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?
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"
Well, of course, silly...(rolling eyes and clucking tongue) skilled surveillance and intellingence work takes skill and intellingence. Agressive assault merely needs an assaultive personality and a weapon, and the po-lice have plenty of both of those. Why spend time surveiling when you can use your fun toys, rip people out of bed naked, and watch others tremble before your mighty show of force?