SWAT or not? Police militarization

[GunnyGene]

Good article in WSJ. And I agree with the author that this is getting way out of control.

The Warrior Cop

On Jan. 4 of last year, a local narcotics strike force conducted a raid on the Ogden, Utah, home of Matthew David Stewart at 8:40 p.m. The 12 officers were acting on a tip from Mr. Stewart's former girlfriend, who said that he was growing marijuana in his basement. Mr. Stewart awoke, naked, to the sound of a battering ram taking down his door. Thinking that he was being invaded by criminals, as he later claimed, he grabbed his 9-millimeter Beretta pistol.

The police say that they knocked and identified themselves, though Mr. Stewart and his neighbors said they heard no such announcement. Mr. Stewart fired 31 rounds, the police more than 250. Six of the officers were wounded, and Officer Jared Francom was killed. Mr. Stewart himself was shot twice before he was arrested. He was charged with several crimes, including the murder of Officer Francom.

The police found 16 small marijuana plants in Mr. Stewart's basement. There was no evidence that Mr. Stewart, a U.S. military veteran with no prior criminal record, was selling marijuana. Mr. Stewart's father said that his son suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder and may have smoked the marijuana to self-medicate.

Early this year, the Ogden city council heard complaints from dozens of citizens about the way drug warrants are served in the city. As for Mr. Stewart, his trial was scheduled for next April, and prosecutors were seeking the death penalty. But after losing a hearing last May on the legality of the search warrant, Mr. Stewart hanged himself in his jail cell.

The police tactics at issue in the Stewart case are no anomaly. Since the 1960s, in response to a range of perceived threats, law-enforcement agencies across the U.S., at every level of government, have been blurring the line between police officer and soldier. Driven by martial rhetoric and the availability of military-style equipment—from bayonets and M-16 rifles to armored personnel carriers—American police forces have often adopted a mind-set previously reserved for the battlefield. The war on drugs and, more recently, post-9/11 antiterrorism efforts have created a new figure on the U.S. scene: the warrior cop—armed to the teeth, ready to deal harshly with targeted wrongdoers, and a growing threat to familiar American liberties.

The acronym SWAT stands for Special Weapons and Tactics. Such police units are trained in methods similar to those used by the special forces in the military. They learn to break into homes with battering rams and to use incendiary devices called flashbang grenades, which are designed to blind and deafen anyone nearby. Their usual aim is to "clear" a building—that is, to remove any threats and distractions (including pets) and to subdue the occupants as quickly as possible.

More: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000142 ... %3Darticle

 

[John A.]

I have a few issues with this article.

#1 The guy shouldn't have been growing a bunch of pot in his basement.

#2 At what point after entry did the guy realize (or question) that he was being raided, given the fact that he surely knew he was breaking the law to begin with?

 

[aksavanaman]

Sorry Gunny, I'm with John on this one... Army veteran or not (and since we've got a lengthy discussion on PTSD and lack of care for veterans I won't go into that).... from the police officers point of view he could have been armed and dangerous... wait... I guess he was! I can certainly discern between a police officer in swat great and the common thug invading my house... so for him to start shooting at the officers was probably not the best idea. While I think certain states go a little overboard on the prosecution of marijuana users, shooting at cops (right or wrong) still bears it's consequences.

 

[GunnyGene]

I don't have an issue with an arrest assuming it's warranted. The point of the article is that there are better and less violent ways to handle a simple pot bust, or most other arrests. And a little traditional police work would have avoided the situation. There was no urgent need to go in like a SEAL team taking out Bin Laden. SWAT should be a last resort, not the first resort. SWAT has a legitimate use, but using them in place of regular police just because you can, is a waste of their talents and time among other things. And since when does the Dept. of Education (among others) have a legitimate need for this kind of fire power?

 

[John A.]

And since when does the Dept. of Education (among others) have a legitimate need for this kind of fire power?

I don't disagree with you there at all.

I just think you chose a bad example to use for your point.

 

[GunnyGene]

And since when does the Dept. of Education (among others) have a legitimate need for this kind of fire power?

I don't disagree with you there at all.

I just think you chose a bad example to use for your point.

I didn't write the article or choose the examples. All I said was that I agreed with the author that the use of SWAT ( as a lazy substitute for standard police practice/investigation, etc. ) is getting out of hand. I'll stand by that, and also note that these kinds of tactics, when used inappropriately, do not help anyone, including the police. All it does is reinforce a growing negative public opinion of police in general. Police need good public relations to do their job. This kind of thing destroys that.

 

[LAZY EYED SNIPER]

#1 The guy shouldn't have been growing a bunch of pot in his basement.

Exactly,

Everybody knows it grows better outside...

 

[John A.]

