Tiny Georgia police department posts terrifying SWAT video

Washington Post ^ | August 13, 2014 | Radley Balko

[bamahead]

The continuing crisis in Ferguson, Mo., has everyone talking about police militarization again. So while we’re on the topic, have a look at the horrifying video above from Doraville, Ga. The video depicts a SWAT training operation for a downed officer. At least as of this writing, the video was posted on the front page of the Doraville Police Department Web site.

The audio and effects were added by a YouTube user who goes by Patriotsix6. He uploaded the video in 2009. The images at the beginning and end are from The Punisher, the fictional character described by Wikipedia as “a vigilante who employs murder, kidnapping, extortion, coercion, threats of violence, and torture in his war on crime.” The audio is the song “Die Motherf—-r Die” by 'Dope'.

Doraville is a town of about 8,500 people, in the northeast suburbs of Atlanta...

[LevinFan]

“can you show me please where this Dept states they shoot through hostages as their ROE?

Nah didn’t think so”

ROE? Who needs those? And COPS JUST DID EXACTLY THAT. 10 rounds though a hostage. One or two incidental rounds, I could understand. But 10? That is a clear message they didn’t even try not to hit the hostage.

[Half Vast Conspiracy]

You got a panty fetish, don’t you?

[cripplecreek]

Didn’t do anything to me but I’m not a monkey dancing on a democrat string.

[Lazamataz]

Doraville has always been twitchy. I know this department. They are one of the very first in America with an M113 armored transport.

Note the emblem. Nothing about "protecting" or "serving", but "Battle Born". Oh, YAY.

This department is not in an especially tough neighborhood.

Now, that's the downside. They also have a positive side. I got in trouble in Doraville, and they recognized I wasn't necessarily a bad guy. They got me a lot of slack cut and I used it to straighten up. I even called the arresting officer after I had some clean and sober time and thanked him.

Are they wayyyy past gung-ho with the equipment? Oh yeah.

Are they the worst department in Georgia? No.

[Lazamataz]

The fact that a town of 8500 has a dozen man SWAT team with automatic weapons and an APC...and are ANXIOUS to use them.

Please see my above.

Also, a few notes: They are indeed only a town of 8500. HOWEVER, they are nestled in a crowded area. Chamblee is to one side, and that town is huge, and unincorporated Dekalb County surrounds them (and is pretty densely packed). So, this may be a tiny town, but it is not in the middle of the wilderness somewhere.

Secondly, while they do in fact have an M113, I don't recall them using it a lot, if at all, in the 10 years I have lived near them. So they've had it a long time and they don't seem to be particularly anxious to use it.

Thirdly, they are not the worst department I have ever dealt with. See my story.

All that said, it still stands my little neck hairs up they have it at all.

[FromDoraville]

The video was posted to YT by the son of one of the SWAT team members. The Doraville PD has linked to it for a long time. I don’t think they gave it a second thought. There is a sign on the back of the APC that reads “aggravated assault”. That picture is on their FB page as of tonight.

[apoliticalone]

I like police that know their place, as in civil servants sworn to protect and defend the public who pay their salaries. Arrogance and police abuse or police militarization has no place in America. As a conservative I didn’t always feel this way and what is becoming a threat from LE. We need government that is responsive to the citizens, instead of attempting to rule over the citizens.

If the government defended our borders and retained our culture and kept our own economy strong (instead of giving to China) instead of importing cheap labor for the oligarch bankers we would not be having these problems.

[Steve_Seattle]

My first and only experience with militarized cops was during the anti-WTO demonstrations in Seattle back in the late 90s. For the most part, the demonstrators were limited to violence just above the "petty" level: broken windows, smashed windshields, burning trashcans, etc. There was little if any crimes against persons, and I think there was very little, if any, looting.

The police response to this was to be decked out in Darth Vader helmets and capes, riding around in military-type vehicles, and looking stupid, like little boys playing war. Although I had little regard for the protesters, the police response was rather chilling and over-the-top, maybe intentionally so, and not something to be encouraged in a free society.

[Steve_Seattle]

"If the government defended our borders and retained our culture and kept our own economy strong (instead of giving to China) instead of importing cheap labor for the oligarch bankers we would not be having these problems."

And it's only getting worse. They are further dumbing-down the education system so that now we will be importing even intellectual labor. And our universities are training more and more foreign students in STEM subjects, and they will take that knowledge home with them to compete with the US in high-tech and science.

[Valpal1]

I don’t think they gave it a second thought.

And that's my point. People who are *licensed* to kill should have 2nd thoughts and third and fourth thoughts. I'm tired, sick and tired of stupid, thoughtless police. Also tired of stupid thoughtless judges rubber stamping no knock warrants.

[Clinging Bitterly]

But they were happy to put it on their website.

[Protect the Bill of Rights]

Doraville made the WaPo?? Damn. Just because they have a SWAT team? Double damn.

[Responsibility2nd]

bfl

[Clinging Bitterly]

I don’t see cops running around in an APC as being much help in your hostage situation. If they are actually running out and storming anything it will be a no knock raid on a residence where they think a non violent drug offender might be, where they will shoot the dog, throw a grenade on the baby, and not find their suspect or contraband. Way more often than cases of an actual desperado with hostages in a public place, which would not call for that kind of action at all.

[manc]

Well I see now the homosexual groups have sided against the cops, Al Sharpton has sided against the cops and the black panthers have sided against the cops.

Same old story of the radical left siding against the cops to drum up the votes for the up coming elections.

Plain and simple.

If this was about a cop shooting this black guy then where is the outrage against blacks shooting blacks.

If anyone thinks this is about this one issue and the cops out fo control then they are stupid because this is all about votes coming up.

Of course this is my opinion and accounts for nothing.

[Mariner]

Just remember, the County and all the surrounding towns have one too.

[Protect the Bill of Rights]

Got my DL in Doraville.

No parallel parking skills needed back then in Doraville.
Took the test and drove around the block. As long as we didn’t hit and/or kill anyone we passed.

[Lazamataz]

Actually, a quick check doesn’t show any.

[Valpal1]

Black Man Goes on EPIC Rant Against Ferguson Rioters

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3192547/posts

Going viral today 75,000 plus views

[manc]

Thank you I had not seen this.