[TacOfficer]

Response to SWAT Teams.
"A number of federal agencies also now have their own SWAT teams, including the Fish & Wildlife Service, NASA and the Department of the Interior."

I do wonder why the Departments of Education and Interior need a SWAT team, but I can understand why Fish & Wildlife Service and NASA has them.

Fish and wildlife are tasked with apprehending poachers, who are typically armed. NASA has many high value targets for terrorists.

SWAT teams and the like are an essential part of today's Law-enforcement community. The argument that SWAT teams in small communities are not necessary has no merit. Small communities such as Columbine, Aurora, and Newtown to name a few give fresh examples why these "soft targets" need a response team to address heavily armed offenders. Barney Fife with one bullet in his pocket for his revolver and a kind thought will not stop an offender that has prepared with semi automatic carbines, pistols with large capacity magazines and body armor. Boston's offenders armed with IEDs, attacked hundreds then ambushed and killed an officer.

Domestic terrorism is no longer a hypothetical nor abstract idea. It's a reality that has to be addressed as a constant threat.

"Federal Law prohibits military personnel from enforcing the law within the United States except as expressly authorized by the Constitution or an act of Congress"

Response teams fill the void that exist between patrol officers and the military. The mind set of officers trained to meet these domestic threats are couched in Law and the Use of Force model more appropriate for addressing these attacks within our communities. Military leaders have related that combat Rules of Engagement are not suited for this environment.

Like anything else, the quality of service is only as good as the training and material. Unfortunately training is a rarer commodity than material. Smaller communities utilize their officers in multiple roles that limit their availability to train. Larger departments facing budget woes, have the ability to field dedicated teams but have manpower shortages that would otherwise enable appropriate training for first responders. Every community, large or small deserves officers that are equipped and trained to serve and protect.

Lack of sufficient training and manpower does not negate the need. It does increase the potential for tragedies and liability. All too often politicians place a higher priority on placating those seeking handouts with our taxes, than enabling first responders to train and prepare to meet the challenges of today's threats.