‘HOW TO ORGANIZE, ae

TRAIN, AND EQUIP

* A SWAT TEAM FOR
LAW ENFORCEMENT
OR SELF-DEFENSE

Pat Cascio
John McSweeney
 Digitized by the Internet Archive
in 2022 with funding from
Kahle/Austin Foundation

https ://archive.org/details/swatbattletactic0000casc
oWAT
BATTLE TACTICS
 Foremost, we wish to dedicate this book to our wives,
Mary Cascio and Marianne McSweeney. We truly and
deeply appreciate your support of our undertaking in writing
this book.
A special dedication goes to all the brave, honest, and
caring police officers who lay their lives on the line every
day. Thank you!
 HOW TO ORGANIZE,

TRAIN, AND EQUIP

A SWAT TEAM FOR

LAW ENFORCEMENT

OR SELF-DEFENSE

Pat Cascio
John McSweeney

Paladin Press
Boulder, Colorado
SWAT Battle Tactics:
How to Organize, Train, and Equip a SWAT Team
for Law Enforcement or Self-Defense
by Pat Cascio and John McSweeney

Copyright © 1996 by Pat Cascio and John McSweeney

ISBN 10: 0-87364-900-1

ISBN 13: 978-0-87364-900-1

Printed in the United States of America

Published by Paladin Press, a division of

Paladin Enterprises, Inc.,
Gunbarrel Tech Center
7077 Winchester Circle
Boulder, Colorado 80301 USA
+1.303.443.7250

Direct inquiries and/or orders to the above address.

Chapter 6 originally appeared as “Small Unit Tactics”

in the June 1987 issue of American Survival Guide.
Reprinted with permission.

PALADIN, PALADIN PRESS, and the “horse head” design

are trademarks belonging to Paladin Enterprises and
registered in United States Patent and Trademark Office.

All rights reserved. Except for use in a review, no

portion of this book may be reproduced in any form
without the express written permission of the publisher.

Neither the author nor the publisher assumes

any responsibility for the use or misuse of
information contained in this book.

Visit our Web site at www.paladin-press.com

CONTENTS

Introduction/1

Chapter 1
Team Selection/5

Chapter 2
Firearms Selection/13

Chapter 3
Chemical Weapons/25

Chapter 4
Hostage Negotiations/39

Chapter 5
Handling the Media/47

Chapter 6
Infantry Tactics/53

Chapter 7
Clearing Buildings/65
 SWAT BATTLE TACTICS

Chapter 8
It’s a Bomb!/83

Chapter 9
Physical Conditioning/89

Chapter 10
Hand-to-Hand Combat/95

Conclusion/105

Appendix
Resources/107

vi
 eR
INTRODUCTION

SWAT, ERT, REACT, Special

Services—all police teams operating
as specialized or highly trained units
fall into the category we refer to as
MOUT (Military Operations in Urban
Terrain). Though many police depart-
ments are loathe to admit it, the mili-
tary has been using these special
tactics and weapons for decades. In
the last 20 years or so, police depart-
ments have adopted many of these
military tactics and modified them to
suit the needs of their own special
weapons and tactics units. Indeed,
many law enforcement SWAT
instructors come from a military
infantry background. A good military
company commander or platoon
leader with an infantry background
makes an instructor or leader in this
law enforcement field. Because
infantry tactics are the basis for all
SWAT tactics, we have devoted an
entire chapter to this topic.
 SWAT BATTLE TACTICS

Unfortunately, the inception of MOUT has led many

police and security departments to replace regularly sched-
uled training with so-called “high-tech” equipment. Let’s
make this perfectly clear: No amount of equipment will
replace training (in tactical situations) on a regular basis! The
trend these days is to purchase all-black uniforms (a strong
point of contention with the public) and high-tech weaponry
and equipment and then to neglect honest (and hard) train-
ing that is essential when you have to deploy in a high-level
threat situation. This is not to say that specialized equipment
doesn’t have its place in the scheme of things—it does—but
it doesn’t replace the training skills necessary to become a
highly efficient and well-oiled team. We have trained police
and security officers in MOUT (or SWAT if you prefer) over
the years, only to see them neglect any regularly scheduled
training programs after their initial training.
Many police departments believe that by purchasing spe-
cialized weapons (e.g., M16s, Uzis, laser sights) they have a
SWAT team of sorts and, therefore, some type of advantage
over the bad guys. This is dangerous thinking and can result
in unnecessary risks and, oftentimes, deaths (both civilian
and law enforcement). We want to believe that police depart-
ments have advanced beyond the “good ol’ boys” network
of past sheriff's departments, where Billy Bob was sum-
moned to “take out” a barricaded suspect with his faithful
hunting rifle, but what we’re seeing today leads us to believe
many departments still have a similar mentality.
What often happens is that when police departments get
funds from the city council or federal government for the
organization of a SWAT team, the first thing they do is pur-
chase new weapons (when there’s nothing wrong with the
“old” ones), fancy uniforms, and every other high-tech piece
of equipment they have seen or read about in some of the
popular police magazines and catalogs. Training is then sec-
ondary in their eyes. Indeed, this is just the reverse of what
INTRODUCTION

