Militarization of U.S. police?

In the past decade or so, we have seen what is known as the "militarization of police." What this means is that police agencies have been given old military equipment such as armored vehicles, uniforms and the like to better address violent situations.

What are your thoughts on this? Does it better help police address violent situations? Or is it a threat to us as the public when they respond to protests and such with this equipment??

Please do NOT just say you like it or don't like it! Provide case studies of it in use and talk about the negatives and the positives of police having this equipment available to them!!