Pubdate: Sat, 07 Feb 2009
Source: Times-Herald, The (Vallejo, CA)
Copyright: 2009 The Times-Herald
Contact:  http://www.timesheraldonline.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/993
Author: Paul Armentano

POLICE OVERKILL?

Thursday's front page photo, showing six heavily armed police officers
serving a warrant on a suspected marijuana grow house, reeks of
tabloid sensationalism. Why all the heavily artillery? Were the police
anticipating the plants to shoot back?

While I don't want to minimize the inherent risk associated with any
police activity, this scene strikes me as a calculated case of
overkill. If these officers were anticipating a confrontation, why
bring a Times-Herald photographer along to get a close-up? Was Chris
Riley armed too?

Paul Armentano

Vallejo
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