should be done. The training should be of primary concern;

only after a suitable training period and indoctrination should
departments seriously consider purchasing specialized
equipment. Work with the tools you have, and once you
become proficient with them, move on to other weapons
and equipment you may need.
Another important point is that your team will not be able
to handle every situation that arises. Your team must know
its limitations. Should your team face a scenario that is
beyond its capabilites, it is best to try to contain the situa-
tion until assistance can be called in. It’s not shameful to
seek outside assistance. It would be disastrous to commit
your team to a situation that is beyond its training and capa-
bilities and have deaths occur as a result of it.
In this book, we will examine a number of topics that an
average SWAT or MOUT team could encounter. Some topics
will be familiar to you; others may not. We will, of course,
deal with the various weaponry available as well as tactical
situations and training, equipment, public relations, hostage
negotiations, and a number of other equally important areas
of interest to police and paramilitary officers interested in
training in this specialty field. This book is only the first step
and should not be considered the final or only word on the
subject. There are a number of good books out there that
cover training in this area.
Cross-training is to be encouraged during team training.
Keep in mind, however, that not every team member needs
to be cross-trained in every area. Not every team member
needs to be trained as a locksmith, sniper/countersniper,
team leader, entryman, or public relations officer. Each team
member should train in a few areas and then hone those
skills to the highest degree possible. Choose your areas of
interest, but don’t try to do it all or to be something you’re
not. It takes a special person to be a hostage negotiator, just
as it takes someone special to take out an armed felon at
 SWAT BATTLE TACTICS

100 yards with a scoped rifle. High-risk entry is another area

that calls for nerves of steel.
NOTE: Before we get any letters from female officers,
we’d like to explain that when we use the terms man and men
or the pronoun he and his, they are used in the generic sense.
We have trained and worked with female officers in SWAT
operations who are every bit as effective as their male coun-
terparts. As a matter of fact, we don’t know why more female
officers are not involved in SWAT or MOUT operations.
 TEAM
SELECTION
One of the most important
aspects of any SWAT or MOUT
team is the correct selection of the
personnel who will serve on it.

SELECTION PROCESS

There are five steps in the selec-

tion process: announcement of an
opening on the team, a thorough
review of applicants, psychological
testing, personal interviews, and
completion of training.

Announcing the Opening

The first step in this process is
the announcement of open recruit-
ment throughout the department or
unit. Under no circumstances
should people who have not volun-
teered be assigned to a team. Every
member should be a volunteer—no
exceptions! Personnel who have
 SWAT BATTLE TACTICS

simply been assigned to a SWAT or MOUT team won’t have

their hearts, minds, and bodies in the training process: they
just won’t give their all when the time comes for action.

Reviewing the Applicants

Obviously, not everyone who volunteers is suitable for
this type of training and work, so your second step is a care-
ful examination of volunteers’ training, experience, personnel
records, and reasons for wanting to join the team. You don’t
need a “Rambo” or “Lone Wolf McQuade” on your team. You
absolutely have to operate as a team. That’s why it’s called a
SWAT or MOUT team and not a SWAT or MOUT individual.
Those who have demonstrated an unwillingness to work
within the framework already laid out in your departmental or
unit guidelines should be excluded from consideration.

Testing the Applicants

The third step, psychological testing, might not apply to
all departments. Officers in charge of staffing teams for
smaller departments and units are more familiar with all their
officers, whereas in the larger departments (e.g., Chicago,
Los Angeles, New York) administrators will not know all the
officers involved in the application process and must weed
out anyone unsuitable for high-risk operations. One of the
best ways to do this is through psychological testing. This
should not be used as the final measuring tool in the selec-
tion process. We have a low regard for psychologists who
think they are more important to the selection process than
they really are. There is something to be said, however, for
the results of the tests they administer and what can be
learned through the testing process. Therefore, psychologi-
cal testing has its place.

