My opinions:
1) Only the local sheriff’s (elected) office should form SWAT teams and carry out SWAT activities including no-knock raids
2) Such raids should require the signature of the Sheriff and a Judge to attest under penalty of perjury that there are exigent circumstances and the no-knock raid is required to preserve life and limb of civilians.
3) The sheriff’s office is liable for any and all damages and injuries resulting from a violation of this procedure.
I’d add one thing to your excellent list:
A marked police car must be involved in all no-knock raids. And just before the target’s door is breached, that police car must turn on its lights and siren.
Give whomever is inside at least a clue that it’s the cops coming through the door, and not a burglar.
Some might say that the lights and siren would deprive the cops of the element of surprise. I’d say that breaking down a door would do that anyway.
“The sheriff’s office is liable for any and all damages and injuries resulting from a violation of this procedure.”
Well, liable for deaths and injuries means someone goes to jail. Otherwise they’re not really “liable” at all. Writing a check isn’t going to bring an innocent person back to life, or deter the people who murdered him from doing it again, since it isn’t even their money.