Mass. SWAT teams claim they’re private companies and don’t have to tell you anything

[sactoking]

What I want to know is what kind of effed up public records laws Massachusetts has in place. In most jurisdictions it doesn't matter if the record holder is a private corporation, the public record law applies based on the nature of the record and not the status of the record holder.

 

[Thebobo]

Man, your country seems less and less like "Land of the Free" every day, and more like "Land of the Oppressed".

I should add that the Israeli police has been kept weak for years, I'm guessing actively by politicians. Although there are many calls for stronger police to control organized crime and respond to events, I'm not sure it would actually benefit our society.
We have a way of copying the worst things in the US and SWAT teams who think they're above the law seem to fit that.

Its not a true police state yet but it has definitely changed and is accelerating rapidly in that direction and that is the fear. Thank god for groups like the ACLU, I realize many don't like them but now they are the only advocacy group that are sticking up for our rights in this matter.

 

[werepossum]

This was posted in the "Official Police Misconduct thread"..

Edit:; Nope I was wrong.. that was one I was going to post, but I got distracted..lol

Anyway they are trying to avoid the FOIA requests claiming they are a private corporate entity. That would effectively make what they do illegal then. They can't have it both ways. This one will bite them in the butt, just watch.

Sure they can. They are the government; having it both ways is what they do best.

Then take away those municipal pensions and lower property taxes. I'm guessing they'd change their tune about not being public employees then.

+1

It has been brought to our attention that some of you civilians have the quaint notion that Law Enforcement is about protecting civilians.

Nonetheless, if you look at the facts as presented by the ACLU:
The fact is that SWAT Teams are soldiers in the war on drugs.

And in war, civilians aren't protected but controlled lest they become collateral damage.

LOL

Uno

Yup, and it's the best kind of war, lots of action with almost no real chance of being shot or blown up.

I'm not so much interested in having them tell me anything as in not having them bust down my door and shoot me because I'm holding a scary black TV remote.