Radley Balko, the investigative opinion writer for the Washington Post, posted an update on Twitter last night to his article last year about the (over)use of no-knock warrants by Little Rock SWAT officers in drug raids. The reduction in over-the-top drug raids under the departments new leadership is welcome.

The past tactics Balko described remain under challenge in litigation.

Balkos original article made these key criticism of the police.

There are three main areas of concern. First, the narcotics unit appears to be routinely violating the Fourth Amendment by serving nearly all of its warrants with no-knock raids. Its asking for no-knock warrants without demonstrating why each suspect merits a no-knock entry, as required by federal law. Worse yet, Little Rock judges are then signing off on these warrants.

Second, the LRPD is serving many of these warrants by using explosives that SWAT veterans Ive interviewed say are reckless, dangerous and wholly inappropriate for use in drug raids. Ive also spoken to at least two people who say there were children in the home when the explosives were used.

Finally, and perhaps most troubling, theres clear evidence that one informant whom LRPD drug cops have been using the informant used to obtain probable cause against Talley and others has been lying to police about his drug buys. At minimum, the detectives who worked with him have been inexcusably sloppy in their handling of him. But theres also evidence that raises questions about their own truthfulness.

The Arkansas Times sought permission to publish the entire Balko article in the Post, but the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, a subscriber to the news service, wouldnt allow it, presumably because it might publish it. It didnt.

PS: While the Little Rock police have declared a more careful review themselves, a defense lawyer also credits new Criminal District Court Judge Melanie Martin with a more rigorous review of warrant requests than in past practice. Shes been judge of the court since the first of this year. (Shes a former prosecutor and no soft touch on the criminal class.)

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Progress reported on Little Rock police use of no-knock searches - Arkansas Times