Increasing Use Of SWAT Tactics In Marijuana Cases Puts Cops and Citizens At Risk

Police are relying on SWAT tactics to execute search warrants, and to arrest people suspected of marijuana crimes. The aggressive, sped-up nature of these raids has resulted in injury and death rates that are far greater than those associated with marijuana use.

By Alain StephensMarch 21, 2017 1:55 pm

Since 2010, 85 police officers and suspects have died during armed SWAT raids. Christopher Ingraham of the Washington Post investigated how many of these SWAT raids were conducted in an effort to apprehend people suspected of marijuana-related crimes and whether the high-risk operations are an appropriate use of SWAT procedures.

“Since 2010 we have 20 fatalities from marijuana enforcement but we have no fatalities from marijuana overdose and that raises a big question about what the proper use of force is here,” Ingraham says.

What you’ll hear in this segment

  • The story of a Texas man accused of capital murder for shooting a police officer who he mistook for a home invader during a raid
  • How prevalent SWAT raid tactics are in police procedures
  • How public opinion may be shifting away from police militarization