New at Reason

David Weigel | June 21, 2006

Radley Balko investigates the effects of Buffalo's "Operation Shock and Awe" drug raids, and finds its choice of a name disturbingly apt.

Comments

Warren|6.21.06 @ 4:33PM|#

Unfortunately, the American public seems to be fine with SWAT teams breaking down (poor) people's doors, and shooting their dogs. And if that doesn't get rid of teh drugs, then more shotguns and concussion grenades are clearly the answer.

OTOH more and more people seem to be recognizing the futility of it all. The Drug Warriors now must go greater lengths to demonize and rationalize. And always there is alcohol to compare and contrast with.

|6.21.06 @ 5:19PM|#

"And always there is alcohol to compare and contrast with."

Except that since I am encountering an increasing number of people who believe alcohol sales should be more restricted or banned altogether, I'm not sure that is helpful.

uncle sam|6.21.06 @ 5:54PM|#

OH..MY..GOD..IF..ONLY..WE..COULD..GET..THE..RIGHT..PEOPLE..IN..OFFICE.

ha ha ha ha ha

|6.21.06 @ 6:08PM|#

This morning I heard a report on my local radio station (WINS, NYC) about a locality that's trying to make it a misdemeanor for adults to allow minors to drink alcohol on their property. They said there was disagreement about the measure, then had an audio clip of one person espousing throwing adults who would dare allow minors to drink into prison. The second audio clip disagreed, saying they were just worried about getting in trouble if their childrens' friends drank on their property while they weren't home.

Nobody stood up for people's right to do whatever the hell they want on their own property (even with one's own kids!)

|6.21.06 @ 6:08PM|#

Whatever anyone here wants to say about Rochester...at least it ain't Buffalo.

|6.21.06 @ 6:11PM|#

This child not only heard all this, but also witnessed his beloved pets get brutally slaughtered right in front of his tender eyes.

I have a really hard time believing a one-year-old had "beloved pets."

Obviously, he would have been frightened to death of all the shit that was going on, but let's not lay it on too thick.

|6.21.06 @ 6:31PM|#

Sorry, crimethink, as the parent of a toddler, I can tell you with authority that a one-year-old can indeed have 'beloved pets.'

Now, whether they would comprehend the slaughter of said pets is another question entirely.

John M. Joy|6.21.06 @ 6:45PM|#

Over the past few years, we've had a couple of newsy local cases of animal cruelty. Each time, when the case made its way to court, the courthouse environs swarmed with VERY irate animal rights activists, ASPCA members, ... If I recall correctly, in at least one case, they brought the guy in wearing a vest, lest someone take a shot at him.

So... begs the question of why these same folk haven't caught on to this police-shooting-pets trend, and reacted with the same very loud voices? I mean, shooting someone's pet - even if it arguably "needed shootin'" - tends to be a rallying point. (Hell - look at the brouhaha surrounding the Lewis the Cat case!)

Or is this a phenomenon peculiar to Connecticut?

JMJ

Ambulance Chaser|6.21.06 @ 7:05PM|#

Assume that the police did not have sufficiently good reason to shoot the dogs.

Next imagine that the owners sue based on the wrongful shooting of the dogs.

Now imagine that you are on the jury in the civil case against the police.

How much damage would you award for the dogs?

The price of new pit bull puppies, or something bigger?

|6.21.06 @ 7:15PM|#

When did the war on drugs become a war on dogs?

It is totally irrational for the police to chase a dog into another room and kill it, let alone blow away a dog hiding between its owners legs.

If the dog attacks, ok, then you can shoot. But when the dog is running away from you? That is sick.

|6.21.06 @ 7:16PM|#

I just experienced a no-knock raid on my house. I was gone at the time. It turns out that a friend of my ex wife used to be in the drug biz. When he refused to procure for someone, revenge was had by telling the cops my house was used for selling meth.

I came home as the raid was winding down and was told I was not a suspect. Still my stuff was ransacked and the glass in a picture frame was shattered. (No apologized offered.)

They were sorely disappointed in not finding any drugs or money (they checked the freezer like I was a looziana congressman.) They did take my ex-wife's weedpipe, but found no "interstate commerce". (She lives in my basement apartment.) Of course, if they really are out to get you they can always plant the dope.

Still, I guess I should be glad "our city's finest" didn't shoot my pug dog.

|6.21.06 @ 7:29PM|#

Your ex-wife lives in your basement apartment?
Why? Is she hot?

|6.21.06 @ 7:42PM|#

Horn dog,

She has her moments, but mostly it lets me have daily contact with my stepdaughter. We bonded really tight and are so close, most people think we our relationship is biological.

|6.21.06 @ 7:46PM|#

There is a superflous "we" in my last sentence.

|6.21.06 @ 8:09PM|#

So she's available?

|6.21.06 @ 9:29PM|#

nostar: that's fucked, man. you'd think they'd at least offer a cursory "sorry bout the glass, bruh."

SteveInClearwater|6.21.06 @ 10:39PM|#

As Radley Balko has detailed elsewhere in his coverage of SWAT raids, cops routinely get off despite murdering and/or violently assaulting civilians without cause.

And you think some of them might apologize for busting up the joint?

Rueful in Clearwater

Steve

|6.21.06 @ 10:46PM|#

nostar, I too have a pug. If any police officer was cruel to shoot one of them, well... there would be consequences of the knee-capping type.

|6.21.06 @ 10:50PM|#

"cruel enough"

|6.21.06 @ 11:56PM|#

"We are declaring war on street-level drug dealing," Gipson told two reporters from the Buffalo News...

Fine, then I declare war on the police.

Does the word "war" mean anything anymore? Like right now, I'm declaring war on my keyboard, in a minute I'm going to declare war on another beer, then I'm going to declare war on a toilet, then later on I'm going to declare war on my bed.

|6.22.06 @ 2:01AM|#

Mission Accomplished! All SWAT members will be home by Christmas.

|6.22.06 @ 12:57PM|#

crimethink: nice inferiority complex there.

|6.22.06 @ 1:24PM|#

Horn dog, my daughter is not available. Damn Man, she's only nine!

|6.22.06 @ 1:28PM|#

PS to Horn Dog: My five year old pug, Priscilla Pugslove, is not available either.

|6.22.06 @ 2:34PM|#

Whatever anyone here wants to say about Rochester...at least it ain't Buffalo.

Yeah, it's worse - even higher crime rates, fewer job prospects, and nothing going on. Perhaps no dog-killing drug raids, but give it time - I'm sure Rochester will follow its big brother in that regard soon.

The thing about places like Buffalo is, crime is so out of control that beleaguered residents demand the cops to do *anything* to fix it, and are powerless against them when the *cops* get out of control. And the portion of the population with any real power is too insignificant to demand any better, either.

|6.22.06 @ 5:57PM|#

Does the word "war" mean anything anymore?

It means someone's gonna get shot.

|6.22.06 @ 8:05PM|#

Someone or someone's dog.

|6.23.06 @ 12:06AM|#

Except that since I am encountering an increasing number of people who believe alcohol sales should be more restricted or banned altogether, I'm not sure that is helpful.

Prohibition is such a big skeleton in our closet, alcohol isn't in much danger of being banned. Yeah, you've got your nannies that come out of the woodwork, but if push came to shove, the majority would realize it's a bad idea. And ultimately, it's a good thing to compare the WoD to prohibition.