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- May 22, 2012
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Stories like that? I seriously hope not! Although over 400 calls over a year in this country that fit this category of 'swatting' is too many, it's not a usual incident in many cities and towns.
In this day of cell phones, how would you know if it's really local? You take your number with you. Whatever your area code is will show up regardless where you are, so if I'm in CA and call 911, it's going to show up as a NY number. Should they say never mind then? Yeah, they could eventually figure it out, but that takes time.
You don't seem to realize the seriousness of what the call was. They have to take every call seriously, it's their job. Do you want to have to call for an emergency, oh say, someone in your house with a gun, and they tell you they have to verify everything first? And quiz you to see if you are making it up?
Not me. If they ever get a call when my life might be in danger, I'd like them to show up quickly please.
There is a huge difference in police "showing up quickly" and simply eliminating any perceived threat by shooting a person at that address who might have a gun. There are two crimes here: making an intentionally false police report and the execution of a person because they were present at an alleged crime in progress scene.
Let's change the first factor slightly and only vary the street address given (e.g. a real crime in progress is being reported but the address given, or relayed by the dispatcher, is incorrect) - does that make the actions of the responding officers any better? "SWATting" is only serious because of the propensity of the (excessive?) police response to end very badly even if no criminal activity is noted when responding to the call.