Death of Utah Cop Unlikely to Change Future Drug Raids (UT)

opposingviews.com ^ | 11 January, 2012 | Lucy Steigerwald

[jiggyboy]

The article two links in says that this happened at 9 PM. It’s not a certainty that he’d be asleep at that time, but it helps with the old “there was no answer at the door” excuse to explain away busting the door down.

[TigersEye]

Anyone can stand in the yard and claim to be the police, particularly in a rural area.

It's even less reassuring when they burst in without warning yelling "something or other" over the noise of breaking doors and furniture. Since that is a perfect MO for a rip crew why should any armed law-abiding citizen even consider for a moment that it might be law enforcement? It's not a situation that is forgiving of hesitation.

[JustSayNoToNannies]

"It's time to change our thinking," says Pat McCarthy, who advises police agencies across the country. "Cops are exposing themselves to increasing danger many times over, and it's just not necessary."

[...] "The days of knocking down doors in drug cases should be over. Given what's going on now, you have to consider other options," McCarthy said.

He said law enforcement officials should focus more on attempting to lure suspects out into the open or simply "wait them out."

Where's the fun in that?

[Dr. Wu]

No fun indeed. No special vehicles, IR cameras, fancy surveillance gear...