 

[kwizzer]

When the ex-girlfriend ratted him out for the dope I see zero chance the police wouldn't have questioned her about any weapons he may have also had in the house, and his military background makes it sure he'd know how to use them if he had them. So instead of making the raid at the place where you know he's well armed and best able to resist, wouldn't making the arrest while he was away from the house make it more likely for things to go peacefully? Mr. Stewart may well have still been armed but it would have made it a lot less likely for him to be confused about who it was confronting him. I think the decision to take him at the house was misguided to say the least. What was the hurry? He's gotta leave sometime.

Blaming the availability of military-style equipment seems a bit hypocritical to me though. Advocating the citizen's right to bear arms, up to and including military-style equipment, while complaining about law enforcement having ready access to the same equipment is unrealistic. The police need to be able to do their jobs and that isn't possible if they aren't armed as well as or better than a potential perpetrator.

 

[GunnyGene]

Blaming the availability of military-style equipment seems a bit hypocritical to me though. Advocating the citizen's right to bear arms, up to and including military-style equipment, while complaining about law enforcement having ready access to the same equipment is unrealistic. The police need to be able to do their jobs and that isn't possible if they aren't armed as well as or better than a potential perpetrator.

That's a valid point, and I have no argument with having the gear available, or employing SWAT when the situation warrants it. What I do object to is when SWAT becomes the default for every situation. There were, and continue to be, bad decisions made that result in unnecessary escalation and violence. Wrong house, etc., etc.

Here's an example of how it should be done: A few months ago, a local guy living in a small apartment near me had a meth lab going in the apartment. The Sheriffs office did some investigation and determined the best time and method of arresting him, and took him into custody with no gunplay, no busting down of doors, etc. Just 2 or 3 deputies doing a good job. Nobody got hurt, and the guy is doing time.

I realize that is not always the way it plays out, but the old cliche; Proper Planning Prevents Piss Poor Performance, has some bearing on the general issue.

 

[carbinemike]

That's a valid point, and I have no argument with having the gear available, or employing SWAT when the situation warrants it. What I do object to is when SWAT becomes the default for every situation. There were, and continue to be, bad decisions made that result in unnecessary escalation and violence. Wrong house, etc., etc.

I agree with you Gunny that they (SWAT) are used to often and in situations where a different way to make an arrest may have been better, especially for lower level offenders. I think some of it may have to do with the fact that they are there and being paid good money for men and equipment. If they aren't put to use someone will question why they are needed in the first place.

 

[Stag1]

If this was just a strange occurrence that hardly ever happened, then I might not feel as strongly about this as I do. But the police becoming more and more militarized is becoming the norm. Like Gunny said, there is a need for SWAT teams, but using them for everything is just plain wrong.

Here is some other stories dealing with the miltarization of our police force.

http://www.theblaze.com/stories/201...rrest-two-for-obstruction-when-owner-refuses/

http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2013/06/06/would-you-believe-this-photo-was-taken-in-l-a/


Here is another story, not about SWAT but pretty much the same none the less.

http://www.theblaze.com/contributio...water-and-the-emerging-american-police-state/

Many, many more can be found real easy. When is enough, enough?

 

[GunnyGene]

That's a valid point, and I have no argument with having the gear available, or employing SWAT when the situation warrants it. What I do object to is when SWAT becomes the default for every situation. There were, and continue to be, bad decisions made that result in unnecessary escalation and violence. Wrong house, etc., etc.

I agree with you Gunny that they (SWAT) are used to often and in situations where a different way to make an arrest may have been better, especially for lower level offenders. I think some of it may have to do with the fact that they are there and being paid good money for men and equipment. If they aren't put to use someone will question why they are needed in the first place.

Using SWAT just to pad or justify your department budget is poor management at the very least. Especially when many cities are on the verge of bankruptcy and are being forced to cut back on other more essential services, such as fire departments, garbage collection, etc. .

 

[GunnyGene]

If this was just a strange occurrence that hardly ever happened, then I might not feel as strongly about this as I do. But the police becoming more and more militarized is becoming the norm. Like Gunny said, there is a need for SWAT teams, but using them for everything is just plain wrong.

Here is some other stories dealing with the miltarization of our police force.

http://www.theblaze.com/stories/201...rrest-two-for-obstruction-when-owner-refuses/

http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2013/06/06/would-you-believe-this-photo-was-taken-in-l-a/


Here is another story, not about SWAT but pretty much the same none the less.

http://www.theblaze.com/contributio...water-and-the-emerging-american-police-state/

Many, many more can be found real easy. When is enough, enough?

This sort of thing is not new, but it is becoming more of the 'new normal'. The following is from 2006.

Overkill: The rise of Paramilitary Police Raids in America.
http://www.cato.org/sites/cato.org/file ... r_2006.pdf

The first example given in the book is almost identical to the story in the WSJ, but took place in 2005.

