Generally I disagree with over-militarization of the police force, but a few points:
1) I spend a lot of time listening to emergency band scanners. Considering the low violent crime rate in Sunnyvale, I'm pretty shocked how often the Santa Clara Sherrifs Dept are called to stand-offs and hostage-type situations. If it is resolved without fatalities, perhaps it doesn't make it into violent crime statistics, but I'm not that appalled that Sunnyvale PD feels the need to own one.
2) KTVU reports that he he came out with a firearm and ran towards them.
3) KTVU reports that they responded with a couple of squad cars, but the man disregarded orders to come out with his hands up. As a murder had been reported, calling SWAT is reasonable, IMO.
Again, I agree that police forces in general are over-militarized, but we need to represent the facts accurately.
edit: Why the down-votes? He has an alternate explanation that I've acknowledged, and that he didn't provide initially.
1) I spend a lot of time listening to emergency band scanners. Considering the low violent crime rate in Sunnyvale, I'm pretty shocked how often the Santa Clara Sherrifs Dept are called to stand-offs and hostage-type situations. If it is resolved without fatalities, perhaps it doesn't make it into violent crime statistics, but I'm not that appalled that Sunnyvale PD feels the need to own one.
2) KTVU reports that he he came out with a firearm and ran towards them.
3) KTVU reports that they responded with a couple of squad cars, but the man disregarded orders to come out with his hands up. As a murder had been reported, calling SWAT is reasonable, IMO.
Again, I agree that police forces in general are over-militarized, but we need to represent the facts accurately.
edit: Why the down-votes? He has an alternate explanation that I've acknowledged, and that he didn't provide initially.