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The Case for SWAT Teams (Mend them, don't end them.)
Pajamas Media ^ | June 8, 2011 | Mike McDaniel

Posted on 06/09/2011 10:11:36 AM PDT by Kaslin

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1 posted on 06/09/2011 10:11:39 AM PDT by Kaslin
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To: Kaslin

Saw on Drudge they used a swat to raid a guy over unpaid student loans.


2 posted on 06/09/2011 10:18:30 AM PDT by driftdiver (I could eat it raw, but why do that when I have a fire.)
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To: Kaslin
Another problem is that such higher-ranking officers often don’t know what they don’t know. Instead of assigning the smartest, most fit, self-motivated, detail-oriented, and capable officers to the team, they assign instead the most overtly aggressive, those they want to reward through enhanced prestige, or those who will not in any way challenge their authority or make them look bad by comparison.

So they want non thinking gorillas, there's a shocker there....sarcasm intended

Link to another SWAT blunder, served a warrant issued by the Dept of Education over student loans. http://www.news10.net/news/article/141108/2/Questions-surround-feds-raid-of-Stockton-home

3 posted on 06/09/2011 10:22:17 AM PDT by eak3
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To: Kaslin
There is absolutely no reason for cities and municipalities to have control over a Quasi Military force. If your regular police force can not handle tough situations, they are incompetent.


4 posted on 06/09/2011 10:23:27 AM PDT by Lazlo in PA (Now living in a newly minted Red State.)
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To: Kaslin
A poorly trained, led, and equipped team is more dangerous than no team at all.

Well, yes. That's true. But the real problem (as seen in the Guerena case) is that SWAT seem to have been given de facto power of life and death. Have any members of that murderous death-squad been charged yet?

And now SWAT are being used for debt collection! No matter how well trained they are, that is wrong.

5 posted on 06/09/2011 10:23:59 AM PDT by agere_contra ("Debt is the foundation of destruction" : Sarah Palin.)
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To: Kaslin

Well, if we must have them, how about restricting them to one state-run team per state? Surely the real need for SWAT support is so uncommon that one team per state - and a standby helicopter to transport them - would suffice?


6 posted on 06/09/2011 10:23:59 AM PDT by Grut
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To: Kaslin

Most SWAT teams should be disbanded. They create more problems than they solve. Maybe a State level SWAT team would work. Major cities might need one if crime is out of control. Chicago, Detroit, Los Angeles, Miami?


7 posted on 06/09/2011 10:24:31 AM PDT by faucetman (Just the facts ma'am, just the facts)
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To: Kaslin

And let's not forget this jack-booted thug.

8 posted on 06/09/2011 10:25:02 AM PDT by mgstarr ("Some of us drink because we're not poets." Arthur (1981))
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To: driftdiver

Yeah, but it was his estranged wife’s unpaid student loans. He didn’t even know where she lived


9 posted on 06/09/2011 10:26:04 AM PDT by Kaslin (Acronym for OBAMA: One Big Ass Mistake America)
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To: Kaslin

I’m increasingly hearing the term swat team used as a verb. As in, they swat-teamed him.
Not a good trend.


10 posted on 06/09/2011 10:26:55 AM PDT by real saxophonist (The fact that you play tuba doesn't make you any less lethal. -USMC bandsman in Iraq)
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To: Kaslin

Even better eh, weren’t swat teams supposed to be used for high risk events and not bill collecting?

The guy could have easily been killed, not to mention his dogs.


11 posted on 06/09/2011 10:29:23 AM PDT by driftdiver (I could eat it raw, but why do that when I have a fire.)
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To: Grut

oh cmon now, what the heck would they do with all those toys?


12 posted on 06/09/2011 10:30:17 AM PDT by driftdiver (I could eat it raw, but why do that when I have a fire.)
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To: real saxophonist

You better watch out, they might just start swat-teaming people for wrong thinking.


13 posted on 06/09/2011 10:33:19 AM PDT by Titus Quinctius Cincinnatus ("Armed forces abroad are of little value unless there is prudent counsel at home." - Cicero)
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To: Kaslin

SWAT teams need to go, period.


14 posted on 06/09/2011 10:35:48 AM PDT by Emperor Palpatine (Here you are in the Ninth - two men out and two men on.)
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To: Kaslin

The Case for SWAT Teams (Mend them, don't end them.)


So much bull shit, so little time.

15 posted on 06/09/2011 10:40:55 AM PDT by EdReform (Oath Keepers - Guardians of the Republic - Honor your oath - Join us: www.oathkeepers.org)
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To: agere_contra

It is not just Swat that seem to have been given de facto power of life and death, look at the Las Vegas Costco killing. Remember police are not your friend.


16 posted on 06/09/2011 10:49:06 AM PDT by Ratman83
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To: Emperor Palpatine
Special Weapons And Tactics

No Unreasonable Search And Seizure

No Cruel And Unusual Punishment

So, which prevail in the end?

17 posted on 06/09/2011 10:52:53 AM PDT by BwanaNdege (For those who have fought for it, Life bears a savor the protected will never know.)
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To: Kaslin
The problem with SWAT Teams is once formed they MUST be used to justify their existence and as there are very few "Hostage/Terrorists situations (for which they were ostensibly thought to be needed) they are then left to be called upon for the service of routine Warrants and even low-level drug raids.

That and the fact that after receiving all their new shiny "toys" from Uncle Sam, they are like little boys on Christmas morning and can't wait to use them...even if in situations which are uncalled for.

They need to be held accountable for their actions and whatever government body in which they are located should enact some very strict guidelines when they can be deployed.

Secondly, they should be afforded no immunity for their conduct and if thru negligence or over enthusiasm, cause destruction of property or harm innocent individuals, they should be held PERSONALLY liable as well as jointly with the local/state government.

Also, if they operate in an honorable and prescribed manner, WHY need to hide (like cowards or terrorists) their identities by wearing masks?

Waaaaaay too many have let their power go to their heads as they know regardless of their actions (they mostly have unfettered power of life and death over those they "target") very, very few are held accountable for their actions.

IMHO, it will take several incidents whereby a homeowner decides (RIGHTLY) to protect his castle and some of these "Cowboy Jackbooted Thugs" begin to get carried out in body bags for any serious thought and discussions of their usefulness to be reconsidered.

18 posted on 06/09/2011 11:06:56 AM PDT by Conservative Vermont Vet (l)
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To: Kaslin

A full time SWAT team with nothing to do but train most of the time would appear to be a costly problem waiting to happen. SWAT trained and equipped patrol officers assigned on each shift are a sensible alternative, and are less likely to be abused simply because they are readily available.


19 posted on 06/09/2011 11:34:27 AM PDT by JimRed (Excising a cancer before it kills us waters the Tree of Liberty! TERM LIMITS, NOW AND FOREVER!)
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To: Kaslin; SmithL; Eyes Unclouded; Rodney King; Redcitizen; ellery; dcwusmc; Forgotten Amendments; ...
"Whoops... Sorry, citizen. We thought you were someone else" PING

Click the link to be added to the "Whoops. Sorry, citizen. We thought you were someone else" PING list.

20 posted on 06/09/2011 11:51:10 AM PDT by The KG9 Kid
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