KXTV, Sacramento, CA reported last week that the home of Kenneth Wright in Stockton was raided by a S.W.A.T. team from the United States Department of Education Office of the Inspector General (OIG). KXTV Reporters followed all of the standard TV journalism procedures, such as interviewing Mr. Wright, and getting an official statement from U.S. Department of Education spokesman, Justin Hamilton. In my mind, they missed one important question. Why does the U.S. Department of Education have a S.W.A.T. team? In fairness, I don't think the Department of Education calls their armed unit a "S.W.A.T." team but why have an armed unit at all?
The "mission statement' of the U.S. Department of Education is almost a full page long but the first statement is "Strengthen the Federal commitment to assuring access to equal educational opportunity for every individual..." In this line or any other in the mission statement is there any sentence that would lead a reasonable person to believe that the Department needs a traveling armed unit to bust down the doors of United States citizens.
How far have we come in the last hundred years? When the FBI was established about 100 years ago, it was questioned as to whether the Federal Government was overstepping its authority. In 1908, people worried that the Justice Department would have too much power if it had armed officers. Now, trained journalists don't seem concerned that the Department of Education has and armed unit. What other government agencies have this capability? Does the Department of Agriculture have S.W.A.T. capabilities? If I switch my ham radio to the wrong frequency, will FCC, S.W.A.T. attack my house? Does the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration have S.W.A.T. Meteorologists? It feels bizarre that I even have to ask these questions. The main question still remains:
How far have we come in the last hundred years? When the FBI was established about 100 years ago, it was questioned as to whether the Federal Government was overstepping its authority. In 1908, people worried that the Justice Department would have too much power if it had armed officers. Now, trained journalists don't seem concerned that the Department of Education has and armed unit. What other government agencies have this capability? Does the Department of Agriculture have S.W.A.T. capabilities? If I switch my ham radio to the wrong frequency, will FCC, S.W.A.T. attack my house? Does the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration have S.W.A.T. Meteorologists? It feels bizarre that I even have to ask these questions. The main question still remains:
WHY DOES THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION HAVE A S.W.A.T. TEAM?
First guess - to handle Columbine style attacks. (Also my only guess, though I got plenty of swats when I was in school.)
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