 

[OhioArcher]

Mike Huckabee on the subject...80,000 raids a year now...incredible!

http://video.foxnews.com/v/257524662000 ... 0909809001

http://video.foxnews.com/v/257519651200 ... p=obinsite

 

[GunnyGene]

Mike Huckabee on the subject...80,000 raids a year now...incredible!

http://video.foxnews.com/v/257524662000 ... 0909809001

http://video.foxnews.com/v/257519651200 ... p=obinsite

From what I've read, the vast majority of those are nothing more than common drug busts. Why, you ask? Because a department gets federal $$ for drug busts, no matter how insignificant the bust is. They don't get federal money for other common arrests.

And then there is this grab bag of used military gear:

MORVEN, Ga. (AP) — Small-town police departments across the country have been gobbling up tons of equipment discarded by a downsizing military — bicycles, bed sheets, bowling pins, French horns, dog collars, even a colonoscopy machine — regardless of whether the items are needed or will ever be used.

In the tiny farming community of Morven, Ga., the police chief has grabbed three boats, scuba gear, rescue rafts and a couple of dozen life preservers. The town's deepest body of water: an ankle-deep creek.

An Associated Press investigation of the Defense Department program, originally aimed at helping local law enforcement fight terrorism and drug trafficking, found that a disproportionate share of the $4.2 billion worth of property distributed since 1990 has been obtained by police departments and sheriff's offices in rural areas with few officers and little crime.

The national giveaway program operates with scant oversight, and the surplus military gear often sits in storage, the AP found.

Using a series of public records requests, the AP obtained thousands of pages of emails and other documents related to the program locally and nationally. The documents, along with interviews with participants and regulators, reveal that staffing shortages and budget constraints have made it difficult for federal and state program officials to keep track of all of the property and to prevent police forces from obtaining excessive amounts of used military equipment and other Defense Department-transferred property.

Program officials often have to trust recipients to follow the rules and take only what they can utilize; requests for equipment are reviewed, but the process hasn't stopped many overly aggressive departments from grabbing property that could be better used by other communities with a greater need.

For many, the opportunity to amass a vast array of gear with few strings attached has proven to be too tempting to pass up, leading to a belly-up-to-the-open-bar mentality.

Morven Police Chief Lynwood Yates, for example, has acquired a decontamination machine originally worth $200,000 for his community of about 700 residents, and two additional full-time officers. The high-tech gadget is missing most of its parts and would need $100,000 worth of repairs.

He also received a shipment of bayonets, which have never made it out of storage in his 1.7-square-mile city.

More: http://bigstory.ap.org/article/ap-impac ... -giveaways

 

[MikeD]

It always comes down to the coveted dollar.

The justification and motivation for just about everything that happens can be tracked back to money if you dig deep enough.

From what I've read, the vast majority of those are nothing more than common drug busts. Why, you ask? Because a department gets federal $$ for drug busts, no matter how insignificant the bust is. They don't get federal money for other common arrests.

 

[GunnyGene]

It always comes down to the coveted dollar.

The justification and motivation for just about everything that happens can be tracked back to money if you dig deep enough.

From what I've read, the vast majority of those are nothing more than common drug busts. Why, you ask? Because a department gets federal $$ for drug busts, no matter how insignificant the bust is. They don't get federal money for other common arrests.

Here's yet another example of this militarization. What the hell did these 'LEO' think they were up against? Seems to me the local dog catcher could have handled this fawn confiscation.

"It was like a SWAT team," shelter employee Ray Schulze said.

Two weeks ago, Schulze was working in the barn at the Society of St. Francis on the Kenosha-Illinois border when a swarm of squad cars arrived and officers unloaded with a search warrant.

"(There were) nine DNR agents and four deputy sheriffs, and they were all armed to the teeth," Schulze said.

The focus of their search was a baby fawn brought there by an Illinois family worried she had been abandoned by her mother.

"When it made a little noise, it sounded like it was laughing," Schulze said.

Read more: http://www.wisn.com/news/armed-agents-r ... z2ajpHmPIN

 

[carbinemike]

Yeah Gunny, I read about the assault on the animal compound for the fawn. They actually did aerial flyovers as part of getting the warrant. In the past, I can't believe that this wouldn't have been taken care of with one or two deputies having a talk with them.

 

[OhioArcher]

From what I've read, the vast majority of those are nothing more than common drug busts. Why, you ask? Because a department gets federal $$ for drug busts, no matter how insignificant the bust is. They don't get federal money for other common arrests.

The problem with that is when they screw up and raid the mayor's house, or yours, or mine, looking for drugs that aren't there. When mistakes (sometimes fatal) are made like that people's lives are turned upside down. How can a police department perform a raid, get the address wrong, kill a family's dogs (or kids as in Detroit) and not be punished for it? Doctors and hospitals who preform operations on the wrong person or remove the wrong leg are generally keel-hauled but not cops. It makes no sense...