Do police get a kick out of drug raids? People are getting killed and threatened over marijuana. Why?

Question

I know that drugs can harm people. And I know people don't all agree with my stance, that criminalizing drugs is what causes gangs and mafia stuff. But I just think if there's a tip on a house where drugs are supposedly located. And knowing that the occupants are two parents and two teenagers for example. Why the heck are the cops busting in there in the middle of the night? At what point did this become a good initiative. It's dangerous and foolish. For what, because of a tip? If they don't have evidence, this seems to be the greatest most tragic practice in the world. I believe in these cases that a few innocent victims DOES make these raids wrong. I get the feeling that either police don't care at all, or that they are following orders from corrupt executives. I need some cops to give me another opinion. Society needs police, and I thank those for their good service. But I'm having trouble with this.

I knew someone would answer negatively. This is also a question about whether a raid fits the crime. If a warrant guaranteed that people definitely were criminals, you'd never have innocent victims killed. If you litter, I don't get a warrant and break down your house, point a gun in your face, risking killing your kids or spouse or even pets. Why is possession of anything, constitute a raid? I want to know if cops have reservations that the inhabitants should go through this, or if they enjoy it, and that's why it continues. You can't get rid of drugs. Money spent on drugwar more than pays for the best drug education at younger ages. It also pays for more health centers. It also means that otherwise great people aren't in jail for smoking, causing no harm.

Thanks for the comments thus far. People continue to talk about the "gateway drug." It's not proven to be a gateway drug for everyone. What does the science tell us?
Regarding evidence. How can you then account for nothing found in some raids. Or warrant served for the wrong house? This kind of mistake is more than "unfortunate." People tend to change their tone when it happens to them. It pretty much would destroy everything my city and country mean to me. If you are an officer and did that. Are you going to apologize personally? I've never read that someone has. Maybe a note from the chief. What about individual police. Are they conscious of how it destroys people.
Let me ask you this. Do you think there is a lot of incentive to plant drugs if none are found to save face? I think there is huge incentive. And that's a bad thing. Because police can say, "oh well, better these slobs do time than the department getting in trouble"

Re: sawed off shot guns and scratched serial numbers. What does it matter if they had guns in every room? Did they kill somebody with them? Were they found with the gun on them in public. A sawed-off does nothing more than a regular shotgun except improve concealability. In so many cases, it's like, "hey we need to witness the crime" where it's often about speculation in cases of drugs. Then you also have the "we also found pornography" blurb in the story. Like it's connected at all. That's to justify it, and take public opinion in another direction. Instead of neighbors being concerned about their rights, now they might think "oh pornography, they are some sick people, hang em!!"

mikeysco has submitted a fantastic answer. He mentions several good sides to the argument for raids, giving great insights from an officers perspective. I can agree and understand his side. As he mentions, my sawed off shotgun argument is flawed. I didn't realize what sawing off does. (I asked that in another answers forum and found out tonight.) I wouldn't necessarily compare a shotgun with a bio agent, but maybe another undiscriminate explosive device. He's also spot on with the media argument too. You are right, we don't read headlines like you mentioned. It's easy to get caught up in cases of innocent victims and lose perspective of police. But being rational, that's why I wanted to ask this forum. This is part of my investigation into these matters. I personally need to hear the other side. I'll offer this comment. I see few ways to portray officers in paramilitary gear as on the good side. Not that they aren't. That kind of image doesn't evoke positive emotions.

mikeysco, I appreciate your answers, and thank you for them. It's hard for me to get across anything in such a setting, but just so you know, your reasoning does mean a lot. I hope others read your answer. A funny thing I noticed, that after reading your answer, reading my own question seemed kind of stupid. I think that means you've done a good service in raising my thinking. =)

Answer 1

You say If they don't have evidence? Well, they have to have evidence in order to have probable cause for a Judge to issue a warrant to raid the suspected drug home. The police are just doing their job and some police have either been injured or killed in such raids so the police tend to error on the caution side. If they see someone grabbing for something during the raid they may feel it's a weapon and just start shooting for their own protection. And sometimes people die that shouldn't die. Now I'm not necessarily taking the side of the police but just pointing out some facts. Actually, in my humble opinion, I do feel that the police use too much force during such raids and that they should take in consideration who the occupants are that reside in the house. On the other hand, if it's a drug house, one never knows who may be visiting the house purchasing or using drugs and are ready to fight it out to the end. So the police are always ready for the worst case. Night time raids for Pot does seem excessive but night time raids for violent offenders involved in the sale or manufacture of dangerous drugs is another matter. It's always a shame to see people killed unnecessarily during these raids. I would like to see some tactics changed by the police so we see less violence in these raids. To address a comment by someone saying getting even marijuana off the street is a must. I totally disagree with that statement. That's the reason we are losing the war on drugs. Way too much hard earned tax dollar is being spent on fighting small pot users and then the real hard drug pushers are getting away with murder, literally.

Answer 2

For one, the only way a search warrant can be obtained is with enough probable cause. A tip alone is not sufficient evidence. There has to be strong evidence. Also a warrant such as this to be served in the middle of the night requires that there is a good chance that the evidence will have been moved or destroyed within a short period of time. Obviously, a warrant isn't going to be issued for your typical bag of weed. As far as I'm concerned, getting even marijuana off the street is a must. It is a gateway drug. Think about it. No one wakes up and all of a sudden decides to shoot up heroin. They start somewhere.

Answer 3

WOW? YOU ARE OR HAVE BEEN MISLEAD.

A TIP WILL CAUSE A STAKE OUT FOR A WEEK OF THE OCCUPANTS AND THEIR SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITIES.
IF FOUNDED THEN A WARRANT WILL PREVAIL BY GOING TO A MAGISTRATE OR A JUDGE WITH ALL THE EVIDENCE.(24-7)

TWO PARENTS AND TWO TEENAGERS? LIKE THEY ARE NOT INVOLVED?
I HAVE SEEN THINGS LIKE THIS GO DOWN. IT IS A FAMILY AFFAIR. THEY ALL DO IT? THEY AS A FAMILY STAY TOGETHER AND PLAY TOGETHER.
BUSTING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT? BECAUSE THEY WILL PROBABLY BE THERE AT THAT TIME AND NOT EXPECTING ANYONE.
"ELIMENT OF SUPRISE?" (LESS TIME TO GRAB GUN FROM PILLOW WHEN ASLEEP.)
ALSO THOSE WANT TO BE, COULD I BE A PHOTO JOURNALIST, ARE ASLEEP. (HAHA)

Answer 4

I have a better idea, why don't people quit breaking the law and then we wouldn't be having this discussion? The police must have had more than just a tip in order to get a warrant. Not every detail is released to the media, but you already knew that, didn't you?

Answer 5

because drug runners, growers, sellers and users are dangerous people. the police just raided a house in my town, and the "family guy" his wife and 2 kids had sawed off shotguns, guns with serial numbers filed off and weapons hid in every room. nice "family guy".

Answer 6

Remember the big picture here, the country as a hole needs to convey a sense of control, it has little to do with pot, but pot is an easy target now isn't it?