stopthedrugwar.org — Two recent incidents involving SWAT teams are adding fuel to the fire in the emerging controversy over the routine use of such paramilitarized police units to prosecute the drug war. In Chicago, the Chicago Police Department has been hit with a $10 million lawsuit over a September raid on a social club.
Jun 21, 2008 View in Crawl 4
ajajadudeJun 21, 2008
The only problem with SWAT teams is that they're being used in situations that they weren't intended for. Regular police officers do not have the proper training or resources to deal with special situations such as hostage standoffs and bank robberies like the one in North Hollywood years ago. The policies for using SWAT teams have gotten all out of whack and need to be corrected. Getting rid of SWAT teams would only lead to bigger problems when dealing with crisis situations. I'm sure you're one of the many here on Digg who bitch about the incompetence of the average police officer. You really want those guys to be doing the jobs that require specialized training?ElAssoWipo is right: you don't like the laws? Don't just bitch about it on Digg. Get out and vote.
bith8654Jun 21, 2008
I somehow doubt it's quite that easy, this isn't Crackdown.
Closed AccountJun 21, 2008
Truth hurts, doesn't it?
Closed AccountJun 21, 2008
SWAT runs Amarok?
alapoetJun 21, 2008
ElAssoWipo and Ajajadue...Ummm... I can't expect you to know this, and obviously you don't, but:I DO more than "bitch about it on Digg."I do vote, and I'm an anti drug-war activist. I was doing both of those things for 30 years before I was on Digg.In April, I added Digg to all the other ways I've been using to try to educate people about the futility of the drug war, the abuse of police powers in the name of the drug war, and other issues.If you're really interested, instead of just making wise-ass comments, you can find me at:<a class="user" href="http://realitycatcher-alapoet.blogspot.com/">http://realitycatcher-alapoet.blogspot.com/</a>
mrsarcasmJun 21, 2008
Exactly how I read it... thought it's gonna be another one of those pro-linux articles
georgemason01Jun 21, 2008
Getting?
ajajadudeJun 22, 2008
Well, if you truly known more than what you claim, you'd realize SWAT is used for things other than drug busts.You basically sound like my younger brother who's been brought home by the cops on several occasions. He's all pissed off he's been caught doing things he's not supposed to be doing. Anyone I have ever known who craps on police officers are the same way. They've been busted for doing whatever it was that they were doing and they act like they're hardened criminals who've been abused by police all their life.You completely ignore all the other possible reasons for SWAT to exist and focus on the relatively few instances where things went horribly wrong. You can argue against the so-called war on drugs until you're blue in the face. It's going to be an argument you'll never win, as far as changing policy is concerned.