At the 2017 California Association of Tactical Officers (CATO) Conference, Don Kester of the National Tactical Officers Association (NTOA) hosted a thought-provoking session on the challenges faced by tactical teams, and the lessons we should be learning from our mistakes.
Don suggested tactical teams need to ask, “Why are we at this call?”
In the current environment, SWAT is frequently called out for situations where it may be inappropriate to deploy, so every callout must begin with an assessment of whether SWAT intervention is justified.
For example, Don addressed the complicated issue of dealing with barricaded, suicidal subjects who have committed no criminal act, and are not a risk to anybody else. In these situations, intervention from a team of mental health and medical professionals may be more appropriate than deploying a SWAT team.
Learning to ask, “Why are we here?” will help to begin the process of risk mitigation, and prevent an inappropriate deployment of a tactical team.
Sometimes the best course of action is recognizing SWAT is not the best solution, and demobilizing the team, but this is only possible with strong communication and leadership skills.
Don also challenged the audience to continuously ask themselves if there is a better way of doing things.
For example, calling out SWAT to raid a house is one way of doing business, but is it the best way? SWAT officers should ask:
- Can the suspect be apprehended in a less dangerous manner in another location or at another time?
- Are there other options to flashbangs that could be safer?
- Does a particular operation justify a full team deployment, or are there other options to calling out SWAT?
- Are there new technologies that we can use to reduce exposing our people to unnecessary risk?
Don’s briefing is part of the larger effort from CATO and NTOA to “professionalize” SWAT, and raise the bar on training and standards for this critical area of law enforcement. Read more of Don’s top SWAT lessons here.
