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Posted on Sat, Oct. 24, 2009 10:15 PM
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Drug-house raids carry long-term costs

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It’s a visible use of Jackson County’s anti-drug money: Police tactical squads carry out raids on suspected drug houses, often by battering open the doors.

Police obtain search warrants before initiating the raids, often after undercover officers purchase drugs at the site.

In 2008, Kansas City police raided 471 houses in the Jackson County portion of their jurisdiction and made 652 arrests as a result, along with confiscating illegal drugs and weapons.

The downside is that the raids are dangerous, they traumatize children inside the homes and they convey the notion of police as an occupying force.

While they disrupt drug activity, it’s debatable whether they reduce it.

We recognize the need for aggressive techniques in the drug war.

But search warrant executions affect more than just drug dealers.

Police agencies should evaluate their effectiveness and seek alternative methods when possible.

Posted on Sat, Oct. 24, 2009 10:15 PM
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