Overkill: The Rise of Paramilitary Police Raids in America

The Cato Institute ^ | July 16, 2006 | Radley Balko

[rbalko]

Paper on America's love affair with the SWAT team and "dynamic entry" raids.

See scary accompanying map of botched no-knocks and other SWAT-style raids.

[ElkGroveDan]

[pissant]

The guy with the mullet and his band of ex-cons makes for good TV. LOL

[Lexington Green]

Most arrests are now assaults... Face on the pavement, knee in the back...

Andy Taylor don't live here no more.

[Joe Brower]

[lesser_satan]

It's a bit ridiculous when the cops take down a building like SEAL Team Six on a tip that there's a bag of pot inside. Also, these "no-knock" raids are going to result in a lot of cops dying. If somebody kicks my door in without first announcing they're a cop, I'm going to start shooting.

[spunkets]

Just obey your masters and it's unlikely you'll be killed and/or have everything trashed. If you end up in one of the unlikely situations, know that you were abused, or killed for a good cause.

[Darteaus94025]

The rise in these raids is probably the DIRECT result of allowing local PDs to used "siezed" assets as a funding source.

[Shimmer128]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1653296/posts

[Normal4me]

*goes back to digging tunnel in master closet* ;-)

[neverdem]

If you end up in one of the unlikely situations, know that you were abused, or killed for a good cause.

Of course, it's for the children.

[Sam Cree]

*

[Mack the knife]

If somebody kicks my door in without first announcing they're a cop, I'm going to start shooting.

---

As I have posted before, there are four trends that are beginning to collide:
a) the "Castle Doctrine", which allows homeowners to shoot people who bust into their homes without fear of later prosecution
b) the increase of no-knock dynamic entry SWAT served warrants, where the SWAT team enters un-announced
c) by treating such entries as "every day events", mistakes are increasing, resulting in SWAT teams invading the wrong house; and
d) the increase in the press coverage of criminal gangs that perform home invasions claiming to be police

Without the castle doctrine, homeowners hesitate and get shot by SWAT, or get shot by home invaders.

With the castle doctrine, homeowners shoot a home invader or two before they decide to leave, and/or shoot a SWATtie before they get shot themselves and/or get prosecuted for shooting at police (" ... of course we announced that we were police ...").

Until a SWAT team leader goes to Jail for "criminally negligent homicide" for invading the wrong house and shooting an innocent homeowner (i.e., he should have known that lethal force might result in an innocent death unless he triple checked the address), nothing will change.

[DCBryan1]

SWAT HAND SIGNALS

[sgtbono2002]

Unfortunately you are right..

[Wallace T.]

This thread has been open for 40 minutes, yet the apologists for the thugs in black have yet to respond. The usual suspects must be asleep.

[oyez]

BFL

[righthand man]

missing only one picture were they are all huddled together ,so they can have the courage to go in the house.
most of the cops around here are scared of thier own shadows.

[Centurion2000]

bump

[Centurion2000]

bump

[Billthedrill]

Yep. Frankly it's a little difficult to come up with a lot of sympathy with a team of armed folks whose first action is to put everyone in the room on their face and in restraints and then figure out if anybody might not have that coming.

The police NEED community support. This kind of crap on the part of non-locals will ensure that the locals suffer. Bad, bad idea.

[nerdwithamachinegun]

ping-a-ling-a-ding-dong for later

[DariusBane]

BUT...


If you have not done anything wrong, you have nothing to be afraid of!

BAaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa get in line!

[TChris]

* ROFLOL!!! *

[tcrlaf]

Actually, it's the result of increased lawsuits...

If SWAT is available, is not used, and somebody gets killed (police OR bad Guy), the lawsuits fly...

Blame the trial attorneys, not some unseen hand of a totalitarian government...

[Doc91678]

Another legacy of the Clinton Administration. Remember Waco?
Ruby Ridge. How many law abiding gun owners were rushed by ATF SWAT teams? When there was no need.

[Quix]

Pretend this is training. Training for . . . something moderately general; moderately specific.

What might that be?

