I try not to be knee jerk about this one way or the other, but it seems to me a lot of PDs have decided serving routine warrants requires a SWAT squad, breaking down doors in the middle of the night, and shooting the family dog.
It's human nature. Once they have all those cool federally funded toys, they find a reason to use them.
Your right, I did find a use for the ammo cans I got from the Feds. I took them home and filled them full of ammo and other supplies I’m going to need when the fit hits the shan.
The Bushnell 10X binoculars have come in handy for the birding excursions my wife and I go on.
Yes they have to use them or they can’t justify them. Without expanding the use of SWAT there just isn’t enough high risk events to justify a SWAT team in most jurisdictions.