Interviewing the Applicants

The fourth step is a personal interview with the appli-
TEAM SELECTION

cant, preferably before a selection board of unbiased mem-

bers to avoid the “good ol’ boys” selection process. You
don’t need anyone on your team just because he is a friend
of the chief of police or someone’s nephew.
Your selection board should include a minimum of three
members, preferably five. Board members need not be team
members, but it is advisable that at least one or two have
background, training, or experience in law enforcement or
the military. It is not uncommon to have officers from outside
agencies or departments serve on the board to avoid any
favoritism in the selection process. A majority vote should be
necessary before anyone can be allowed to join the team.
The personal interviews help you evaluate the candi-
dates and assess their reasons for wanting to join the team.
One type you want to be screen out is the person looking to
be a hero. Everyone wants to feel important and be held in
high esteem, and some people might think that a position on
a SWAT or MOUT team would provide this. After all, the
movies always portray SWAT team members as heroes.
Let’s be honest, everyone (deep down inside) would like to
be a hero and make the front page of the newspapers or the
six o’clock news. You don’t need people who are interested
in individual glory, but rather who are willing to work togeth-
er as a team for the betterment of everyone affected: the
team, the department, the city, the public.

Completing the Training

Once an applicant has made it past the selection board,
he isn’t automatically on the team. The fifth, and final, step
in the selection process is the applicant’s successful com-
pletion of training. If an applicant has completed the train-
ing and contributed to the team’s overall readiness, then he
can be considered a team member.
We would also like to recommend here that rookies (i.e.,
first-year police officers) be excluded from MOUT teams. It
 SWAT BATTLE TACTICS

is better that they get some real street experience and train-
ing their first year or two before they are exposed to any
specialized training or high-risk operations. This is simply a
preference on our part. Your department or unit will need to
draw up guidelines and regulations to govern your team.

SELECTION GUIDELINES AND REGULATIONS

When you are drafting guidelines, there are several fac-

tors that must be considered.

Maturity
Maturity should be the number one factor when drawing
up any guidelines. You don’t need any “kids” (mentally) on
your team. Remember, we discussed teamwork earlier. This
may sound redundant, but it takes a mature individual to be
a team member. This may sound a bit contradictory to talk
about individuals and teamwork in the same context. But, in
this case, they work together.

Physical Readiness
Physical readiness is a vital concern (we'll discuss this fur-
ther in Chapter 9). You don’t need someone on your team who
is physically unable to carry out the mission. This isn’t to say
that everyone needs to be built like Superman. Find a happy
medium. Physical training should be a part of every training
exercise. Armed forces include physical training in their tactical
exercises, and so should your SWAT or MOUT team.
Police officers should always be in good-to-excellent
physical condition, but, sadly, most are not. We don’t
believe it is unreasonable for a team to work out once or
twice a week after a shift for 15 to 20 minutes to stay in
shape. Your tactical exercises will take a certain amount
of physical strength to complete (if properly designed).
Our combined experience in the martial arts spans better
TEAM SELECTION

than 65 years, and we know that the “secret” to being

physically fit is doing simple yoga-type exercises. We
both perform simple stretching exercises called Tiger
Moves regularly. These were developed by John
McSweeney (more on this in Chapter 9).
Any serious student of the martial arts will attest to the
fact that those who are the most limber are the ones who
can perform even the hardest moves, blocks, kicks, and so
on. Even limber people who are overweight can perform
movements more easily than the skinny guys who don’t
have any flexibility. Physical conditioning—don’t neglect it;
include it in every training exercise.

