Cato Institure uses Google Maps to show Botched SWAT Raids across USA

[truedelphi]

Cato Institute Uses Google Maps to Show Botched SWAT Raids
BY Addy Dugdale -Today

"The Cato Institute has put together something it calls a Raid Map, using Google Maps to show all the paramilitary raids done by government agencies that haven't quite worked out the way they should have. Or, as the Cato Institute puts it, "botched."

The different colored pins signify different ways each raid went wrong, from the deaths of officers and innocents, through mistaken identity, to overuse of force, and you can isolate the data by state, year and type of cock-up, should you so wish.

"Defenders of SWAT teams and paramilitary tactics say such incidents are rare," says the Institute. "The map below aims to refute that notion" -- as do the recently reported, tragic shooting deaths of a 7-year-old girl in Detroit and this guy's dog. Just think how much more refuting the map could have done had they opened it up to 'crowdsourcing.'"

please see the URL here for the actual graphics

http://www.fastcompany.com/1650507/cato-institute-uses-google-maps-to-show-up-botched-swat-raids

[truedelphi]

1. I had considered moving to Montana for the scenery but

This map indicates there is more than the scenery - apparently the governor of that state does not allow the infiltration of the Feds into local law enforcement.

When you realize how many of the botched actions are the result of the fact that the SWAT teams do nothing to figure out if they have the right address before the raid, one has to realize what a huge debacle this whole program is. The SWAT teams get little inthe way of training, and yet the expenses fo rthese raids are huge.

So why they dcannot afford to send over a flower or pizza "delivery" before hand to make sure that the house they are picking on is actually the domicile of the perps, I have no idea.

[ShortnFiery]

2. Why can't they keep these stats within police control channels?

There's no reason to highlight and/or glorify SWAT more than reality shows portray already.

Further, for the sake of OPSEC, if I were a SWAT commander, I wouldn't want my dirty laundry (breakdown in procedures) to be studied by potential criminals.

That is, if they know everything about your SOP, it's even easier to plan to trip you up. :shrug:

[Dawson Leery]

3. SWAT teams have never done anything positive for myself.

They should be sent to the middle east if they want be military.

[ShortnFiery]

4. If the CATO Institute can use these as "corrective measures" to help police departments

nation wide to tighten up their procedures and ensure proper policing of the public, then I'm all for it. Otherwise, it's just and "in your face" tactic to the public BRAGGING about what they get away with no hint of disciplinary actions. It's wrong for them to use this simply for fear-mongering.

[d_r]

5. pretty much looks like population

not 100%, but that map would correlate really highly with a general population density map.

It does show that it isn't rare.

[applegrove]

6. Cato Institute along with Republicans refused to do Rick Sanchez's show

on CNN today. They were all afraid to talk about Rand Paul LOL!