There is probably some form of funding available for this program, which helps support local spending for police and other government expenses. The lure of money is a powerful thing for local governments. Besides, it's cool, and that helps attract police officer candidates..
And, I'll make a wild bet here: if the money source is traced back to the origin, it ends up being part of the reason that the national debt of the USA has increased.
And, I'll make a wild bet here: if the money source is traced back to the origin, it ends up being part of the reason that the national debt of the USA has increased.
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Hooked On SWAT (FR thread from 2001)
Fueled With Drug Enforcement Money, Military-Style Police Teams Are Exploding In The Backwoods Of Wisconsin
-snip-
Except for the fact that they were not even suspected of a crime, the Olvedas' experience is not as rare as one might think. Throughout rural Wisconsin, squads of cops in black battle dress armed with military-style weapons and trained in "dynamic entry" are becoming increasingly active.
Since January 2000 alone, six SWAT teams were put into action in the state, most recently in tiny Forest County, where only 18 patrol officers serve a 1,000-square-mile jurisdiction with a population of just over 9,000.
-end excerpt-
Speaking of Forest County, Wisconsin:
6 friends killed at party in Crandon (WI) - 1 hurt; hours later, SWAT team kills shooter
2 notes:
1. The murderer was a SWAT officer according to a minister who knew him, and an LA Times story. Authorities were refused to confirm or deny it.
2. The latest statement I saw indicates authorities believe the SWAT officer died from a self-inflicted wound.