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•October 24, 2008

Honor Fallen Officers by Staying Alive

The dangers of our profession range from the obvious—hostage rescue attempts and active shooters—to the hidden—vehicle crashes and physical training. And any one of them can happen to any of us at any time.

Inside the Badge •by Robert O'Brien•May 14, 2008

Illegal Street Performances – Coming to a Town Near You

If you haven't heard of illegal street performances called "sideshows," read on. Law enforcement needs to be aware of the potential dangers resulting from these increasingly popular gatherings.

Inside the Badge •by Robert O'Brien•April 25, 2008

There's a Lot to Learn at a TREXPO Conference

I’ve been going to TREXPO East and TREXPO West for 10 years, and the conferences never disappoint me. They are always timely, relevant, and taught by some of the best, most qualified experts anywhere. This year’s TREXPO West held in Long Beach, Calif., in February ranks at the top of all the TREXPO’s I have attended so far.

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

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•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•August 24, 2007

SWAT: A Square Peg in a Round Hole?

The debate over SWAT is also evident within individual agencies, where shifts in administrators often change how, when, and where SWAT is used. Some agencies use full-time SWAT teams for a wide variety of risk-involved assignments, as primary or backup responders. On the opposite end of the spectrum, other agencies are reluctant to use SWAT for anything except the highest risk assignments. Predictably, these SWAT teams are rarely called out and such agencies often target SWAT for budge

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