cannabisnews.com: Training Prepares Police for Real-Life Raids





Training Prepares Police for Real-Life Raids
Posted by FoM on June 29, 2000 at 11:41:27 PT
By Mark Niesse, News Tribune Staff Writer 
Source: Duluth News
Officers eye war on drugs during mock shootout in Duluth.Armed with Glock pistols, cops swarmed an abandoned downtown building, looking for the bad guys who may be hiding around any corner.They entered through the door, yelling ``Police department, search warrant.''
Seconds later, shots were fired at the police.The assailant quickly took cover and ran to a back room.Breaking down into teams of two, the six officers secured one room at a time while closing in on their prey.After a few minutes, several of the officers had the shooter cornered.Clearly outnumbered and outgunned, the criminal rolled over on his stomach to be handcuffed and taken away.``They came in with their backs to me,'' the shooter said moments later. ``It was just too easy. You were sitting ducks.''Fortunately for the police, there weren't any real bullets. No one was hurt. And there's always a next time to try to apprehend the bad guy without firing their guns.The shooter was a police officer helping 16 drug enforcement officers practice their entry skills in dangerous situations at the old armory building downtown, which is used by Duluth Police for training exercises.This time, the shootout wasn't real, but the officers will be better prepared if they need to execute an arrest when they go home, said Wayne Hunter, Drug Enforcement Administration task force agent.The DEA has been training 32 officers from five states -- including Minnesota and Wisconsin -- during the past two weeks on topics including drug trafficking trends, legalization issues, undercover operations, gangs, laws and interrogation skills.In real life, the police would have withdrawn from the building as soon as shots were fired and waited for a SWAT team, Hunter said.``It's not like (the TV show) `COPS,' '' said DEA Special Agent George Hood, who is coordinating the training. ``Police do what they have to for a reason.''In real police work, a raid on a house is much safer and drastic measures rarely have to be taken, Hunter said.``The most common situation is that they enter the house with a search warrant and the occupant of the house complies,'' Hunter said.Dangerous situations usually only arise when the occupant of the house is armed and high on drugs, Hunter said.The police, most of whom already have 10 years of experience under their belts, repeated varying scenarios through Wednesday afternoon. One time, the ``bad guy'' was hiding in a closet with orders to fire on any police. In another exercise, police attempted to rescue an officer held hostage.After each ``mission'' was completed, the officers reviewed their actions and Hunter gave constructive criticism.Participation in this training is highly competitive and it's only offered several times a year, Hunter said. This is the first time the DEA has offered its program in Duluth since 1996. Five officers from the Northland participated, along with police from North Dakota, Illinois and Indiana.``It's good training.... These guys are able to bring in more experience that you can't get otherwise,'' said Deputy Jason Kramber from Wright County, west of Minneapolis.Mark Niesse covers Duluth crime and courts. He can be reached at (218) 279-5547 or by e-mail: mniesse duluthnews.comPublished: June 29, 2000© 2000 Duluth News-Tribune. CannabisNews DEA Archives:http://cannabisnews.com/news/list/DEA.shtml
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Comment #5 posted by CD1 on June 30, 2000 at 09:08:03 PT
Correction
I meant to say that the 6 month year old child lost 60% of her hearing due to a flash-bang grenade being thrown by her crib. There was no knock on the door (except for the battering ram.) There was no prior warning. Now this totally innocent child will go through her entire life disabled because of overzealous cops enforcing draconian laws.
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Comment #4 posted by MikeEEEEE on June 29, 2000 at 17:17:42 PT
SWAT
We should really get rid of these TWAT teams, ops, I mean SWAT teams. Police are supposed to be civil servants, not the army.
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Comment #3 posted by Kanabys on June 29, 2000 at 16:39:43 PT
Don't got much more to say, but....
THIS SH*T IS SICKENING!!!!!!! I hope there is still some places on the planet where people are REALLY free, not just claimed to be. 
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Comment #2 posted by CD1 on June 29, 2000 at 15:11:43 PT
TRAINING
I wonder if their training included throwing flash grenades next to a crib where a 6 month old baby was sleeping (resulting in 60%), holding a gun to the head of a 7 year old boy who was lying on his bed, or strip searching a 62 year old grandmother. All this happened in an incident I read about in Kansas. The father of the two children did was growing a few plants, and was informed on. There were NO WEAPONS in the house. I hear about cases like this every day. DEA officials love to spout about how dangerous and well armed "druggies" are, when if you look at actual police reports, the reverse is usually true. I especially love DEA Special Agent Hoods quote of "...Police do what they have to for a reason." Yeah, and the reason is pure unadluterated GREED. And of DEA Special Agent Hunter's comment that in real police work, a raid is much safer, I ask "For whom?" Certainly not for the poor fellow whose life is now ruined, all because he wanted to relax in the privacy of his own home, and smoke a little herb. Kind of makes you proud to be an American, right?
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Comment #1 posted by greenfox on June 29, 2000 at 12:09:21 PT:
The War on Drugs; The rise of the Third Reich
The simple approach to drug prohibition is this: send all the "druggies" away and let them rot in their cells. The same power-moms who bear bumper stickers declaring "it's a child, not a choice" are the same HyPo~CrIt~IcAl bunch who scream justice has been done when a felon trafficker is sent to the chair. Happy juices flow from his eyes as his pupils slowly melt; meanistwhile the power-moms cheer; hurrah, another victory. Yet the failure to realize that ALL "drug use" was legal a mere century ago. What then? Even in the worst case scenerio, a chinese opium addict was the scoff of the town. These social extremes are enough to scare people away from abuse; but why should use be a moral issue CONTROLLED by the government? It shouldn't. Just as religion shouldn't, nor should education. However, this isn't happy land....History is written by Uncle Sam. The children are taught AMystery, (that is, american history but it's a mystery that it can be called such, and a straight face remain,) and learn what the government wants them to. "Just Say No!" they scream louder, hoping to deter the young individuals from a life of evil drug abuse. However, the moment they light that joint, they have crossed social boundries; they no longer are on the "innocent children" side- they become the antagonists. How is it explained, when a child falls prey? "Victim- Child-like victim". When a "grownup" suffers the same fate? "Evil drug user, not even human."Amerika, land of the free?Well guess what, folks: Free does not include evenings, weekdays, weekends, or hollidays.  Don't like the contract? Tough sh*t. Because, guess what- you, as an american, are too lazy and apathetic to fight it. Oh, you say you're an activist? Maybe you're informed. But are you out there, with 500 plant hydro-setups in your basement, on the front line, FIGHTING those bastards activly, instead of passivly? :) Ah.... ah.... oh well. Ramble from the rambler. Happy in turn, Sly in kind,greenfox 
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