But he was the leader of the SWAT team in question, and before their white, unmarked cargo van drove down Lake Street that night, Bittell told the unit, “Alright, we’re rolling down Lake Street. The first f***ers we see, we’re just hammering ’em with 40s” — referring to 40mm launchers or rounds, or rubber bullets.
[…]
He ordered the white cargo van’s squad lights to be turned off as they slowly rolled down Lake Street. As the van approached a gas station. Bittell said, “Let ’em have it boys!”
I remember watching the dozens of videos on social media around this point of cops gleeful or angrily asserting their dominance. It was so disheartening that I had to take the day off from work because I read a bullshit email from a client complaining snidely about something trivial and it was all I could do not to respond with an angry “fuck you” email.