From Radley Balko's blog. This could describe the Roseville PD's swat team.



http://www.timesonline.com/articles/200 ... 042011.txt

Nothing wrong with being prepared, right? I've never been mugged and my home has never been invaded, yet I carry a firearm almost all the time. Nobody here would call me paranoid because of it. I've simply taken the steps to protect myself and those I love.

Look at what happened at the University of Texas on August 1, 1966 when a troubled young man named Charles Whitman climbed to the 32nd floor of the administrative building there and started killing people indiscriminately. This was before anyone had ever heard the term SWAT, as SWAT teams didn't exist; they didn't need to. After all, it was a kinder, gentler time.

The Austin Police Department didn't have the weapons or training to deal with such a threat. After news of the assault hit the airwaves, citizens began showing up with their hunting rifles to take potshots at the tower in a futile attempt to neutralize Whitman. Those guns were better than the pistols and shotguns the PD had at their disposal.

The massacre was finally ended when three brave men, Austin police officers Ramiro Martinez and Houston McCoy, and a hastily deputized citizen, Allen Crum, made their way to the observation deck and killed Whitman.

This event lead to the formation of SWAT teams around the nation. How many lives could have been saved if Austin had a SWAT team prior to Whitman losing his mind and deciding to climb that tower with a footlocker full of guns?

This is an 11-person department with a 7-man swat team.

I'll bet they can use Pittsburgh's full-time SWAT team if needed.

I see where you're coming from. What's the point? Sounds like they probably want to have some fun with cool guns and equipment.

I'm enrolled in the Roseville PD's citizens' police academy, which starts this week. I'll be sure to inquire about the SWAT team.

I'm not real excited at all of every little PD thinking they need have SWAT teams. Frankly some of these communities could be as effectively protected with constables. I am guessing that the County already has SWAT capability. It all seems too millitaristic to me.

Hmm. I bet some of you guys here would think it would be fun to start our own TCC SWAT team...

Can we get some grants to get ourselves training and toys?

Oh yeah...... toys, lotsa big cool toys (full auto, and a ton of ammo), and militiary uniforms, grease paint, and maybe bang grenades......Oh yeah

Almost sounds like what you get in the militiary

:) Just don't call it a 'militia'.

Wait I thought militia's where protocted by the second amendment. That still exists right?

The point is, when you have a hammer, many things start to look like nails. When would Roseville use a SWAT team? Answer: whenever they felt like it. Do you want that in your community? Are the cops there as an occupying army? I believe that the militarization of our police has already gone too far.

Spot on.

+1

If I have a new Harley - Boat - ATV - Urban Assault Vehicle, I WILL find a reason to use it.

"Hey honey, I think I'll take the up armored HUMVEE to pick up Joey at soccer practice, then when we get home I think I'll try out that LAW rocket on that old oak tree stump in the back yard where you wanted to start that garden. Now if I could just remember where I left that napalm I'd get the grill started.... Hon?"

Yup.

I suspect there hasn't been a homicide in Roseville in a decade.

Outside of Frogtown in St Paul and two zip codes in Minneapolis, there aren't two dozen murders per year in ALL of Minnesota. And the outstate murder rate hasn't changed much in 50 years.