Since January 2000 alone, six SWAT teams were put into action in the state, most recently in tiny Forest County, where only 18 patrol officers serve a 1,000-square-mile jurisdiction with a population of just over 9,000.
Good info...also interesting that this was PRE 9-11.
To sell local governments on the need for SWAT teams, police officials usually talk about preparedness for terrorist incidents or barricaded hostage situations. But once trained, SWAT personnel are most commonly used to serve drug warrants and make drug arrests. The federal war on drugs provides powerful incentives for stepped-up police activity, handing out money on the basis of the number of arrests scored.
Gov't can always find the funds to police us CITIZENS.....