Based apon my limited understanding, (forensics is not my trade, nor a hobby) with advances in forensic science, its nearly impossible to totally destroy evidence of crimminal activity.
Yes and no, some evidence especially computer evidence is VERY easily destroyed. Beyond that even if evidence is not
completely destroyed it may be destroyed, or altered, enough to make proof beyond a reasonable doubt impossible.
Sorry, but I'm not willing to let murderers, drug dealers, child molestors, identity thieves, rapists, theives, etc, etc, destroy the evidence while "pretending" to verify the warrant.
As for the 4 thugs pretending to be cops kicking in the door at 4AM, well if you've got time to mount a counter assault you've got time to quickly peek out any window. I guarantee, there is no mistaking a few thugs, for what will be outside your house on a real dynamic entry. On any warrant where there will be the likelyhood of a dynamic entry you will have tons of personnel present, not just doing the entry, but also securing the area around the dwelling. Not only will there be a team coming in the doors/windows, but there will also be a slew of people outside.
My most recent warrant service was three agencies. Like the vast majority of warrants it was being served in daylight, and was knock and announce. It was not considered a "high threat" warrant, so no SWAT team, but there were three marked cruisers, 4 uniformed officers, and over 15 plainclothes LEOs who had all the "colors" prominently displayed.
See the difference between the real thing, and the thugs?
Is it possible two, three, or four cops will serve a warrant? Sure, but they aren't doing that if they think there is even the slightest chance that entry will be refused, because if the SHTF they don't have enough people to control the situation, and maintain safety for everyone. So that scenario is extremely rare.
As for this:
I think you would agree that all WE'RE saying is that you guys need to do ALL your homework first to made dang sure you're kicking the right door down." goes to the heart of the problem.
We do, and the Nixon era mistakes that Art referenced have resulted in EXTREME caution to ensure the correct address. I can't change the mistakes from three decades ago, but I can tell you EVERY LEO I work with is extremely careful to make sure we are following the law, and keeping EVERYONE safe, not just the cops.
Contrary to F4GIB's claims that there is indifference to, or even glee about, the dangers presented to EVERYONE, what I see at work, across the board with fed, state, and local LEOs, is a desire to do things in a responsibile manner, that ensures we do not needlessly hurt or intimidate anyone, including the suspects. Some here will never believe that what I've described it true, but I've worked for two agencies, and done warrant service in three different states, working with dozens of different agencies (fed, state and local), and the attitude I've described is the attitude I have seen displayed across the board on the job. We are trained to operate that way, and that's how we do it.
