Radley Balko

The unholy triangle:
 
                 racism/drug war
                    /   
                   /    
                  /       
                 /        
                  ----------
Asset forfeiture            Erosion of castle doctrine (no knocks)


The point Balko makes, repeatedly, is that SWAT teams and military techniques are rarely used for movie-like bank robbery gunfights. Rather, these tools are mostly leveraged to execute search warrants against threats created by political ideology rather than a clear danger to the public. The same warrants were executed without violence prior to Gates propelling SWAT into public and elected officials' acceptance in the 60's. Police with military hardware are a political expression of power rather than a broad solution to public safety.… (plus d'informations)