Columbia Police Change SWAT Policy Following Botched Drug Raid Captured on Film

By Chad Garrison Tue., May 11 2010 at 11:27 AM

Yes, SWATs and dogs can be friends.

The Columbia police yesterday announced additional changes to how the mid-Missouri law agency will administer its SWAT unit. The changes come after video was released last week showing police SWAT members raiding the house of a suspected drug dealer.

During the raid, the police shot two dogs (killing one) and brandished assault rifles in the presence of a wife and young child. The drug raid uncovered a scant amount of marijuana and some drug paraphernalia.

The Columbia police say that a captain will now have to sign off on all search warrants -- relieving the narcotics sergeant and SWAT commander from the process. Police will also have to deliver search warrants within a "reasonable time" (around 8 hours) and change a raid if a child is known to be in the area.

"I am telling you we did some things wrong. I am telling you we have fixed those things -- that the public can be assured that a similar incident will not happen again without someone's head rolling because it's now policy," Columbia police chief Ken Burton said in a news conference yesterday.

However, the police department's new SWAT policy does not address whether a cop can and/or should shoot an aggressive animal during police raids.

Which leads to the question: Are police ever justified in blasting away canines when carrying out a search warrant? Check back later today at Daily RFT as we address that issue in our Tuesday Tussle.

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The point is, we overuse SWAT. You shouldn’t need a paramilitary force to serve a common search warrant.
People wonder why my house is booby trapped.It's ashamed the poor little Welch Corgy they shot didn't bite thier balls off.My bad those cops don't have balls
The fact that it's even a question is bewildering at best and unconstitutional at worst. Talk about a dog (no pun intended) and pony show. When will the police, the professionals? realize it IS their responsibility to handle the situation correctly, not make the situation something they can handle (by killing everything in sight)... What a bunch of small ball pozers.
The fact that it's even a question is bewildering at best and unconstitutional at worst. Talk about a dog (no pun intended) and pony show. When will the police, the professionals? realize it IS their responsibility to handle the situation correctly, not make the situation something they can handle (by killing everything in sight)... What a bunch of small ball pozers.
No dogs should be shot for any reason in a SWAT raid. I don't give a shit HOW aggressive they are. You're breaking into a house. It's a dog. Dogs are not dumb, if they see an intruder, they might get aggressive. It's up to Police to figure out how to deal with these situations without resorting to murdering a family pet. Period. These pigs should lose their jobs.
I hope they don't get their intelligence about a child being in the area from the same source that reports whether there's dogs or say, a felony amount of contraband. What a taxpayer sponsored clusterfuck.
I'm sure you've heard this one but here goes- What's the difference between a pregnant woman and a lightbulb? You can't unscrew a pregnant woman! To little to late cops, you are dead to me.
These cowards shot a 15lb Corgi and a caged pitbull. In front of a young child All over a couple joints and a bong. Let's hope this citizen sues the City of Columbia for all they're worth.
This is a Guatemalan insanity pepper. The cops have never understood that such abuses of power are much more damning than just bad PR. Where are the Panthers when you need 'em?