I think the issue isn't necessarily the existence of SWAT, but the over use of SWAT. SWAT makes sense if its LAPD going in to do a raid on a big cartel event. In a real scenario when you are also going to be confronting a large group armed to the teeth. Outside of that, eh, why is SWAT being used so much for things that really just need 1 or 2 officers with stock equipment?