The percentage of SWAT teams serving towns with populations between 25,000 and 50,000 has increased from 13% in 1983 to more than 80% in 2007. (Source: Peter B. Kraska, “Militarization and Policing—Its Relevance to 21st Century Police,” 2007)

Peter B. Kraska, a criminologist at Eastern Kentucky University, estimates that 80 percent of SWAT deployments are for serving drug warrants. (Source: Peter B. Kraska, “Militarization and Policing—Its Relevance to 21st Century Police,” 2007)