The OP is right here! Sorry for the absence, but between a callout, and a day of actually shooting (versus typing), I have been busy.
I was actually done with replying here, because it is very evident that trying to make any point with the most vocal here, is the equivalent of pissing in the wind. However, acknowledging that there are some here who do actually have an open mind, I would add:
Motivation For Starting This - I was trying to keep from getting into details that could get me into hot water with some folks, but since some people don't get it, here it is from the Horse's Mouth (paraphrased & condensed)
Group of LE Snipers from multiple states/agencies, in a round table discussion, talking about recent callouts.
Officer 1 - is everyone aware of the recent callout with LASD SEB?
Officer 2 - if you want to learn about that incident, just check in with experts at Sniper's Hide, they can tell you exactly what went down before the official investigation was even started.
Officer 3 - yeah, so you also caught that BS that went down there with Mike from Tac Ops?
Officer 2 - unfortunately, and given the frequency of the BS there, I am done with it.
Officer 3 - makes me wonder if we should continue to list the site and training materials in our course reference materials?
Officer 2 - I would not recommend it, sending a new shooter there who has little background, experience, and oversight, is asking for a train wreck in my opinion.
ME - I can appreciate that there is some less than desirable stuff going on there, but do we really want to throw out the baby with the bath water? There is a lot of really good stuff there, and most guys should be able to separate the wheat from chaff.
This discussion goes on for 10 minutes with everyone debating if the website should stay on the reference list for training courses. Fortunately, in the end it was decided to leave them, but members would be monitoring the site to see where things were going.
Less than a week after that, someone starts a topic on the recent PA Trooper shooting, which turns into a complete pile of $#!@ with someone even going as far as to say "maybe the troopers just had it coming". Fortunately it was deleted quickly, because that is the exact king of garbage that will discredit this site, and forces people to make a decision to walk away from it. You can't for many reasons have a website listed on official LE documents/training materials, when it has that kind of garbage posted on it. Probably one of the reasons that Frank has the policies that he does.
Additional Motivation - it was my hope that by calling this issue out into the open, that it would convince some people that they should rethink some of their posting, and voluntarily keep the useless garbage off of the site. This would prevent Frank and the Moderators from having to act as babysitters, enforcing the site policy which clearly states that the Govt/Political/LE/MIL rants and attacks have no place on this site. So much for that!
Accountability - I never said Officers should not be held accountable. But is bitching about them or attacking them here going to hold them accountable at any level that will have any actual beneficial impact? NOPE! Plenty of people here ranting away about being used & abused by the Police, but the majority of them also admitted, they said nothing to anyone at the local level who could actually do anything about it. In the past 10 years I can name multiple Officers and Administrators who have been disciplined, suspended, or fired because someone made the effort to report them and follow up. Once again, LE does NOT answer to the NWO as some people here would have you believe. They answer to Bosses who in most cases are in elected positions, which means they will listen to the public and act accordingly or they will be voted out of their positions. Hold LE accountable, speak up, pursue it, just do it in a way that will actually produce a result, which is not bitching here.
Fixing LE Issues - hate to bust some peoples bubble here, but LE has been doing a lot to fix issues. Prime example, NTOA (Nat Tact Off Assoc) who represents the majority of LE tactical teams has changed their policies and training for Warrant Service. One new method for Warrant Service (Non Violent/No Life Safety) is to Knock, Announce, and Call Out. That is right, Officers are NOT doing no knock, kicking doors, and hammering the house anymore for the majority of warrant services. Are you hearing about that change, NOPE! Why, it doesn't cause sensationalism, so the media is not covering it. In the last 2 years 80% of the callouts that I have made, we lined up outside the house, knocked, announced that it was the Police with a warrant, called out the suspects, and then if there is no response, made a slow and controlled entry into the house. NOTE - this puts us all at a much higher level of risk, because if someone intends on doing us harm, they now have the warning, time, and opportunity to prepare and act. No door smashing, no flashbangs, no running in the house balls to the wall. There are also now 2 verification officers, who must confirm by at least 2 different sources, that the house where they are serving the warrant on is correct. All of the cars have cameras, all of our officers wear cameras, and everything we do is recorded from start to finish. I can go on and fill pages of improvements that are being made, that most of the public will probably never hear anything about, because it doesn't get ratings like showing "Militarized Storm Troopers in Armored Cars".
Reality Check - contrary to popular belief, LE is not just doing what they want, they are doing what they must to survive. Recent Warrant Service, decision is made to go the Knock, Announce, and Call Out route. Suspect comes to the door, then slams the door when told he is under arrest (multiple Felony warrants). Shots then ring out from inside the house through the doors, windows, and walls. Officers are struck with bullet fragments and debris, but due to their armor, only minor injuries. Officers retreat to cover, which includes an armored car. Officers attempt to call out the suspect who continues to indiscriminately fire from inside the house with a number of weapons. Decision is made to breech the house using the ram on the armored car to allow gas to be put into the house. As the armored car approaches the house, the suspect repeatedly fires at it. House is breeched and gas is put into it. Suspects continues firing. Officers confirm that he is wearing a gas mask and body armor. Clearance for deadly force is given, and the suspect is shot when he appears at a window. Did any of the media do a story on this, and how things like "military body armor" and a "military armored car" saved the Officers lives, NOPE!
Sorry, but I am done. I am pretty sure, those that will get it, do. Those that will not, won't, no matter what I say.
Hopefully something positive will come out of this, but I am not really honestly sure that is the case?
EDIT - another example of some of the wonderful stuff that you will find here:
http://www.snipershide.com/shooting/snipers-hide-bolt-action-rifles/230372-official-first-look-accuracy-international-ax308mc.html I hope the tax payers of College Park opted for the padded rifle rack in your MRAP so they don't get scratched when you go out violating rights and intimidating people.
NOTE - this is NOT in the Pit or Maggies, and it is a direct bashing of a LE Sniper, who is just trying to add to the topic.
Unfortunately this kind of stuff is not that hard to find if you look.
