The Ferguson turnaround confirms a suspicion I had during the 1999 WTO debacle in Seattle, that police by and large create violent situations by taking up a spatially us vs. them formation. When they tank up in riot gear and form up in an organized defensive posture it breeds both fear and hostility, both in themselves and in whatever crowd they’re facing off against. When police intermingle in the crowd they not only ratchet down the fear and hostility, but they put themselves in a much better position to both catch and deter troublemakers in that crowd.

Face masks, armor and shields dehumanize police, they create barriers separating them from the community, and they foster in cops a self image as badass gladiators instead of peace officers.