Posted on 04/01/2012 5:32:48 PM PDT by Behind Liberal Lines
Fred Skinner, 76, of Victory, was caught off-guard on Tuesday when police officers broke through his front door during a drug raid, only to find out they had the wrong house
Skinner said at least six police officers broke into his house, smashed through his porch door, and then his front door. The house at on McNeely Road was raided for drugs for over five minutes before police realized they had the wrong house by looking through his mail. After the police realized it was the wrong house, they took the handcuffs off him and left.
Auburn police officers were involved in the raid conducted by the Finger Lakes Drug Task Force. Auburn Police Chief Gary Giannotta admitted the mistake and told WSYR that he only remembers police raiding a wrong house four times in the last 16 years.
Isn't this a federal crime all by itself?
And that’s four times in the last 16 years for this ONE police department.
Multiply it by the thousands of police and sheriff’s departments across the country, and you get this sad fact....the War on Drugs has evolved into a war against the privacy, dignity, freedom and even safety of the American people.
Yeah, I’m glad no dogs were shot, too.
I found that comment to be asinine!
“raiding a wrong house four times in the last 16 years.”
And he is proud of that record?
The worst thing is how it degrades public trust. There's nothing wrong with SWAT teams, if they're used as needed. For hostage situations, for example (which is how they were sold to the public). Even then, however, they shouldn't be used in lieu of trying to talk someone down. Now they're used for everything, and every police force has their own team, funded by federal dollars and what they can seize.
SWAT teams are like guns, or fire - they have to be considered special tools for special things. When you need them, you REALLY need them. And when you don't, you REALLY don't. A society advances to the degree it can properly use it's growing power. When the power outgrows the proper use of it, it ends up devouring the very society it purports to be serving.
Isn't this a federal crime all by itself?
Yes, it is...
the infowarrior
"Consider this one a warning, citizen."
Oh! Well, then, nothing to see here, move along! [facepalm]
Bullcrap. These nitwits would probably throw the guy's mailbox in the back of the trash truck and leave his trash sitting by the curb.
Absolutely spot on.
SWAT are specialists, and so they should be. Got a friend who is a SWAT sniper. 95% of the time she works as a normal cop with her regular partner who is also her spotter.
She has said that they are being called out more and more often for things that would ordinarily be done by the regular cops.
She is mega peeved at it - compares it to using Marines to break up a playground fight, plus it throws their shifts all to hell.
Mostly it is political. Mayor wants to look tough on crime? Use the SWAT team. Budget appropriations due? Use the SWAT team to keep the funding.
Follow-up on break-in posted last week: Once the press got hold of the story, cops compensated the wronged homeowner, per OP.
And this lovely quote FTA: Auburn Police Chief Gary Giannotta admitted the mistake and told WSYR that he only remembers police raiding a wrong house four times in the last 16 years.
And how many violated persons and dead dogs in those homes, Chief?
I agree with you and the original poster...these SWAT teams are special teams for a very special purpose...serving search warrants when no threat is perceived should not be one of them. Also, it seems now every force just has to have one.
One more thing, no knock middle of the night raids are misused IMO. Storming into one’s home in the middle of the night over a non violent crime perceived to be taking place or evidence thereof on the premise should not be sufficient reason for knocking down someone’s door and storming in like some kind of commando attacking enemy HQ. Compounding that by handcuffing a 76yo person who did not seem to be a risk seems beyond the pale. FWIW, I have served quite a few SWs in my time both as a team member and leader. NOTHING like this ever happened because the activity was planned and the degree of force was designed for the event. No one shot, no dogs killed and no mistaken addresses either on my watch. “4 in 16 years” like that is something to be proud of. Seems indictable.
That happening a few times to the judges or officers that perpetrate things crimes would maybe have the powers that be take a little pause and little care before issuing or conducting one of these warrants.
BTW, what is so all fired important with these raids that It’s necessary to put the public and LEO’s in danger with these sort of tactics?
But wait! There's more!
Breaking and entering, destruction of property, illegal detention, assault and battery, etc.
How about that Richard Jewell/Janet Reno SNL skit as a “remedy”?
Once a week for a year, the homeowner gets to kick the miscreants in the crotch as hard as they want.
Seriously, though, if LEOs have a warrant,
walk up to the door with the warrant in hand and the handgun in the holster. Knock, serve the warrant.
That's about four times too many. Where's the accountability? I'm sure there's away to pinpoint the house you're going to raid before you do it. Haven't these guys heard of google or yahoo maps?
And have a few back-up officers waiting in back for the ones who try to duck out...
Once a week for a year, the homeowner gets to kick the miscreants in the crotch as hard as they want.
LOL! That would make them think twice.
I don’t really understand what is so all fired important that they need those no-knock warrants – because someone may dump the evidence down the toilet???
THAT makes it worth putting a bunch of people in danger? As a last resort, why can’t they just test for drug residue in the commode? Besides, if you’ve got a lot in your ‘stash’ won’t it take awhile to get rid of it?
[Hmmm maybe that’s the true reason the Federalies mandated low-flow toilets anyway]
Yep, no problem.
Just no more “dynamic entries”. Ever. At all.
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