The Who - Tommy

"Good morning campers!" - Uncle Ernie

[KBCraig]

http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2009/09/29/crimesider/entry5351491.shtml

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_MONTANA_JAIL_MTOL-?SITE=MTKAL&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2009-10-01-04-26-08

[leetninja]

I didn't know this topic existed.  I also dont know how to merge on here etc or if i even have the power to but ... a LOT more details here:
http://nhunderground.com/forum/index.php?topic=19250.0