Mental Conditioning
Another “secret” that experienced martial artists attempt
to instill in their students is the mental conditioning or mind-
set needed to win any deadly confrontation. Winning a fight
is about 20 percent physical and 80 percent mental, as our
good friend and fellow martial artist Bradley J. Steiner
stresses regularly in his “Defensive Combat” column in
Petersen’s Handguns magazine.
During your regular training exercises, focus on the men-
tal conditioning of your team members as well. Someone
who is having personal, financial, or health problems is not
suitable for a high-risk operation. This is not to say he must
be dropped from the team. But you should exclude him from
a call-out or assign him to a nonthreatening position until the
problem can be resolved (remember cross-training?). You
don’t need someone on your team pulling the trigger at the
wrong time because he is not 100 percent into the opera-
tion. Everyone goes through bouts of depression. We don’t
care who you are. Make observations and notes on your
team members and encourage them to discuss their prob-
lems with you and seek professional help if it is indicated.
Mental readiness: every team member must possess it.
 SWAT BATTLE TACTICS

TEAM ASSIGNMENTS

Another area that should be addressed in team selection is

that of assignments. Some members are better suited to cer-
tain jobs than others. Someone with an infantry background
might be an excellent choice for high-risk entry or room clear-
ing, because he is already trained in this activity. Someone
who has been a U.S. Marine may be an excellent candidate for
a sniper/countersniper role because the Corps is known for
turning out some of the best marksmen in the world. Someone
with an investigative background might be suitable for collect-
ing the intelligence necessary to carry out an operation suc-
cessfully. Those experienced in public speaking might be
perfect for handling the media and crisis reporting. Street
supervisors might make excellent team leaders and training
officers. There are a number of diverse functions involved in a
full-scale call-out. During a real call-out you could use beat
cops or reserve officers to clear innocents from their homes,
but if they don’t practice or train with your team on a regular
basis, how are they going to know what to do? Make sure
everyone who has (or might have) a role in a crisis is a member
of the team and practices with it regularly. Don’t forget.

How Many Members on a SWAT Team?

There is no such thing as a one- or two-man SWAT
team. You need a minimum of five officers for a team to be
effective. On a five-man team, one person is the team leader
or supervisor, and the other four are the operational mem-
bers. A six- or eight-member team is also workable. From
this point on, personnel should be divided up into other
teams. In a building-clearing operation, especially with a
multistory building, more than one team will need to be
deployed to clear the building effectively. Each team works
separately yet together with the other teams involved, using
radio communications or planned operations.

10
TEAM SELECTION

Once your team has been selected, it is important to

break the members down into the various jobs they’ll be
performing. There are entry teams, negotiation teams, com-
munication teams, intelligence officers, and so on. Again,
seek out what positions your personnel are experienced or
interested in. You can get a better feel for their particular
qualifications and aptitude once regular training exercises
begin. It is not a problem to reassign someone to a different
job at a later date. Everyone should be placed and trained
where they will be most effective.
Our friend and associate, James R. Jarrett, director of
the United States Marksmanship Academy in Phoenix,
Arizona, is a former Green Beret and former member of the
Los Angeles Police Department’s SWAT team and one of the
finest instructors we know, a no-nonsense type of guy who
doesn’t believe in magic formulas or other such foolishness.
We have our honest points of disagreement with him, but
the one thing we do agree on is that too many SWAT team
operations are what he calls “gee whiz” operations at best.
Don’t let this happen to your team. You know what he
means: those units that have purchased the ninja suits with
black hoods and a bunch of M16s or HK MP5 submachine
guns and neglected any kind of regular training. Then, when
they’re called out to an emergency, the pros watch in
amazement, shake their heads, and mutter disgustedly,
“Gee whiz.” And pity the poor souls they are supposed to
rescue. Don’t let this happen to your team.

11
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 FIREARMS
SELECTION
Today’s weaponry is limited only
by the imagination of the user—and
we don’t make this statement light-
ly. There is an endless array of
handguns, rifles, shotguns, knives,
and other weapons on the market.
We won’t go into extreme detail
about the numerous firearms that
can be used for today’s SWAT,
MOUT, or paramilitary team. We
will, however, cover the more popu-
lar and usable firearms on the mar-
ket. It should be noted that many of
the highly trained and skilled SWAT
teams today use slightly modified
single-action autoloaders in .45
AGP, The FBI Hostage Rescue
Team recently adapted a high-
capacity .45 ACP autoloader based
on the Para-Ordnance line of pis-
tols, abandoning the Browning Hi-
Power 9mm pistol. Coauthor Pat
Cascio recently completed a book

13
 SWAT BATTLE TACTICS

entitled The Double-Action Dilemma (Vigilante Publishing,

P.O. Box 592, Ontario, OR 97914, $22.95 plus $3.00 ship-
ping) that covers many of today’s top double-action and
double-action-type autoloading pistols. His book goes into
great detail regarding the good points as well as the bad
Ones on each gun tested and is worth reading if you are
planning to buy a new double-action pistol.

