I will not argue the law's right to enter the premises in each of the aforementioned cases. However, one common thread runs through all of them. In none of those cases did the need of the law to enter, outweigh the safety of the unarmed non-combatants who had broken no laws. The use of SWAT style raids in serving warrants is OUT OF CONTROL. Under the same circumstances, meaning criminals mixed with unarmed civilians, SWAT would NEVER storm a building with armed hold up men or armed and barricaded suspects, unless the lives of the innocent civilians were in immediate danger. I'm sorry, but the need to secure evidence in a criminal case should NEVER take precedence over human lives. It's cowboy police work at it's worst.That, friends, is so full of win it hurts. Vote "No" on the retention of bully-boy justice Steven David this Fall.
(H/T to Rational Gun.)
7 comments:
He boldly states he's a LEO and a citizen.
The problem is the portion of LEOs that feel their badges somehow elevate them above the second part. (too many of them, in my observation)
Hell I know and work with armed security guys that think they have some sort of elevated status and like to throw the word civilian around like too many cops do. Worst part is this is in a state that has both constructional carry laws and strong citizens arrest laws.
It is important to not be so invested in our worldviews that we cannot process the words in front of us.
1 Cops are civilians. They are not subject to the UCMJ, and are therefore not military, and are subject to CIVIL authority.
2 Ever notice that the cops never do the no knock thing when the occupants are armed and ready? It's easy to be a badass when you are stomping puppies, intimidating soccer moms, and gunning down little old ladies. They aren't as gung ho when they know that there is a gunnie with a .308 rifle on the other side of the door.
When I teach at the police academy, I always tell them that getting evidence, catching some criminal, or following these rules is less important that a citizen's, or their, lives.
A good police officer wants EVERYONE to live through the shift.
Divemedic: on #2: Yup.
If someone is really dangerous, they will traffic stop or otherwise corner him somewhere in the middle of nowhere, and set dogs on him while shooting him if he gets froggy.
( which explains my usual advice to three-pers: If it's getting that bad, STFU and set up a safehouse. Competent cops won't let you have your little Alamo. )
OMG, a fellow LEO still possessed of common sense and not filled with a strong sense of us vs them. I gotta make this guy's acquantance. Sometimes I feel awfully alone anymore in this profession, when I espouse similar thoughts (as I have done here before).
Damn near every new prospective hire, when asked about future aspirations in a hiring board setting, comes out with "Well, I'd like to go to SWAT", like it's the only job worth having on the police department.
What he said about the overuse of SWAT teams for warrant service is something I've complained loudly about. He made a good point about how it's hard to identify someone's credentials when the first contact is a Halligan tool and the wrong end of an M4.
This leads to a lot of mistakes, both on the part of the person being awakened in the middle of the night, and on the part of the cops for not understanding the first suprised reaction might be self defense just as they themselves would react.
The thing he mentioned about home invaders using police tactics and shouting police as they break into a targeted residence has happened around here too, which is also something which seems to be ignored in the planning of many of these raids.
I've done my share of dynamic entries, many of which I felt were necessary and justified. Lately though dynamic entries seem to be the routine warrant service default. I have had equal luck with old fashioned techniques. Hell, I've even served felony arrest warrants by telephoning the defendant and having him/her come on down to the PD to turn themselves in.
I watched the John Stossel report he mentioned (I think it was "Everything's Illegal) and was appalled at some of the things done by police agencies in the guise of "protecting the public". Things I wouldn't get involved in or allow my officers to get involved in and which shouldn't even be a police matter are routinely enforced in certain areas of the country (thankfully Oklahoma has yet to go totally bat-shit crazy like some states).
I am thankful that there are still officers like glocktogo out there, suddenly I'm not feeling as lonely anymore.
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