The standoff that occurred in Arlington Heights on Saturday night May 4th seemed to some witnesses as an over-reaction by Police authorities. Within minutes a large Police force had assembled with shot gun toting Arlington Heights officers, SWAT teams, squad cars and NIPAS (Northern Illinois Police Alarm System) armored vehicles that closed central downtown.
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The situation looked dangerous to people caught in restaurants and stores as the incident unfolded. All the while Armand Pizzeria was still getting deliveries in and out.
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There was a report of someone that fired shots and was locked inside a condominium. Supposedly the suspect's mother had disarmed him and left the condominium prior to the arrival of the Police. A SWAT team initially ascended the wrong stairwell in the building next door.
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One can definitely understand the need for caution in this situation. But was it necessary to call in the Emergency Services Team, Mobile Field Force of NIPAS? The Village of Arlington Heights allocates about 65% of the General Fund budget to the Police and Fire Departments each fiscal year.
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Somewhere in that budget should be resources for the Arlington Heights Police force to have managed this incident at the community level. Given the hysteria from events such as the Boston Marathon, community officials are now very quick to call on district wide Police support. An action that can lead to an out of proportion response to a situation.
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Thankfully no one was hurt that night. But learning from this event one would hope that we can rely more upon community policing and leave the SWAT teams at home.
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