Police Magazine

Robert O'Brien

SWAT Sergeant (Ret.)

A member of the TREXPO Advisory Board, Sgt. Robert "Bob" O'Brien Cleveland SWAT Ret. is the founder of the R.J. O'Brien Group Ltd., a law enforcement training and consulting service that advises and trains a number of local, state, and federal SWAT teams. O'Brien co-founded Cleveland's full-time SWAT team, and he served with that unit for 25 years. He is a former consultant to the National Tactical Officers Association and a former vice president of the Ohio Tactical Officers Association.

Inside the Badge •by Robert O'Brien•February 28, 2008

Take Action in Active Shooter Response

The active shooter phenomenon has a certain "copycat" quality to it — a deadly game won by causing the highest body count in the shortest amount of time before police can stop them.

Inside the Badge •by Robert O'Brien•February 19, 2008

Can We Stop School Shooters?

At NIU, police responded within two minutes of the first reports. However, the shooter still managed to kill five people then turn the gun on himself all before police could stop him.It’s difficult to fathom how police can respond faster.

Inside the Badge •by Robert O'Brien•February 6, 2008

Time and Again

The point is all of us were once new, and someday, we'll all retire. But try telling that to a rookie.

Inside the Badge •by Robert O'Brien•February 6, 2008

SWAT: Yesterday, Today…Tomorrow?

Cash-strapped agencies cannot afford larger SWAT teams. As a result, today we expect rapid intervention by first responders, who are oftentimes trained by SWAT, and must meet the brunt of the challenge.

Articles•by Robert O'Brien•February 1, 2008

War Wagons

One of the first times I realized the need for armored vehicles in police operations was during the 1968 Glenville Shootout and riot in Cleveland. Here's what happened.

Inside the Badge •by Robert O'Brien•January 23, 2008

Where is SWAT Heading?

Response to high-risk situations is like emergency medical response. Both require similar levels of training, equipment, and specialty.

Inside the Badge •by Robert O'Brien•January 23, 2008

Readers Focus on Active Shooter Response by SWAT and Patrol

Not surprisingly, most responses dealt with the issue of how active shooters have changed the roles of both patrol and SWAT. Patrol cannot afford to wait for SWAT while innocent people are dying. Columbine was the "wake-up call" that changed everything.

Inside the Badge •by Robert O'Brien•January 9, 2008