“Knock Down The Door To Reva’s House …”

Listening Notes: “Reva’s House,” Los Lobos, Kiko (1992)

Another police “No-Knock” raid, and another tragic ending (via Insty):

Police in Altanta have apparently shot and killed a 92-year-old woman Tuesday night during a drug raid. Details are sketchy, but unless a nonagenerian was pushing dope and using lethal force to protect her supply, the most likely explanation here is that someone sent the tactical team to kick down the wrong door after a bad tip from an informant. Again. Only this time, the spunky old broad inside met the intruders with gunfire:

The woman’s niece, Sarah Dozier, says that she bought her aunt a gun to protect herself and that her aunt had a permit for the gun. Relatives believe Johnston was frightened by the officers and opened fire.”They kicked her door down talking about drugs, there’s no drugs in that house. And they realize now, they’ve got the wrong house,” Dozier said. “I’m mad as hell.”

Police insist the warrant was legit, and the house was correct — which is why I’m guessing the problem originated with the informant.

Dale Franks has had about enough of these over-the-top tactics, and even though he’s spent a considerable amount of time in law-enforcement, his tolerance for the police is waning:

Frankly, I’m surprised that we haven’t yet seen police reports containing the term “shot while escaping”. We are using Gestapo tactics to make midnight, surprise raids, kitted out in full military regalia, to serve warrants on suspects of non-violent offenses. In the course of doing so, they are killing citizens whose only offense is, when woken up suddenly at night by men breaking into their homes, having the temerity to defend themselves. This is simply outrageous, and if it doesn’t shock your conscience, then you are a moral cripple.

After having spent half of my adult life as a sworn law enforcement officer, I find I am becoming more anti-police every day.

To be fair to the police officers themselves, they are essentially the same as troops in theater, and I suppose there is the equivalent argument to be made that the problem is with the commanders not the soldiers. However, law enforcement as whole needs to address this problem quickly and with respect for individual rights. It is beyond the pale to expect that “a man’s home is his castle” except when the police decide its not. I won’t venture a definition if tyranny here, but certainly the foregoing behavior is a clear symptom and perhaps a necessary element.

What I really don’t understand is why the police insist on capturing such dangerous criminals in their homes, where the potential for bloodshed seems to be greatest. Surely these nefarious thugs exit the premises on occasion. Wouldn’t that be a better time to nab a suspect, when the apprehending officers can clearly and accurately identify him/her and ascertain whether the suspect is armed? I think they used call this “getting the drop” on someone. Given the potentially dire consequences of executing a no-knock warrant, even if the police do it correctly on and on the right person/dwelling, I’m not sure what the real value of such warrants is. On the contrary, the cost is painfully obvious and, as should be obvious by now (see also, here), should be deemed as outweighing any benefits at this point.

[tags] No-knock warrants, Cory Maye, Radley Balko, QandO, law enforcement [/tags]