The ACLU, a few days ago, released its report on the militarization of American police in 2011-2012. The link is to toe WAPO article on this report, which states that SWAT type paramilitary police units are used primarily for drug suspects and even to serve warrants...only 7% of SWAT operations were hostage rescues or to apprehend mass shooters, which was their original purpose...
http://www.washingtonpost.com/...
Also, there is a growing trend for police departments to form corporations which support and deploy SWAT type units, which removes the activities of these units from public scrutiny and supervision...they have in effect created private armies that have no responsibility to the public, nor any duty to report to public authorities...
http://www.washingtonpost.com/...
I have read that these units are being trained by the private mercenary companies that worked in Iraq such as the former Blackwater...and come under the Homeland Security Act.
So it seems they can treat us all like terrorists with no legal consequences...or at least they feel they can, for whatever reason is driving this.