ST Alpha - "Let me ask a legal question. Why don't the cops require some sort of verification when they're prepared to send in a SWAT team?" (Reading a Post)

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In response to "Arrest in Kansas "swatting" case -- (link)" by znufrii

Let me ask a legal question. Why don't the cops require some sort of verification when they're prepared to send in a SWAT team?

Posted by David (aka David) Dec 30 '17, 14:19

Like, why can't they ask for the caller's identification or a return phone number?

Responses:

Because they have to take threats at their word, due to the risk of it being an actual life or death situation. - znufrii Dec 30, 14:51 8
- Is it more liability than they're facing for killing an innocent person? - David Dec 30, 14:56 7
  - Not to mention why would an assailant be interested in providing that information? - znufrii Dec 30, 14:59 6
    - I don't follow your reasoning. Did you mean to say assailant? -- nm - David Dec 30, 15:00 5
      - That's what this call was. The prankster/murderer was claiming to be the assailant, holding his family hostage. - znufrii Dec 30, 15:01 4
        
        I really don't follow you. Why would you think such an assertion shouldn't require due diligence? -- nm - David Dec 30, 15:05 3
        
        It should. And it should also require a response to protect against a potential threat to public safety. - znufrii Dec 30, 15:41 1
        
        They could have done something as easy as call the home, or the neighbors -- nm - . Dec 30, 15:50
        
        its more fun being an ahole when you have an audience -- nm - zeitgeist Dec 30, 15:20
I imagine govs will tell you that requiring ID is a disincentive to reporting, and when a life is potentially on the line they need to respond asap. - Max Dec 30, 14:26 3
- Could they at least verify that the call came from where it said it was? -- nm - . Dec 30, 14:31 2
  - calls from landlines and cell phones yes, they will still ask your number just to verify your are telling some truth, VOIP phones not so much. - zeitgeist Dec 30, 15:25
  - Saw the post below of how it was reported, so no. -- nm - . Dec 30, 14:45
Because they see themselves as a military strike force. -- nm - Beryllium Dec 30, 14:23 1
- This certainly is not a wrong answer. -- nm - Qale Dec 30, 14:31
the whole thing is maddening. He called city hall, not the police, didn't have a local number and refused to give more details to the dispatcher. - Reagen Dec 30, 14:23 7
- Jeez, I hope he doesn't get off from charge of making false police report because he didn't actually report to the police -- nm - zeitgeist Dec 30, 14:55 3
  - He can probably be charged with some level of murder - manslaughter, depraved indifference... -- nm - . Dec 30, 14:58 2
    - I hope so, he knowingly put someone in danger, it was a forseeable risk (and he had been charged with swatting before) -- nm - zeitgeist Dec 30, 15:15 1
      - I expect they'll also look at the past threats he's confessed to on Twitter. -- nm - Ender Dec 30, 15:33
- There's obviously some steps missing here. -- nm - . Dec 30, 14:45
- And the person's alive if we have gun control laws in this country. - David Dec 30, 14:26 1
  - Yup. It's the perfect Gordion Knot. -- nm - Reagen Dec 30, 14:28

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Let me ask a legal question. Why don't the cops require some sort of verification when they're prepared to send in a SWAT team?

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