Is militarized police always undesirable?

[gratuitous]

20. I can imagine scenarios

I can imagine scenarios where a militarized police force might be desirable. Unfortunately, as we've seen with torture (which I absolutely abhor and cannot find a suitable scenario), the option to bring out the big guns soon slides into the obligation to use the big guns. A routine raid or arrest becomes anything but routine when someone in a position of authority on the detail starts imagining the "what could happens": Well, we don't think they're armed, but what if they are? We think there's just a couple of people in the house we're raiding, but what if there's another half dozen we don't know about? I don't want to send my men into a situation where they aren't guaranteed to have superior numbers and firepower. Better get out the armored personnel carrier and the big guns. Just in case. Don't want any widows crying in my office.