From KCRW in Santa Monica and PRI, Public Radio International, this is To the Point.

Soldier or cop? Hard to tell.

I'm Barbara Bogave sitting in for Warren Alme, and this is To the Point from Public Radio International,

a daily look at the issues Americans care about most.

Highly armed paramilitary units and SWAT teams are on the rise in American law enforcement.

That's according to a new study from the ACLU that claims these teams are increasingly being deployed in situations that don't require military firepower like grenades and sniper rifles.

The practice raises questions about where to draw the line between soldier and cop

and sometimes causes peaceful situations to spiral into violence, even deaths.

Is one person's militarization, another's preparation?

Also on today's talking point, put it all on number seven,

why we cling to the idea of the winning streak.

First News.

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We're back with To the Point. I'm Barbara Bogavin for Warren Alney. Just ahead, SWAT teams raiding illegal poker games and bars with underage drinkers.

A new study highlights the rise of the soldier cop. It's causing concerns about potential abuse of civil liberties and escalating violence in law enforcement.

And on today's talking point, the hot hand, the lucky number, always using the same bat, why

we persist in believing in winning streaks when all the odds are against it.

First, the story, big news out of Brussels, the European Union trade agreement that set the

whole Ukraine crisis in motion seven months ago has now officially been signed.

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