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•December 18, 2007

SWAT Operations: Who’s in Charge—Part 2

Micromanaging SWAT is a challenge for many teams, and sometimes the solution is to outlast the micromanagers. I recall the frustration of one SWAT commander over his chief’s micromanaging. The solution arrived when the chief finally retired, and the SWAT commander became the new chief.

Inside the Badge •by Robert O'Brien•December 13, 2007

Who's In Charge?

At many agencies SWAT isn't allowed to do anything "aggressive" without direct authorization from the chief, sheriff, or field commander. Additionally, any and all SWAT tactics must be pre-approved before being implemented. To me, this sounds like a big step backward.

Inside the Badge •by Robert O'Brien•December 6, 2007

The Hammer and the Anvil

The recent shooting of a Dallas SWAT lieutenant on cover/containment during a drug raid serves as a reminder of the many dangers of cover/containment. Often overshadowed by its more "glamorous" entry counterpart, cover/containment is essential to successful SWAT operations, especially raids and searches.

Inside the Badge •by Robert O'Brien•November 28, 2007

Make Yours a Winning Team

Have you noticed how certain teams—military, police, or sports—are consistent winners, year after year? What is the secret to their longterm success? Have they discovered a secret fountain of success or some magic formula? Whatever their secrets, there are lessons the rest of us can learn from their success.

Inside the Badge •by Robert O'Brien•November 14, 2007

Officer Down! Medic Up!

Officer Down: dreaded words we never hope to hear, but hear them we do—with alarming regularity in 2007 (on track to be the deadliest year for police since 1978). Recent shootings indicate SWAT is not immune from this escalating violence against police.

Inside the Badge •by Robert O'Brien•November 14, 2007

Cover and Containment—Watch Your Back

Despite its importance, cover and containment can be easily overlooked in raid/search planning. Many law enforcement officers can readily cite their own perimeter "horror stories" where perimeters turned to disaster. Here are a few examples of lessons learned from such situations.

Inside the Badge •by Robert O'Brien•October 31, 2007

Critique Your Debriefings

SWAT places debriefings high on the list of learning essentials. The reason is debriefings are where we learn what went right or wrong, why, and how to correct things next time. Policing (SWAT included) is a constant learning experience, and what better way to learn than from our own experiences?

Inside the Badge •by Robert O'Brien•October 24, 2007

Hidden Dangers: Confined Space Searches

What makes confined space searches so dangerous is that they are essentially “ambushes” waiting to happen. Suspects in confined spaces are in “fight or flight” mode, which makes them as unpredictable and dangerous as any cornered animal.

Inside the Badge •by Robert O'Brien•October 17, 2007

Strength in Numbers

Last month, there were two separate deadly police shootings in the same week, resulting in multiple police casualties.

Inside the Badge •by Robert O'Brien•October 8, 2007

My Favorite Products at TREXPO East

Police tactical conferences and expos present golden opportunities for you to see and learn firsthand about the newest tactical products available. TREXPO East 2007, the biggest TREXPO to date, treated attendees to a dazzling array of the newest SWAT/Tactical products on the market.

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