HANDGUNS

Our recommendation for any SWAT, MOUT, or paramili-

tary team member is simply to use the gun you are most
familiar with. Your duty handgun will serve you nicely. We
know that the trend is toward whatever is newest on the
market, but any good, serviceable duty handgun will suit
your purposes as long as it is a minimum of 9mm or .38-
Special caliber. Most will get the job done with the proper
bullet and load. Must reading for any serious student of self-
defense are Evan Marshall and Ed Sanow’s seminal book on
stopping power, Handgun Stopping Power, and its follow-
up, Street Stoppers (both published by Paladin Press). Both
are welcome additions to any law enforcement library.
When you are making high-risk entries or serving felony
arrest warrants, a long gun may be too cumbersome to
maneuver with any degree of ease. Further, it is a rare occa-
sion, indeed, when your suspect is armed with anything
other than a handgun. However, there is the “what if” sce-
nario that is played out in every tactical situation, and you
must be capable of responding accordingly. Obviously, a
handgun is no match for a shotgun’s stopping power at
close quarters, nor is a shotgun any match for a semiauto-
matic rifle (at long ranges). Of course, if you have done your
job and collected the proper intelligence, you will know
beforehand what type of weapons your suspect is likely to
be armed with.

14
FIREARMS SELECTION

Colt .45 ACP

Right up front, we’ll confess that we are great fans of the

The Colt Government Model

in .45 ACP is the perfect
entry weapon and one of the
authors’ favorite guns.

COLT,
ee
75" DOUBLEEAGLE
wm MRL F SERIES OO

Colt’s new Double Eagle

is available in .45 ACP,
10mm, and the new .40-
caliber S&W.

15
 SWAT BATTLE TACTICS

.45 ACP Colt Government Model (and such clones as those

made by Springfield Armory and Norinco) and would likely
make this our first choice for duty carry, tactical operations,
high-risk entries, felony arrests, or building searches. The
unmatched and time-proven effectiveness of this gun-ammu-
nition combination speaks for itself.
Colt recently released its Officers Model Double Eagle in
.45 ACP, which we find balances in the hand like it was made
to be there. This is an excellent concealed carry gun, but it
performs just as well as the full-sized version. There is noth-
ing wrong with the full-sized gun; however, those who tested
both models preferred the smaller one by a big margin.

Sturm, Ruger Model P90

The newly released Sturm, Ruger and Company Model
P90 .45 ACP is without doubt one of the finest pistols to
come down the pike. It performed flawlessly right out of the
box, feeding every kind of ammo we put through it. It is fairly
light for its size; the slide is made of stainless steel, and its
frame is lightweight aluminum alloy. The best news is that
the gun retails for less than $450 and in our humble opinion
is the best buy on the market in a double-action .45 ACP.

Springfield Armory and Taurus International

Springfield Armory and Taurus International are two of our
favorite gun companies, and they both have excellent autoload-
ers on the market that fit the bill nicely. The recently released
Springfield Armory Line Personal Defense Weapons (PDW) in .45
ACP should prove popular with knowledgeable police officers,
as will the Taurus Model PT100 in .40-caliber S&W that is now
on the market. With a handgun from either of these companies
you can rest easy, knowing you are well armed.

Glock
The Glock line of autoloaders has taken the market by

16
FIREARMS SELECTION

Glock’s Model 20 in
10mm should have plen-
ty of power with a 15-
round magazine.

storm over the past eight years. The company offers subcom-
pact, compact, and full-sized 9mm and .40-caliber S&W pis-
tols, as well as the superb 10mm and .45 ACP pistols. Overall,
it has a pretty fantastic product that is worth looking into, but
there are several shortcomings that we would like to see cor-
rected on the Glocks. If you’re going to use a Glock, take the
time to train in the proper gun-handling procedures for this line
of guns. Proper training in the use of any firearm is the key to
the successful outcome of any lethal confrontation.

