I'm not a cop, and certainly not a tactical expert, but my eyes don't lie.
I saw a bloody, gun shot high school student flopping out of the second story window of his school. SWAT guys all over the place, outside the school well before that even occured. Clearly kids were, at best being shot and wounded inside, at worst being slaughtered.
As I remember it was literally hours before the first entry team entered the building, despite absolutely every indication that kids were being murdered on a massive scale.
From my humble, self admitted novice viewpoint, I would have expected MUCH better from ANY police departments SWAT team. Exactly what needs to occure before a brave and rapid effort is made to stop mass murder? What is the whole point of having a SWAT team that circles a building as people are being shot and blown up? I realize officer safety is a consideration in many instances, however in THIS situation the safety of the kids should have FAR out weighed department "policy".
Remember the Secret Service officer that dove and took a bullet for President Reagan? That's exactly the level of devotion to public safety, if demanded, that EVERY citizen who pays taxes should demand from someone who CHOSES to be on a tactical response team.
I realize department regulations and the chain of command dictate officer actions. That doesn't mean that by all appearances that particular SWAT team and their bosses looked and acted like a bunch of cowards all dressed up for a fight they were unwilling/affraid to engage, despite having the training/equipment/weapons to take on just about any threat. If you've got it, use it. Don't take on a life and death protecting role if your unwilling or unable to carry it out. Period. Put up a "Help Wanted" sign and hire guys that WILL put it on the line, whether it be new command or new operators.