[Myrddin]

My local PD did a SWAT operation at 1:15 AM. The suspects were in a trailer. The officers announced their presence, followed with a flash/bang grenade and entered the premises. The suspect was waiting with a .357mag revolver. One officer took a round through both buttocks and one in the back that left a very deep bruise. Had he not been wearing his vest, it would have gone right though his heart. The other officer was hit in the collarbone through the vest. It broke his collarbone. The officers observed the 2nd suspect, a female, and a small child in the room. They didn't return fire. The suspects escaped in a car and were apprehended the following day in another city.

The SWAT operation was an arrest warrant for both suspects in the trailer. Both were convicted felons. They now face additional charges as felons in possession of a firearm and attempted murder of two police officers.

[wildbill]

That's a good anectdote. There are SWAT raids that work and are valid.

But I don't see that it has much relevance to the Maye debate.

[supercat]

The suspects escaped in a car and were apprehended the following day in another city.

In other words, the cops felt it appropriate to use forcible entry, but not appropriate to place spikes on the road in front of a potential escape vehicle (such action would not have harmed the vehicle if the suspect was captured without trying to use it; the cops could simply pick up the spikes and leave)