Free Republic

“In this era of mass incarceration, the police shouldn’t be trusted any more than any other witness, perhaps less so. That may sound harsh, but numerous law enforcement officials have put the matter more bluntly. . . . Police departments have been rewarded in recent years for the sheer numbers of stops, searches and arrests. In the war on drugs, federal grant programs like the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program have encouraged state and local law enforcement agencies to boost drug arrests in order to compete for millions of dollars in funding. Agencies receive cash rewards for arresting...

Tucson Police confirm that a weapon they found in Jose Guerena's home had been stolen in 2008. SWAT officers killed Guerena in his southwest side home last month when they went to serve a search warrant. Investigators say Guerena pointed an assault rifle at officers when they went in the house.

Pima County Sheriff's Department today responded to the controversy surrounding the death of a man shot and killed by deputies earlier this month. Attorney Mike Storie says that contrary to what the Guerena's wife's attorney said, the SWAT team made it very clear they were police and they were there to serve a search warrant. Storie says they used lights and sirens, and eventually pounded on the door for about 45 seconds before going in. Once inside, Storie admits the victim did not fire at the SWAT team, but he says the victim's actions still warranted the response that law...