If they only used that stuff when called for, that would be nice.
In practice, most of the time, all that gear is used to serve no-knock warrants on non-violent offenders (usually involving drugs).
Maryland used to publish statistics for their use of SWAT teams; look that up, and note the breakdown on kinds of circumstances they were called in for, and whether it was no-knock or not. No-knock generally means busting doors and sometimes ramming walls (with those very MRAPs), throwing flashbangs etc.
In practice, most of the time, all that gear is used to serve no-knock warrants on non-violent offenders (usually involving drugs).
Maryland used to publish statistics for their use of SWAT teams; look that up, and note the breakdown on kinds of circumstances they were called in for, and whether it was no-knock or not. No-knock generally means busting doors and sometimes ramming walls (with those very MRAPs), throwing flashbangs etc.