SHOTGUNS

We will not spend a lot of time covering shotguns in this

book because reams have been written about the effective-
ness of a shotgun. Chuck Karwan—a noted gun scribe, for-
mer Green Beret, and close friend—argues that shotguns
have extremely limited use in modern police work, especially
in tactical operations, and we agree.
First, they have a limited range, not much beyond 25 to

17
 SWAT BATTLE TACTICS

30 yards with double-ought buckshot and out to approxi-

mately 75 yards with a rifled slug. Most police depart nents
don’t spend the time (or money) necessary for their ot icers
to become skilled marksmen with a shotgun (if there is any
such thing as a marksman with a shotgun). Many police offi-
cers are not into guns per se and take offense at the recoil
of a stout buckshot load. To get them to fire a sizable nur.1-
ber of rounds on a regular basis is all but impossible. This |.
not to say that a shotgun doesn’t have its place in general!
police work and SWAT team applications—it does. Used
within its limitations, a shotgun performs well.
When a shotgun is carried in the patrol car and used
against more than one armed suspect, the intimidation factor
alone justifies its use. We would much rather have a shotgun
in hand than a pistol when serving a felony arrest warrant.
However, because of its length, a shotgun is difficult to
maneuver anyplace other than in the wide-open spaces.
There are a number of good quality shotguns on the
market today, far too many to list here. We tested two guns

Pat Cascio test-fires the new Mossberg Intimidator 590 shotgun with laser
sight built in.

18
FIREARMS SELECTION

in particular while preparing this book, both worthy of a

closer look.

Mossberg Model 590 Intimidator

The Mossberg Model 590 Intimidator, with a built-in laser
sight in the forearm, is a solid choice in a pump-action shot-
gun. Light pressure on the forearm activates the laser sight
that is zeroed for 12 yards. The gun performed flawlessly
when tested by a sheriff’s department.

Benelli M1 Super 90
A second gun that we evaluated was from Heckler & Koch,
the Benelli M1 Super 90 in 12 gauge. This semiauto shotgun
operates on the blowback principle rather than being gas
operated, as is the Remington 1100. The gun came equipped
with double-ought and slug loads, but would not function with
any regularity using light field loads. To be honest, the gun was
set up for police work and not for hunting. The only drawback
to the Benelli is that the price is rather high and may be
beyond the budget of smaller departments. However, either
gun will serve you for many years without problems.
Before closing our discussion on shotguns, we would like
to make a few more observations. We hate to see the word
accuracy used when discussing shotguns. A handgun will
outperform a shotgun in the accuracy department at any rea-
sonable range when the shotgun is using double-ought loads.
This term is totally inappropriate when referring to a shotgun’s
intended purpose. Many people envision the “riot gun” being
shot into a crowd of unruly demonstrators or rioters and thus
ending the riot. It simply doesn’t happen that way, and, given
its limited range, a shotgun can only be used within specific
parameters. Although versatile in many ways, the shotgun
would not be our first choice as a special operations weapon
on a SWAT or MOUT operation. It is sometimes used as a
security weapon in SWAT operations and by sniper teams.

19
 SWAT BATTLE TACTICS

Anyone who reads gun magazines will know that the

shotgun is “recommended” as the perfect gun for defending
a home or business. We seriously doubt that many of those
who write these articles have ever taken the time to go
through their own home with a shotgun. Had they done so,
they would see how difficult it is to maneuver this long gun.
Moreover, it is deafening to fire a shotgun within the con-
fines of a room.
If you are clearing a large, mostly empty warehouse, a
shotgun may come in handy. However, the long range may be
a handicap. If you are assigned to guard the front or rear door
or a window of a building, depending upon the range, the shot-
gun may be the perfect weapon, especially when more than
one suspect may exit at once. It may sound like we’re putting
the shotgun down, but this is not the case. We just want you to
be aware of its limitations.

RIFLES AND CARBINES

We like to refer to rifles and carbines as “special

weapons” because they can perform any task a shotgun
can—and better. The difference between a rifle and a car-
bine is that the carbine resembles a short-barreled rifle and
normally shoots a less powerful cartridge.
More and more police departments are learning the fol-
lowing advantages of equipping their officers with rifles or
carbines instead of shotguns: (1) The rifle can be used at
longer ranges. (2) It has more power. (3) It has a higher mag-
azine capacity (autoloaders). (4) It is easier to shoot. (5) In
many cases, surplus ammunition for practice can be had at
very low prices.
There is some argument about which rifle is best, bolt-
action or semiautomatic. Though there is nothing wrong
(mechanically) with the bolt-action rifle, the semiautomatic is
easier to shoot (less recoil), and follow-up shots are faster.

