Representatives warn HB1343 would let adjutant general create deployable 'military police' with civilian policing powers
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Summary
Representative Matt Pierce said HB1343 would allow the adjutant general to form a military police unit with authority to carry firearms, make arrests and conduct searches when deployed by the governor, raising concerns about state use of military forces for civilian law enforcement.
Representative Matt Pierce warned that house bill 1343 would expand the adjutant general’s authority to form a military police unit and give the governor broad discretion to deploy that unit in civilian settings. Pierce said the bill would let the adjutant general determine civilian law-enforcement training requirements for those units, potentially sidestepping the state law enforcement academy certification process.
He described the scope of authority proposed: deployed military police could carry firearms, make arrests, conduct searches and operate like civilian law enforcement at the governor’s direction. Pierce said such authority could be used to occupy municipalities or intervene where state leaders claim local governments are "not getting tough on crime," citing the risk of a state-level occupying force in places like Indianapolis.
Next steps: Pierce said the bill would face debate in the senate and urged residents to follow the calendar and contact senators to press for amendments or oversight.