[ElkGroveDan]

As I have posted before, there are four trends that are beginning to collide: a) the "Castle Doctrine", which allows homeowners to shoot people who bust into their homes without fear of later prosecution b) the increase of no-knock dynamic entry SWAT served warrants, where the SWAT team enters un-announced

Indeed they have:

Ranch-coveting officials settle for killing owner

[Quix]

The police NEED community support. This kind of crap on the part of non-locals will ensure that the locals suffer. Bad, bad idea.
= = = =

Therefore, WHY is it going on--especially on such a scale?

[Conservative Goddess]

Ping.

For the children......indeed.

[elkfersupper]

If that's really you, Senor Balko, I am a big fan.

If it's not, nice post. I was trying to get to this one yesterday.

[King Prout]

Blame the trial attorneys, not some unseen hand of a totalitarian government...

is there a difference?

[american spirit]

Does that include Vicki Weaver's baby and other kids?

[2 Kool 2 Be 4-Gotten]

Of course if we were using these tactics against our real enemies I would have no problem - but then CAIR would raise hell and we can't have that now can we.

[eleni121]

Law enforcement types going after small time thugs (Bucky Phillips) and shooting dead ATB drivers without helmets and little kids (Elian) while handling terrorists with kid gloves makes most people mad.

A sickness grows amongst them.

[Chode]

ha... back in the early 80's, Elmira just HAD to have a SWAT team.

on their first deployment... one of those jokers shot the team leader to death!!!

he was reassigned to "Officer Friendly" duty in the schools ever since.

[JTN]

Ping

[Republicus2001]

I knew a guy that strangled himself in Las Vegas. The Metro Bad Boys just "didn't reach him in time". His crime? --- cohabitation with a known streetwalker.

[Rate_Determining_Step]

If somebody kicks my door in without first announcing they're a cop, I'm going to start shooting.

One would be foolish not to.

[Rate_Determining_Step]

Seems DAs don't want the bad publicity of these things going to trial. Sounds like time is ripe for a nationwide "insurance" policy that has the following.

If you are killed in a no-knock raid we will sue on your estate's behalf.

We will litigate as long as they will and not settle.

Your estate WILL GET IT'S DAY IN COURT.

A couple dozen of these and you'll see Rambo units rightfully retired.

[A Strict Constructionist]

The truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. I have a retired SWAT neighbor who now agrees that it has gone way too far. I would go as far as limiting the use of BDU type clothes and put COPS back in blazers and forbid military hair cuts. My neighbor calls many of these PO'S wana bees. Not good enough for the SEALS, Rangers or Green Beret or his favorite Force Recon (Semper Fi).

[DariusBane]

I read the WND article, and although I don't trust anything coming from that rag, it was a disturbing story, and not a unique story. The biggest mistake we have made is allowing the courts and law enforcement to use seized assets for their own ends. As far as the generally disagreeable personality of cops...Well, cops will be cops, which is why we have a bill of rights and the ability to sue their a$$ in court.

[dljordan]

"For the children......indeed."

The new phrase I see being parroted by public offcials is "it's for the family".

[ElkGroveDan]

I read the WND article, and although I don't trust anything coming from that rag,

I've been following the story for years, having grown up in those parts. I can vouch for the main facts of their article.

[Joe Brower]

Heh-heh. That's why I have all that bandwidth available. $:-)

[Titan Magroyne]

Hilarious!

and self-ping for further perusal at leisure

[Blood of Tyrants]

Hell, it is unlawful to resist arrest even if the cop is completely in the wrong.

[Spirited]

Then they hire PR firms to tell us how great they are and that we should respect them. Only the stupid buy it.

[elkfersupper]

which is why we have a bill of rights and the ability to sue their a$$ in court.

With frighteningly increasing frequency, police actions are becoming "administrative sanctions", with no opportunity for a court.

This is the way they do speed and red light cameras.

Soon, the SWAT teams move will be against the house, not against the people.

That way, you have no defendant(s).

You have to have both plaintiffs and defendants to get to court (and by the way, individuals generally cannot sue a government without its permission).

[oneolcop]

Was a cop for about 40 years. Retired last April. Had six OIS's but only one on an entry. (and that WAS a bad guy).

Where do you guys live that you have such FEAR of YOUR police departments? Where are the stats on how many wrong houses have been hit/innocent homeowners being shot. I admit there are some and any is too many, but come on guys. Sounds like the stuff of urban legends.

BTW It's not what you believe, but what you know that counts.