20
FIREARMS SELECTION

The Eagle Arms H-BAR is an excellent all-around SWAT weapon.

This second reason alone is enough to choose an

autoloader in our opinion. Additionally, many companies are
now making police carbines that use handgun ammunition,
and the prices are quite low.
One drawback to autoloaders is that they usually cost
more than an out-of-the-box bolt rifle, and if your depart-
ment is on a tight budget, this may be a determining factor
(of course, police snipers generally do not use out-of-the-
box bolt rifles). We are not talking about a rifle that is going
to be issued as standard equipment, rather we are dis-
cussing the rifle in the role of sniper/countersniper weapon.
Top-notch accuracy is needed for such an operation, so sur-
plus weapons that can be purchased for less than $200 are
not the topic of this discussion.

Eagle Arms
This fairly new company is turning out one of the best (if

21
 SWAT BATTLE TACTICS

Ruger’s new Mini-30 should prove to be an excellent entry weapon.

not the best) AR-15-style rifle/carbine in .223 caliber that we

have run across. We recently tested three of its guns: the H-
BAR, Carbine, and brand-new Action Master. Although the H-
BAR would make an excellent all-around weapon, the little
Carbine would make do as an entry weapon because of its
size and ease of handling. The Action Master, though
designed for the shooting sports, is best deployed in the role
of a sniper/countersniper rifle. It is a match-grade rifle with a
Douglas premium heavy barrel that will easily shoot half-inch
groups at 100 yards with the right .223 Remington ammuni-
tion. This is more than accurate enough for any urban situa-
tions in which a sniper/countersniper may be deployed. Many
would opt for a .308-caliber long gun instead of the .223, but

22
FIREARMS SELECTION

we believe that the smaller caliber is much better suited for

the urban terrain. There is less likelihood of overpenetration,
thus reducing the chance of innocent civilians being hit.

Sturm, Ruger and Company

Sturm, Ruger and Company produces two very fine rifles
in its Mini-14 and Mini-30 guns. The Mini-14 fires the .223
round, and the Mini-30 fires the 7.62x39mm round. We
believe that both of these little guns would make excellent
entry or rear-guard weapons because of their short overall
length. The 7.62x39mm round proved much more accurate
than the .223 Remington. Chuck Karwan confirmed to coau-
ther Pat Cascio that the 7.62x39 round will indeed outshoot
the .223 Remington in a properly barreled gun. The recent
imported military surplus rifles arriving from China simply do
not possess the accuracy the 7.62x39 round is capable of
delivering. In a side-by-side test, the Mini-30 did indeed out-
shoot the Mini-14.
We do not believe that either of these Rugers is capable of
match-grade accuracy; however, both are capable of being
employed in a sniper/countersniper role of less than 100 yards
with the right ammunition and a good scope. They best serve
as entry weapons or for securing the outer perimeters of a
building because they have plenty of knockdown power, much
more than a handgun can provide.

Heckler & Koch

Heckler & Koch is well known for its outstanding line of
handguns, shotguns, and submachine guns. The subma-
chine gun to have (if your team deems one necessary) is the
fine HK MP5 9mm. The FBI, U.S. Secret Service, and every
other knowledgeable SWAT team in the world agree: there is
no better submachine gun for close-quarter combat.
However, keep in mind that many hours of practice must
go into the effective use of any submachine gun. If your

23
 SWAT BATTLE TACTICS

chances of employing such a firearm is extremely remote, then

we suggest that you spend your training funds elsewhere.
We would like to reemphasize one point in closing here:
our purpose in writing this book was not to cover weapons
in any great detail. This is not a book about shooting, but
rather one about tactics, training, and team selection for
SWAT teams. Every police department has its own set of cir-
cumstances, terrain, budgetary constraints, and training
programs that will dictate what will work for it and what
won’t. Draw up all the possible scenarios that you believe
your team may encounter and then decide what equipment
is needed and what you can afford. As already mentioned,
no amount of high-tech gear or weapons will replace train-
ing. Make training your number-one priority.

24
CHEMICAL
WEAPONS
Chemical warfare has been
around since 1912, when the police
in Paris, France, first used “hand
bombs” with an early type of tear
gas. However, chemical munitions
were not widely used until World
War | when all sides involved in this
global conflict used them. Many
deadly chemical munitions were
developed during this period, none
of which are suitable for deploy-
ment by law enforcement agencies.

