(Newswire.net — August 30, 2018) –The National Academy of Sciences has released a research report finding that the militarization of SWAT teams does not improve the safety of the public or the police. The paper, published on August 20, 2018, analyzed deployment numbers provided under Maryland state law via a public records request.
Researchers found that 90% of deployments involved search warrants. Search warrants are known to be escalated when SWAT teams arrive, with stories of families being held at gun point in some cases. Substantial damage to property and even death has occurred because SWAT teams will knock down doors to conduct a search.
Studies show that SWAT teams are most effective in intense altercations that are known for their high level of danger. Robberies and shootings, including terrorist attacks, are most effective when militarized personnel are on the ground.
Deployments, according to the research paper, were 10.5% higher when the African American population grew by 10%. Interestingly, SWAT teams are outfitted with military weapons and gear, yet the statistics show that the gear doesn’t do much to help make the lives of police officers safer.
The difference is negligible, leading to the assumption that SWAT teams are being used in situations where they’re not as effective as they should be.
During the custom research paper writing process, the researchers concluded that “there is no evidence that acquiring a SWAT team lowers crime or promotes officer safety.”
Public perception also dropped, according to a survey on SWAT teams and police militarization. Residents find that areas where teams are deployed feel less safe even when crime levels are no different than areas with no militarization presence. African American respondents stated that when military gear is worn, they distrust law enforcement even more.
Researchers suggest that the high usage of SWAT teams is harming locals, leading to no benefit in public safety and a lower perception of law enforcement. Researchers claim that while SWAT teams may be a necessity, they should remain a tool to use in emergency situations rather than conducting a search warrant. Researchers believe that deployment in the right situations, when a matter of public safety is in question, may improve local police perception.
The information secured and analyzed by researchers only includes statistics from the state of Maryland. The paper does not reflect on SWAT teams across the country, but given the wide range of data, it’s possible to assume that the statistics hold true to most cities that have SWAT teams available.