Monthly Archives: February 2013

Is it worth it?

Carbine / Subgun Instructor, Kent, WA. March 18-22, 2013
High Risk Warrant Service, Spokane, WA. April 15-17, 2013
SWAT Team Leader, Lakewood, WA. May 6-8, 2013
Hostage Rescue, Spokane, WA. June 18-20, 2013
High Risk Warrant Service, Kent, WA. August 12-14, 2013
Ballistic Shield User, Spokane, WA. August 26 & 27, 2013
SWAT Team Leader, Spokane, WA. Dec. 16-18, 2013

If you are interested in hosting a course or attending any of the courses above, please contact me to get scheduled.

So I am approaching the end of my SWAT game. I really dont know how many more days, months or years I have left. I do know that the amount of time I have is less than what I have put in. When you approach the end of anything that has consumed so much of your time and effort, you tend to wonder whether it was worth it. 

I mean SWAT is directly responsible for two knee surgeries. Although I had been dislocating my right shoulder since the Army, SWAT is responsible for the majo reconstruction that I had done to it. My ears ring all the goddamn time, annoying doesnt bebin to explain it. My default response it always, “huh”? I really should come up with something cooler to say than “huh”. Maybe, My damn ears ring like the dickens, so unless you want to speak up a little, assume I can understand a damn thing that is coming out of your mouth! I used to think huh? conveyed that, but probably not. 

In addition to the physical issues, I also wonder about time away from home. I have been on 24-7 callout status for over 17 years. I have never been a big drinker, but I can tell you that I rarely drink because I am on call. I dont want to be intoxicated, or halfway there, if we get called out. I have made a promise to my teammates and I intend to keep it. That promise is that I will be there if the team needs me. I also wonder if my family has paid a price for my commitment? My wife says its quality not quantity, and not just in time mind you.

Even though I suffer physical issues and maybe some internal guilt, I wouldn’t trade it. SWAT has given me more opportunities than it has taken. I have had the pleasure of working with some of the finest people in law enforcement. I have been allowed to stand with quality men who measure you by actions. I have stood on the shoulders of better men than me and I have been fortunate enough to have some of them consider me a friend. Just being on SWAT doesn’t make you honorable, or brave or proficient. Those things require dedication and commitment. I believe that being in that type of environment for a long time helps solidify those traits in my character. It is my opinion that I am a better father and husband because of SWAT. Just like I am a better team member because of my family. They co-exist, each one driving me to be better for the mutual benefit of all.

So, when you get old like me and look back, realize that the sacrifices you make today will be worth it. It has been in my case.

Giving praise…..

Carbine / Subgun Instructor, Kent, WA. March 18-22, 2013
High Risk Warrant Service, Spokane, WA. April 15-17, 2013
SWAT Team Leader, Lakewood, WA. May 6-8, 2013
Hostage Rescue, Spokane, WA. June 18-20, 2013
High Risk Warrant Service, Kent, WA. August 12-14, 2013
Ballistic Shield User, Spokane, WA. Sept. 3-5, 2013. (This course still pending based on range)
SWAT Team Leader, Spokane, WA. Dec. 16-18, 2013

If you are interested in hosting a course or attending any of the courses above, please contact me to get scheduled.

I think I’ve written about this before, but maybe it’s just rattled around in my head enough that I think I have. I have been to enough police “leadership” training and other leadership based stuff to know that I suck at “encouraging the heart”. I have completed a bunch of self assessment forms and even had a structured 360 evaluation done a few times. In those, subordinates, peers and bosses have evaluated me. Not my performance per se, but traits and characteristics.

In all of those events, I have received low marks on giving praise. In one class, there were leaders from the entire community, business people, cops, professionals in other areas etc. So we get the 360 done and we are supposed to share the finding if we feel comfortable with it. In addition, we are supposed to tell the group about a time when our weakness came to pass in a real incident. My team had just been involved in an OIS, the facts of that call aren’t important. What is important is that the teams performance wasn’t perfect. As a result, I gave the team an honest critique, it was not full of puppies and flowers. So I tell the class I suck at giving praise and bring up this incident. I am not shitting you when I tell you that a lady in the class cracked a tear that rolled down her cheek while I was speaking. I quickly told her that it was OK, the dude that got ventilated deserved it. It dawned on me that she wasn’t crying because a criminal suspect was killed, she was crying because I was so mean to the team.

Now boys, that kinda thing will make you think a little. Here is what I have come up with. SWAT isn’t a game for little girls, that statement isn’t gender specific. It is about attitude. We work in a business where people die if our collective crap isn’t wired tight. To get wired tight requires an intense and honest critique of performance. It requires me to put a shoe in your ass when you aren’t performing. I will not clap you on the back or tell you “Great Job” simply because you did your job, that is expectation. If you want medals, accolades or public acknowledgement of how neat you are, dont expect that from me. It simply isn’t going to happen, primarily because I wasnt raised that way. If I say notthing about your performance, then congratulations, you are meeting standards. If I tell you “Good job” or “well done”, it’s because you have exceeded standards. But you arent going to get much more.

For men who carry guns for a living, who put themselves in harms way, who have a standard of morals and ethics that are not debatable, then a nod from your peers is all you need. Anything more is fluff and is wasting valuable time that could be spent training, improving and refining our craft, or doing finger pushups. Still not satisfied, well then “Good Job!”, please print that shit and refer to it as often as you need.

As always, apologies for typos.

Opportunity, means & mindset….

