just some thoughts
Coloradokevin:
I doubt I'd have had any time to react anyway.
In your case, and also true for most others, that is probably true. However, "Dynamic Entries" can be fought through and resisted. It takes training and focus to do it. The first thing to be aware of is that it CAN happen.
This was obviously a bad situation, human error.
You are correct, Sir. It wasn't a computer which broke the door and fired tear-gas canisters into a residence wherein was sleeping a three year old child.
It sounds like the agency is trying to rectify the situation, and it certainly was a big bold mistake.
By repairing the door? Are ANY of these individuals going to be held legally accountable for
breaking and entering and endangering a small child? Hmmmm...
But, SWAT teams don't come lightly through a door. When they are utilized on warrants it is because of the risks of that warrant (same reason that they use a no-knock, versus the typical knock-and-announce).
I second what TCB said. If the subect is THAT dangerous, why not take him down when he leaves the residence? Why not THEN execute the search warrant on the residence? Makes you think...Hmmmmmmm
In short, when our SWAT team bursts through the door, they do so because it is too risky for the uniformed officer to try to knock and say "police, we have a warrant... open the door". Some people really are bad folks, and they are already in a position of advantage by being inside of their house. On occasion we have to level the playing field!
Maybe YOU and your "brother officers" should consider this...
1. You get paid to do the job, if it is too risky, find another line of work.
2. Knock and announce allows the home owner inside to read the warrant and say something like, "Dear black-clad Gentlemen, this isn't the house you're looking for. So-and-so doesn't live here, he lives the next block over. If you read your warrant there, it says 3806 Main St., not 3606 Main St..
3. Bad folks, huh? You don't say...position of advantage...? Maybe wait until he isn't in a position of advantage and take him then... Hmmm? Then execute the search and gather all the evidence from the target house with NO RESISTANCE. But then there would be no NEED for all that paramilitary SWAT gear and cool guy stuff.
Give me a break. Another conspiracy theory!
NO!!! Nothing like the Atlanta case (previously mentioned) has ever happened before!
And it'll never happen again!
but that doesn't in any way mean they would plant contraband to make you look bad in the press...
Read his post again, he was speaking of
after the fact, after he had resisted, and after the SWAT team had realized it had made a royal blunder...Do you really think it improbable?
No, it is not. It is JUSTIFIED criticism.
Crying "Cop Bashing!! Cop Bashing!!" is a broad-brush smear intended to stop a discussion in which you are uncomfortable.
I DO NOT know cops commiting felonies on the job. I don't know cops planting evidence, and I wouldn't begin to cover up for one who was... Yes, police officers are known for looking out for their "brother" officers. But, any cop who does these sort of things is no brother of mine.
KUDOS! Rarely is such a statement made aloud. I pray that you are sincere.
In fact, a couple of guys have been fired from my department within the past two years because other officers found out about illegal things they were doing, and turned them in.
So you know of it happening, but you didn't know THEM personally... I gotcha!
How about this, suppose you know of several Cops who were involved in a bad shoot, you aren't involved in the post-event investigation, but pretty much everyone in your department knows the deal, you become aware of an institutional cover-up. Everyone in your department knows full well it is a white-wash. Would YOU call B.S.? Would YOU resign your position with the department?
If you care to, check out the Congressional hearings in 1995 about the Waco incident . In the hearings, documents were presented in which it was shown that ATF directed it's own agents to STOP the shooting review because they were creating "Brady material". For those unfamiliar with the term, Brady material would tend to exculpate the accused. How many ATF agents resigned in disgust? Just curious.
Wouldn't lie? Wouldn't plant evidence? Never happen, huh....?
Kevin, Don't take this healthy criticism as an indictment of YOU personally, nor of all SWAT team members, nor of Cops generally. This was a royal foul up. You are correct. However, the criticism isn't of all cops and all SWAT team members. The criticism is of the OVER USE of this type of tactic. More importantly, the criticism is of how the
screw-ups, in this case ATF agents, never seem to be held accountable for their actions.
You, Kevin, and your fellow Cops can and should help prevent this. Don't cover for them, don't make excuses for them, don't look the other way and whistle when it happens. Advocate for this kind of action to be punished...as it would be for us "mere citizens".