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The topic of this paper is two interconnected phenomena: the defensive function of the police and militarism in policing. The aim of the paper is to, through a review and analysis of relevant literature, point out the specifics of the defensive function of the police, which is activated exclusively in non-peacetime situations, such as a state of war or a state of emergency. In such circumstances, the police, in addition to performing their regular duties and tasks from the peacetime scope, also act as an auxiliary body of the armed forces. On the other hand, the subject of the analysis is also the phenomenon of militarism in policing, which is reflected in the adoption of military equipment, tactics, values, and organizational culture within the police organization. Although numerous studies point to the harmful consequences of militarization, such as the disruption of community relations, an increase in police violence, and the weakening of the social-service function of the police, the paper also points to a paradoxical connection between these phenomena. Namely, certain militaristic elements within the police organization can facilitate the integration of the police into the defense system in a non-peacetime state, that is, when its defense function is activated. The paper concludes that the key challenge for modern police systems is finding a balance between maintaining a democratic, service-oriented model in peacetime conditions and the need for an effective transformation for the purpose of state defense in non-peacetime situations.