Why can towns afford expensively kitted SWAT Police? Firstly the US Gov bought a lot of equipment for the war on Terror and drugs and, secondly it can be profitable:
"Rules on civil asset-forfeiture allow the police to seize anything which they can plausibly claim was the proceeds of a crime. Crucially, the property-owner need not be convicted of that crime. If the police find drugs in his house, they can take his cash and possibly the house, too. He must sue to get them back."
So, you are in a situation where the Police are incentivised to use their time to serve drug warrants.
"Rules on civil asset-forfeiture allow the police to seize anything which they can plausibly claim was the proceeds of a crime. Crucially, the property-owner need not be convicted of that crime. If the police find drugs in his house, they can take his cash and possibly the house, too. He must sue to get them back."
So, you are in a situation where the Police are incentivised to use their time to serve drug warrants.
[1] http://www.economist.com/news/united-states/21599349-america...