SWAT: Page 7

Rethinking Suspect Searches

Both tragedies in Miami and St. Petersburg will be very thoroughly investigated and micro-analyzed. In time, there will be detailed debriefs that will answer these questions, and provide valuable lessons to prevent this from ever happening again.

What NFL Coach Vince Lombardi Can Teach LE About Searches

What so many deadly confrontations have in common is they all involve suspect searches. All the officers involved in the preceding incidents were experienced, well trained, armed and equipped.

Statue of Green Bay Packers coach Vince Lombardi outside the team's stadium. Photo via Flickr (akahodag).

Are Tunnel Rats Born or Made?

Tunnel rats during the Vietnam War invented and perfected the most effective tunnel tactics and techniques. In law enforcement, you need the right person with the right mindset, training, equipment, weaponry, and lots of experience to be effective.

Getting Through the Holidays

Amidst the craziness of midnight callouts for family gatherings gone wrong, take a minute this holiday season to reflect on what you have and the good that you do.

Confined Spaces and Tunnel Rats

It takes a special officer to willingly, capably, and effectively search confined spaces for suspects. During the Vietnam War, "tunnel rats" were employed to search the often elaborate, always extremely hazardous NVA/VC tunnel systems.

Photo by Alex Landeen.

LEO Deaths Take No Holiday

All police, military and firefighters willingly understand and accept the duty, challenge, sacrifice, risk of their noble professions. We know full well the ever-present dangers that lurk in the shadows — dangers that include the possibility of serious injury or death.

Searching for Hidden Suspects

I'd say every SWAT team trains extensively on suspect searches with special emphasis on the terrain they're dealing with. Regardless of terrain type, every SWAT team must be adept at searching buildings and outdoor terrain.

Photo by Alex Landeen.

Officer Sacrifice Brings Lessons for Two Tactical Teams

The mission for both New Orleans and San Antonio PD SWAT is crystal clear. They, too, need to recover, rebound, and rebuild from the major "hits" each team has taken.

Policing In Uncertain Times: The Future of SWAT

As a result of dramatically shrinking tax revenues, the public sector is now being forced to make unprecedented cuts across the board. I'm a strong advocate of SWAT being capable and versatile enough to handle a wide variety of assignments. SWAT teams need to stay active as their agencies tactical go-to specialists.

Voting, Elections, LE and SWAT

Voter discontent reflects a growing resentment across America against what are perceived as public sector abuses. Headlines today are filled with stories such as the exorbitant public officials' salaries and pensions in Bell, Calif.

Urban Shield: Debriefing the Teams

SWAT competitions give the teams an opportunity to compete against other tactical teams in events designed to test their competency and mettle. Among the many excellent SWAT competitions to choose from, Urban Shield's "full-scale exercise" format is widely considered the most realistically challenging.

At Urban Shield, officers with the Palo Alto (Calif.) PD listens to a debrief after completing 'Exercise 18: Critical Infrastructure, Corporate Security Integration' at the Pyramid Center in San Francisco. Photo courtesy of ACSO.

Urban Shield: Planning and Logistics

I refer to Urban Shield as a "gruelathon," and this year proved even tougher than 2009. Although there are a number of outstanding SWAT competitions throughout America, I can think of none more realistic, encompassing, massive and demanding than Urban Shield.

Photo courtesy of the Alameda County Sheriff's Office.

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