SWAT: Page 12

Survival Lessons from Oakland and Pittsburgh

The lesson all of us must learn from the Oakland and Pittsburgh tragedies is to honor our fallen brothers in blue by doing whatever it takes to not only survive, or even to win, but to prevail.

Massacre in Pittsburgh: The Unthinkable Strikes Again

SWAT took up positions around the suspect’s brick house as the firefight raged. SWAT’s Lenco BEAR armored rescue vehicle withstood numerous bullet hits, including two very visible hits to the front windshield.

The Aftermath of the Oakland Massacre

How we honor them and all of our thousands of fallen brothers and sisters is to continue to do our job to the utmost of our ability with dignity and honor, no matter the obstacles. We are the thin blue line, and if we don’t do the job of protecting society, no one will.

What It Was Like to Watch the Oakland Tragedy Unfold on TV

At first, details were sketchy. “Breaking News: Four OPD officers shot…two motorcycle and two SWAT…gunman also shot…No word yet on the conditions of the officers or the gunman.”

Police Manhunts

The events that necessitate massive, intense manhunts occur suddenly and violently. Although we can't predict where or when deadly rampages will occur, what's certain is they will occur—somewhere—because no one is immune.

Crime Suppression Surges

Lately, much has been said about a new term to describe a longtime law enforcement strategy. The new term is "surge," and is borrowed from the military's successful strategy in Iraq that is about to also be employed in Afghanistan.

SWAT Raids and Searches Part Six: The Aftermath

The search or raid entry is over; the subjects are secure and being guarded; and the detectives are gathering their evidence. SWAT’s portion of the mission would appear to be over. So is it time to stand down and relax?

SWAT Raids and Searches Part Five: The Hit

Dynamic entries depend on “surprise, shock, and speed” and you go to the suspects. With deliberate entries like “surround and callout” the suspects come to you. Knock and announce requirements vary for each jurisdiction and must be followed.

SWAT Raids and Searches Part Three: Staging and Target Approaches

Knowing the route is critical. Some years ago I participated in a major raid where the lead vehicle had trouble finding the target because they’d never seen it, and darkness obscured the address.

SWAT Raids and Searches Part Four: Containment and Cover

Remember Murphy's Law. Unexpected obstacles, dogs, darkness, etc., can throw off even the best-laid plans. Effective perimeters don't happen by accident. They require tactics, planning, and precision coordination.

SWAT Raids and Searches—Part One

It could be said that a raid is a raid and a search is a search. However, that would be entirely wrong. The raid and search techniques and tactics of patrol officers differ from those of detectives. And the techniques and tactics of SWAT raids and searches are substantially different from those of both patrol officers and detectives.

SWAT Raids and Searches Part Two: Search and Raid Preparations

Preparation for searches and raids starts long before SWAT is ever requested. It begins with deciding which warrants service SWAT will do. Some teams handle all of their agency’s raids, while others only handle the highest risk. My guess is that the majority of SWAT teams fall somewhere in between.

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