Neighbors call tactics in drug raid militaristic

Eugene Register guard | 12-05-2002 | Rebecca Nolan

[thepitts]

"I call it a terrorist act because it terrorized the neighborhood.

A terrorist act, I agree, but will they be brought to justice?

[Lloyd227]

"Police defend their actions "

Well of course they do, don't be rediculous! :-)

[DAnconia55]

I'm so sick and tired of these assaults on the Gestapo and their tactics

It may not be too long before people start laying ambushes, and...

[GovernmentShrinker]

Sometimes, these military-style raids are the only way to protect the safety of the law enforcement officers, but this

We don't know who we're dealing with when we go through the door."

is a problem. In the type of setting described (neighborhood of single family homes) they should know exactly who's inside the house, and a good deal about each person as well. Sounds as of they simply favor aggressive assault over skilled surveillance and intelligence work. In other types of settings, such as huge public housing apartment buildings, or even smaller apartment buildings, there is no way to conduct thorough surveillance without arousing suspicion amoung the targets and/or their questionable neighbors. Maybe they're being given funding for the military assault equipment, but not for high-tech surveillance equipment. Anybody have any solid info on that angle?

[Lloyd227]

"Sounds as of they simply favor aggressive assault over skilled surveillance and intelligence work. "

Aggressive assault it LOTS more fun. Ask any of these special weapons and tactics wannabes why they do this for a living and, among other reasons, you will hear at least one mention of "the adrenaline rush"

[headsonpikes]

"Officer Safety" bump.

There should be trials.

[Rocksalt]

"In the type of setting described (neighborhood of single family homes) they should know exactly who's inside the house, and a good deal about each person as well."

Seems like they did.The location where this raid took place is about a block from the neighborhood police station and a few blocks from the SWAT team headquarters.Right on a busy main street easily watched.

[willyone]

The one I love is on the old COPS show when they are busting some dope for soliciting a ho and tell him with a solemn voice that they are really concerned he may get Aids. Get the hell out of here. Many people who go into police work just like to push people around. Not all but far to many for the good of society.

[lonewacko_dot_com]

"This type of display will likely cost them as the next time they ask for tax increases for more "public safety" funds"

They're double hurting because if they'd found some pot, they could have taken the houses as booty. Now, no booty and bad PR.

[Rocksalt]

I realise there is a need for police officers and have run into quite a few who have been fair with me.I have been warned instead of ticketed for traffic infractions several times.And had many other positive interactions with other ones too,but this sort of thing makes me wonder if they have too much power in certain circumstances,which is an understatement.

[Rocksalt]

Yeah,pretty much nothing but bad PR in this instance I'm afraid. This particular force is quite well equiped for a town of it's size I might add. Seems they came a little overdressed to this engagement.

[adx]

Stories like this make me think that SWAT should be under UCMJ as a condition of employment (or come up with a similar parallel system if that runs afoul of Posse Comitatus concerns). Something like that could put a stop to some of the more egregious acts.

[Joe Hadenuf]

Jezzz, all this over pot plants?

This is spectacularly stupid. I could only wish that our law enforcement would get this crazy about the titanic invasion of millions of illegal aliens crashing our borders and defecating on our sovereignty.

This is embarrassing!

[Atlas Sneezed]

"...(authorities found) several high-powered fans, fluorescent lights, plastic sheeting, timers, potting soil, fertilizer, plant food, sandwich bags, a scale, 24 electrical outlets and a shop vacuum..."

Welcome to ordinary America!

And welcome to the "standing army" our founders feared!

[philman_36]

When reading articles like this I usually get the mental image of a boot stomping on a human face, forever.
(where is that jpg when you need it...)

[philman_36]

And welcome to the "standing army" our founders feared!

Ta-Da!
Say it again Beelzebubba!

[Sir Francis Dashwood]

...saying pot dealers are as dangerous as meth dealers is not true.

I disagree. If you are a hunter and happen upon someone's marijuana patch in the hills near harvest time, you could have a gun battle with one of these idiots. (Fortunately, I can peel off some pretty good groups at 1000 meters.) Like I said, I think it should be legalized, but I consider these folks just as crimminal as the methamphetamine crowd, more paranoid, and would not want any child of mine near them (provided I ever have any).

I have been around the block a few times. I don't buy that medicinal pot garbage either.

I don't differentiate my opinion of drug abusers based on their drug of choice. I think alcoholics are the worst...

[golder]

but this sort of thing makes me wonder if they have too much power in certain circumstances,which is an understatement.

The police have always had the power to abuse. They rarely did. They were proud pillars of the community. The position of "law enforcement" required, and received, people who were willing to serve, and protect. You might say it was a calling. Sounds a bit mushy, but true. Where did things go wrong?

P.S. I still have the opportunity to associate with some of them.

One last thought, today they sometimes deal with a SOB who is psycho and strung out, very dangerous, not just stoned hippies of yesteryear.

[GGpaX4DumpedTea]

Local law enforcement in Portland Oregon, and justifying this case is not the case in my reply to you, has nothing to do with Federal immigration authorities stoping or not stoping illegals crossing the border. Get your facts straight before you comment like some libertarian (small l no accident).

And before your get your knickers in a bind, I like the illegals crossing the border maybe even more than you do - I think we need to tell Fox (not the news media FOX) where to go.