Nobody here is arguing that this was a good thing. Or that the cops involved should not be disciplined for stupidity. It was a mistake. And they need to be responsible for their mistakes.
What I'm arguing against is the attitude by many on this thread that cops should put their guns away and politely ask if the meth heads would like to come to jail.
Twenty years ago, I hung with bad guys. I'm not proud of it. But the folks on this thread have lead a sheltered life in terms of their knowledge of what goes on in bad-guy land. The bad guys really are nuts and they really do have lots of guns and they actually regard killing a cop as a mark of honor.
I've been in the room when a no-knock search happens. It was sudden and very professional. Noone got hurt (including me) because the force was so sudden and so overwhelming that noone in the room had time to reach for their gun. (And there were guns all over the room for someone to grab and be stupid with.) You have no idea how many guns can be pointed at you from a single doorway all at once.
"Knock knock, it's the police" is not-unlikely to result in a shotgun blast thru the door where the knock came from. Had that happened when I was in the room, you suddenly have an armed standoff created by one coked-up or methed-up jerk who panics. So no-knocks handled properly probably save a lot of lives.
We all are panty-waists, innocent lambs etc.. We’ll defer to your past shady experiences and take that as gospel.
Well, just let’s insure they “NO KNOCK” at the right address, or better yet, surveille the crap out the situation and take them out on a lonely street in a car where kids etc are not likley to be in the beaten zone.
If the Army acted (in combat) like the AFT, we’d have been drummed out existence long ago.
My freedom is more important than “security*” (*provided by government).
MolonLabe
If a government agent breaks into a dwelling at 123 E. Fifth Street, without a warrant authorizing him to do break into 123 E. Fifth Street, and in the absence of obvious exigent circumstances that would justify such a break-in, why should he not be regarded and prosecuted as a robber? Even if he has in his possession a warrant for 125 E. Fifth Street or 123 E. Sixth Street, such a warrant in no way authorizes him to enter 123 E. Fifth Street.
I've never heard of a cop being prosecuted as a robber under such circumstances, but I see no reason one shouldn't be.
The ATF dolts told the home owner whose house the raided that SHE was at the wrong place ! They did not apologize let alone REPAIR THE DAMAGE DONE TO HER HOME ! I will gladly bet you a 10 dollar bill to a box of donuts that there will not even be a reprimand for such a basic screw up as not having a clue as to were they are supposed to be going on a raid.