I am involved in emergency response, sometimes with the police. That vehicle is used for several purposes, including being used as a mobile operations centre. The vehicle is used frequently, not to justify its purpose, but to actually normalize its use and ensure that those that need it are aware of how it operates, especially as a mobile operations centre that may require the use of multiple agencies, including municipal, provincial and federal.
The tactical unit shouldn't wait around for an escalation that requires SWAT, they support existing police and have the ability to respond to serious escalations. We all hope they aren't constantly responding to these escalations, as those are serious issues. We still need them just in case. Cops aren't engaging in gun fights like on tv, they call the tactical unit.
Some of you who seriously hate the police and constantly berate them will eventually be involved with them, one way or another, and realize they are normal people doing their jobs. A very difficult job that may require very assertive people that won't always coddle you. The vast vast majority of interactions with police are what we would all call very reasonable police behaviour. There are bad cops out there, and I am confident there is increasing pressure to deal with that.
The same groups that wanted body cameras are now the same group wanting them removed. Complaints against officers decreased when a camera was worn, yet use of force remained the same. The conclusion I draw from that is lawyers or 'victims' realize the camera caught it all and possibly justified force. Basically, footage sided with the police in pretty much the bulk of cases.
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