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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsAlbany police: SWAT used poor black neighborhood for training because it’s ‘realistic’
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On Thursday, Albanys SWAT team shocked nearby residents when it stormed a public housing complex that was scheduled to be demolished, according to the Times Union. Photos circulated on Facebook over the weekend showed police in tactical gear, spent shell casings and fake blood.
In a statement on Monday, Police Chief Steven Krokoff called the training insensitive.
In light of the ever-increasing threats to communities across the nation, I have directed our department to provide the most up-to-date training in a manner that is as realistic as possible, the police chief said. I certainly did not mean to offend the very people that we are training to protect.
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Albany NAACP President Bernie Bryan wondered why police had chosen the housing project so close to a poor neighborhood.
The folks in this neighborhood might not have the financial means, but are entitled to the same respect, Bryan observed. Whoever made the decision to do this was asleep at the switch.
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I swear when I saw this I thought it said that they did it because it was "convenient"
http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/03/25/albany-police-swat-used-poor-black-neighborhood-for-training-because-its-realistic/
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Albany police: SWAT used poor black neighborhood for training because it’s ‘realistic’ (Original Post)
ashling
Mar 2013
OP
geek tragedy
(68,868 posts)1. They probably should have provided notice to residents, but
it's an abandoned building, correct? I would imagine most abandoned buildings would be in poorer areas.
Blue_Tires
(55,445 posts)2. They did it for intimidating show of force so people know what's coming if they get out of line
Because there are no doubt countless other places where they could have done this...Of course nobody would have seen or heard them, which defeats the whole purpose...
baldguy
(36,649 posts)3. Right. Can't imagine them doing this at the Colonie Center Mall.