Well, first of all, "police spokesman Kevin Martin," two-thirds is not 68%. Two-thirds is 66.6%.

But the real question is: at what point do the supposed ends no longer justify the means? If finding nothing 1/3 of the time is not a problem, when does finding nothing become a problem?

Radley Balko's clearly got a bias against police and the war on drugs. Screw him. The only thing that matters in the end is our police officers going home safely at the end of every shift, and ideally every totally innocent citizen. I really don't want to hear sob stories about some drug dealer's girlfriend. She was enjoying his drug money and no doubt basking in his street rep until Darwin caught up with her. No loss there.

Let's not forget who the good guys are (That would be the police) and who the bad guys are (the criminals).

The "only" thing that matters is police officers going home safely at the end of every shift? And it is only "ideally" that every innocent citizen survives encounters with law enforcement officers?

Sorry friend, that's crazy talk. Every cop in every department is a volunteer. A volunteer for hazardous, dangerous duty. Innocent people killed by police who broke into the wrong houses did not volunteer for anything. And the SWAT guys with their body armor and M4 carbines are the ones who are doing the killing.

I would like to think that Lagniappe's Guy (December 29, 2008 08:55 PM) is just being ironic in a too-subtle way, but these days I worry.

When any agency with a competent grant writer can have their own force of Elite Tactical Commandos (tm), I wonder if the Law of the Instrument doesn't come into play. Can't have the lads laying about idle, now, can we? Besides, they need to stay active to keep their edge.

I am well aware that there very evil people out there who need to be supressed with vigor and a certain amount of predjudice. I am much less convinced that every two-bit dope dealer (or rumor of same) requires a full-on "dynamic entry". SWAT has a particular LE function, and that function is not (or should not be) security theater.

regards,

GR

This continued militarization of the police is worrisome. Also worrisome is how often, how swiftly, and how violently the police "uber commandos" act on the flimsiest of information, Fourth Amendment be damned.

Lagniappe's Guy:

The real world isn't always as clear as "cops v robbers", "cowboys v indians", or "good v bad." Let's not forget that the good guys and the generally benevolent police can become bad and act badly. Let's also not forget that many atrocities in the history of humankind have been carried out by police and the military, often under the guise of social justice.

Lagniappe's Guy isn't being sarcastic. That's a prevalent attitude in LE work. While I agree that nobody forced cops to take the jobs they have, were I an LEO I would likely have the same attitude.

Lagniappe's Guy clearly has a bias against liberty and freedom. Screw him.

Fact of the matter is these parasites believe they are our masters and have special power over us. As a group of armed and trained men forcing themselves on non-violent people as they are becoming known for. Is going to reach a boiling point. Cops across the board better start controlling their own because its painting all cops in a very bad light.
I can put this another way. Being an engineer and having been in charge of projects worth hundreds of millions of dollars. I know and understand engineering reports. I without question believe that there was RF2 O3 + AL in the dust of the WTC's dust. I have seen unmistakable proof that the trade towers were taking down with explosives. I have no clue who did it or why. I do know the government is not coming clean on the facts of these three buildings being pulled. My point is this. Whoever pulled these buildings very well knew that there were hundreds of police and fireman inside. Yet the two towers were pulled just the same. Cops better get it through their heads that in the big picture they have little value to the people pulling the strings. Cops better get it through their heads that we the citizens are the best and only friends they have. Frankly, the people who threw the switch pulling the towers had zero concern for the lives of those men who didn't ask any questions about going in to save lives. If any cops are reading this, you better think long and hard about that. If cops are on the front lines destroying the Constitutional rights of the citizens. What kind of world will they be leaving their children?

Well, after that last one we had better start watching out for those black helicopters too.

LOL! some folks willingly love the taste of Kool Aid. I'm sure they also believe that the economy is taking a dump by itself as in, business as usual. No question in my mind the Kool Aid drinkers do not have the ability to understand that the fed and all the criminals are in on this together is when the M3's stopped being reported in March of 2006. I'm more sure they have no clue what the M3's are. I'm also just as sure these Kool Aid drinkers really honest to goodness believe the the Federal Reserve is part of the federal government. Not know its not and we don't even know who the owners of that bank are. Maybe Kool Aid drinkers believe the Federal Express is part of the federal government just like the Federal Reserve.
The facts are in and only kool Aid drinkers will try and make a case of the building coming down on their own by the airplane damage. More than 3,800 engineers have signed on with their names and reputations that the trade towers were taking down with explosives. So who do you believe a kool Aid drinker with no engineering degree or proven engineers who know what they are talking about. Hi we are from the government as we are here to help you. LOL! Gotta' love those Kool Aid drinkers for the laughs they bring.

Well, after that last one we had better start watching out for those black helicopters too.

Please look up "The Resistor" or "Special Forces" (60 Minutes archive). You will find a segument that has in it the nice quote by Special Forces people that they ran training ops against Militia groups. They were dropped by their very very dark green (looks black in lower light) helicopters and they did servilance against the milita. The 60 Minutes guy just let it pass without comment or another question.

So watch the Black helicopters put down. They did exist. The Milita saw them. 60 Minutes has the video showing the SF admitting it.

On December 31, 2008 at 08:28 AM, "Dan Hamilton" urged, "Please look up "The Resistor" or "Special Forces" (60 Minutes archive)."

I went to the archive and punched in "The Resistor" and got two articles on constipation and one about a U.S. officer who opposed the war in Iraq. I got similar nonsequiturs with "Special Forces."

Is "Dan Hamilton" constipated or against the war in Iraq or both?

(Sorry, Mr. Hardy, this comment section has degenerated into BM humor.)