Win or lose, in police work, especially SWAT, it is vitally important to debrief your team. If your team is not debriefing after every SWAT operation, you are wrong. What is a Debrief? A debrief, in its simplest form is an informal discussion between the members of a team about what each team member saw/experienced…
Being able to shoot a pistol with both eyes open is a skill that anyone who uses a pistol will find beneficial, never mind if that person is a police officer. If you carry a firearm for living, being able to shoot with both eyes open is a critical skill. The trick is learning how…
The Most Overlooked Piece of Equipment for a Winter Range Day How many times have you looked forward to a day at the range only to have your dreams dashed by painfully low temperatures? Like so many people, when the mercury plummets so does your desire to stand outside in freezing the cold. So, how…
Almost every cop I know carries the same type of multi-tool. They use it for prying, hammering, lock picking, as a screw driver, and to pierce and cut things. The multi-tool that I am talking about is a folding knife. A police officer, especially a SWAT officer is going to use the tool that is…
‘What were the house numbers again?’ As a team lead, have you ever heard that question as your SWAT team is on its way to serve a search warrant? I know. Your guys should know the answer. They were just briefed on it. Everyone know what the house looks like but you need to confirm…
Whether you are on a SWAT call out or standing on the range, a good pair of boots can make or break your day. When your feet start to hurt because of bad footwear, it is not too long before you can become distracted and fatigued from discomfort. Ordinarily, this type of distraction is just…
Spending the day in the elements can be rough. Unless you dress properly. A few years ago, I attended a land warfare training course. The class was held outside, the temperatures were in the 30’s, it rained, I got wet, and had nowhere to go and dry off. I wore an Ice Breaker top for my…
Any range day is a good one. Except for this particular day. You are having a hard time concentrating because of the bone chilling low temperatures. The frigid temperatures are only made worse by a brutally cold, sharp wind that has frozen your body to its core. You are in a world of hurt, and…
Today I am talking about two important items that are often over looked, eye protection and helmet lights. This is the final post in a four-part series on helmets and helmet mounted equipment for SWAT teams. In the previous posts, I covered, helmets, hearing protection, and night vision devices. Eye Protection I have seen…
In previous posts of this series I covered helmets and hearing protection. Next up is night vision. Night Vision If your team has the opportunity to purchase night vision optics for the entire team or just some of your unit, go for it. Night vision is a windfall for SWAT teams. The ability to work…