Carbine / Subgun Instructor, Kent, WA. March 18-22, 2013
High Risk Warrant Service, Spokane, WA. April 15-17, 2013
SWAT Team Leader, Lakewood, WA. May 6-8, 2013
Hostage Rescue, Spokane, WA. June 18-20, 2013
High Risk Warrant Service, Kent, WA. August 12-14, 2013
Ballistic Shield User, Spokane, WA. Sept. 3-5, 2013. (This course still pending based on range)
SWAT Team Leader, Spokane, WA. Dec. 16-18, 2013

If you are interested in hosting a course or attending any of the courses above, please contact me to get scheduled.

I had a bust week last week with SWAT stuff and with prepping/teaching in service for my departments Sergeants. Funny to me that I teach all over the NW, but this is the first time my own agency has leaned on me for tactical training to my peers. Weird.

Anyway, one of the missions we did was a large compound, multiple houses and multiple bad guys. My team, another large team and a portion of a third team were required to handle this job. All told we used 7 armored vehicles and had roughly 65 SWAT men on the job. Everything went smooth as silk. None of the five pit bulls had to killed, all of the 27 weapons were recovered and some career criminals are in the jailhouse.

My wife says that shit went smoothly because I’m the best damn team leader on the planet and my plan and execution of that plan was flawless. (She’s my wife fer chrissakes, shes supposed to think like that!) I think the plan was good and I owe thanks to another T/L who helped plan and ultimately convinced me the 7th piece of armor was needed. The guys did well in executing the plan, by and large it went as I thought it would.

On to the title though. These guys certainly had enough guns on scene to qualify as means. The guns were there, they had bullets and were in good working condition. So the means to shoot at us was there. We used S&C tactics, so they certainly had ample opportunity to pick up the guns, clean-lube-load, and either pre-emptively assault us or wait until we were vulnerable in some fashion. Last they probably have the mindset to kill cops, we’ll never know since they eleceted not to.

So, means, opportunity and mindset were all present. I cant effect the means; if guns are there I cant control them until I control the target. I can kinda control opportunity by way of tactics, a faster tactic might let me bounce a guy before he can acquire the means to assault. It might also send me dashing into a hornets nest. S&C gives bad guys opportunities that Dynamic does not, it’s a fact. The reverse is also true sometimes. I dont really think we can control mindset, a predisposition to violence does not simply go away.
 
So how come we were not engaged with gunfire? I think that an overwhelming show of force, an aggressive posture, might cause someone to rethink their plan. Although many bad guys might want to harm us, the futility of starting that fight might stay their hand. For the guys that would be inclined to read this blog, that was a big “Duh!” moment for you. Our detractors would say that 7 armored cars and 3+ score of SWAT men is overkill. It is too much, it is excessive. Well, we do know that no gunfight erupted, none of the officers were injured or killed and none of the suspects were harmed.

Whats the point? The point is choose the tactics that gives you the highest chance of controlling Means, Opportunity and Mindset. And bring alot of men with guns.

As always, apologies for typos.

Opportunity, means & mindset….

Carbine / Subgun Instructor, Kent, WA. March 18-22, 2013
High Risk Warrant Service, Spokane, WA. April 15-17, 2013
SWAT Team Leader, Lakewood, WA. May 6-8, 2013
Hostage Rescue, Spokane, WA. June 18-20, 2013
High Risk Warrant Service, Kent, WA. August 12-14, 2013
Ballistic Shield User, Spokane, WA. Sept. 3-5, 2013. (This course still pending based on range)
SWAT Team Leader, Spokane, WA. Dec. 16-18, 2013

If you are interested in hosting a course or attending any of the courses above, please contact me to get scheduled.

I had a bust week last week with SWAT stuff and with prepping/teaching in service for my departments Sergeants. Funny to me that I teach all over the NW, but this is the first time my own agency has leaned on me for tactical training to my peers. Weird.

Anyway, one of the missions we did was a large compound, multiple houses and multiple bad guys. My team, another large team and a portion of a third team were required to handle this job. All told we used 7 armored vehicles and had roughly 65 SWAT men on the job. Everything went smooth as silk. None of the five pit bulls had to killed, all of the 27 weapons were recovered and some career criminals are in the jailhouse.

My wife says that shit went smoothly because I’m the best damn team leader on the planet and my plan and execution of that plan was flawless. (She’s my wife fer chrissakes, shes supposed to think like that!) I think the plan was good and I owe thanks to another T/L who helped plan and ultimately convinced me the 7th piece of armor was needed. The guys did well in executing the plan, by and large it went as I thought it would.

On to the title though. These guys certainly had enough guns on scene to qualify as means. The guns were there, they had bullets and were in good working condition. So the means to shoot at us was there. We used S&C tactics, so they certainly had ample opportunity to pick up the guns, clean-lube-load, and either pre-emptively assault us or wait until we were vulnerable in some fashion. Last they probably have the mindset to kill cops, we’ll never know since they eleceted not to.

So, means, opportunity and mindset were all present. I cant effect the means; if guns are there I cant control them until I control the target. I can kinda control opportunity by way of tactics, a faster tactic might let me bounce a guy before he can acquire the means to assault. It might also send me dashing into a hornets nest. S&C gives bad guys opportunities that Dynamic does not, it’s a fact. The reverse is also true sometimes. I dont really think we can control mindset, a predisposition to violence does not simply go away.
 
So how come we were not engaged with gunfire? I think that an overwhelming show of force, an aggressive posture, might cause someone to rethink their plan. Although many bad guys might want to harm us, the futility of starting that fight might stay their hand. For the guys that would be inclined to read this blog, that was a big “Duh!” moment for you. Our detractors would say that 7 armored cars and 3+ score of SWAT men is overkill. It is too much, it is excessive. Well, we do know that no gunfight erupted, none of the officers were injured or killed and none of the suspects were harmed.

Whats the point? The point is choose the tactics that gives you the highest chance of controlling Means, Opportunity and Mindset. And bring alot of men with guns.

As always, apologies for typos.