“FBI director J. Edgar Hoover had made the Black Panthers a top priority and, naturally, had publicly “declared war” on them.” — Radley Balko Copy Share Image
No one made a decision to militarize the police in America. The change has come slowly, the result of a generation of politicians and public officials fanning and exploiting public fears by declaring war on abstractions like crime, drug use,… — Radley Balko Copy Share Image
“About twenty years later, the Pentagon would begin giving away millions of pieces of military equipment to police departments across the country for everyday… — Radley Balko Copy Share Image
“In the summer of 2002, Biden was pushing his RAVE Act, an absurdly broad law that would have made venue and club owners liable… — Radley Balko Copy Share Image
“Clark wrote that there are common-law exceptions to the knock-and-announce rule known as an “exigent circumstances.” One such exception is if police believe that… — Radley Balko Copy Share Image
“Number of SWAT teams in the FBI alone in 2013: 56 Unlikely federal agencies that have used SWAT teams: US Fish and Wildlife… — Radley Balko Copy Share Image
“says the thrill of the raid may factor into why narcotics cops just don’t consider less volatile means of serving search warrants. “The thing… — Radley Balko Copy Share Image
Finally, this case should serve as yet another reminder of just how dangerous and volatile these police home invasions really are, and why we… — Radley Balko Copy Share Image
“In a couple of ways, the Watts riots were the first major incident to nudge the United States toward more militaristic policing.” — Radley Balko Copy Share Image
“Police officers today are a protected class, one no politician wants to oppose. Law enforcement interests may occasionally come up short on budgetary issues,… — Radley Balko Copy Share Image
“Using general warrants, British soldiers were allowed to enter private homes, confiscate what they found, and often keep the bounty for themselves. The policy… — Radley Balko Copy Share Image
“When guarding buildings, mark a ‘DEAD’ line and announce clearly that those who cross it will be killed. Be sure to kill the first… — Radley Balko Copy Share Image
We'll all make better choices about diet, exercise, and personal health when someone else isn't paying for the consequences of those choices. — Radley Balko Copy Share Image
“Police need not announce themselves if doing so would jeopardize their safety, if they are in the midst of an emergency,” — Radley Balko Copy Share Image
