First, I doubt very seriously that the SWAT teams,as a whole, have any kind of physiological screening. Mine doesn't. This is a critical fault because you don't need cowboys on a SWAT team - the number of “non-targets” in and around a SWAT operation greatly out number the officers and objectives of the raid. Hitting a non-target should result in immediate removal from the SWAT team plus every SWAT member involved in the raid need to be decertified and sent back through training.
Second, I doubt very seriously that most SWAT teams have to re qualify on a regular basis. If SWAT is the top of the ladder then they MUST ensure that everyone is at the top of their game all the time. If you don't have a regular re certification program how do you know the quality of the team.
Third, I would pay the SWAT team a bonus for every raid that is executed that they don't fire their weapons. Right now they have all these nifty toys and a hard ass image to live up to.
Yes, I realize that we only hear about the botched raids. But what is the threshold for the acceptable number of “non-target” WIA/KIA? It will be much better for the individual SWAT organizations to develop and maintain a quality control program on their own rather than having it forced upon them by the courts. It is coming - the question is which way interferes with SWAT operations the least?
You appear to be the rarity, though. Too many people condone this military-bullshit when it isn't necessary -- and no-knocks are absurd. There are ways to serve warrants that would allow for protection of evidence AND do away with no knocks. For example: Simply turn off the water to a given street or house first. Flushing is impossible.
I believe that you are one of the decent ones,Nip. We need more like you, but you and those like you are going the way of the DoDo bird.