CHOOSING A
CHEMICAL AGENT

There are two types of agents

available to law enforcement agencies
for riot or crowd control as well as lim-
ited use against barricaded suspects.
Both chloroacetophenone (CN) and
orthochlorbenzalamalonoitrile (CS),
are lacrimators (or tear-producing).

25
 SWAT BATTLE TACTICS

CN
CN was formerly the most widely used incapacitating
agent. It was invented by a German chemist around 1869. It
irritates the upper respiratory system and eyes, causing a
heavy flow of tears seconds after exposure. In high concen-
trations, CN irritates the skin and causes a burning sensa-
tion, and it may produce nausea in some individuals.
However, many individuals are not affected by CN, and on
them the agent may fail to produce the desired effect (that
being retreat or surrender). Another drawback to CN is that it
is usually dispensed by burning and delivered by hand
grenades or launched projectiles, which could produce dan-
gerous fires.
One of the best ways to dispense CN is through the fog-
ging devices now being used by large law enforcement
agencies. However, these units are expensive and most like-
ly out of the reach of all but the largest departments. The
fogger is especially useful when trying to disperse large
crowds or rioters. The visual effect alone is sometimes
enough to send rioters running for cover.

cS
CS was developed in 1928. Until 1961, when the British
used it to control civil disorders on Cyprus, CS was used
mainly within military circles. These days, it is common to find
National Guard units equipped solely with CS. One drawback,
as discovered by Col. Rex Applegate, is that many of the sup-
plies of CS now in stock with National Guard and active army
units are past their expiration date and may be inert. The
munitions now on hand should be used for training purposes
and replaced with current, updated supplies.
Tests conducted by physicians and toxicologists have
indicated that the probability of lasting effects or death from
exposure to CS is extremely low if it is properly used in riot-
control situations. However, let us point out that the defini-

26
CHEMICAL WEAPONS

Federal Labs Model L-6 37/38mm multilauncher will get your chemical
munitions on target.

27
 SWAT BATTLE TACTICS

A fogger should come in handy during riots. This model is by Federal Labs.
CHEMICAL WEAPONS

When deploying chemical weapons, always be aware of the fire hazard.

Don’t cause another Waco!

tive words are probability and properly. You should keep them
in mind, along with the now too-often-used word, /iability. As
the BATF raid on the Branch Davidians in Waco, Texas, and
the subsequent FBl-ordered gassing so tragically demonstrat-
ed, there is always the chance that death can result when
chemicals are used, and your decision to use chemical agents
should take this into consideration.

USING CHEMICAL AGENTS

Once you have determined which chemical agent to use,

you need to learn how to use them. There are any number of
good schools that teach the proper deployment of chemical

29
 SWAT BATTLE TACTICS

munitions, and most of them will certify you in the use of

these weapons and munitions after you’ve successfully com-
pleted their training. We have no problem with training —after
all, that is one of the reasons for this book, and we’re sure you
wouldn’t be reading this book if you weren’t interested in get-
ting the proper training. However, the certification is only as
good as the particular training institution that issued it. Being
certified by a school doesn’t mean much in some circles.
With the above in mind, we would like to recommend
one particular school for chemical weapons and munitions
training, Def-Tec Corporation (2399 Forman Road, Rock
Creek, OH 44084-0208). Def-Tec is one of the leaders in
chemical weapon and munitions training and is recognized
by most of the major law enforcement departments in the
United States. One word of warning: you will not only be
taught how to deploy chemical munitions, you will also be
exposed to them. You’ll know what it feels like to be on the
receiving end.
Having warned you about the dangers of chemical
agents and strongly recommended specialized training—at
Def-Tec, if possible—we will outline some principles on the
proper deployment of chemical agents in a SWAT operation
for those of you who are unable to afford to go away for
extended training.

Barricaded Suspects or Snipers

One particular situation you are likely to encounter is that
of the barricaded suspect or the sniper. When the suspect is
in a house or building, it is important to isolate him and
make his movement from room to room impossible. The lay-
out of the building (i.e., whether it is a single-story or multi-
story dwelling or warehouse) will dictate how you employ
your chemical agents. If, for example, you are dealing with a
lone suspect in a one-story, single-family home, the recog-
nized use of chemical munitions is to fire your projectile into

30
CHEMICAL WEAPONS

adjoining rooms before firing them into the room the suspect
is in. By doing this, you will effectively prevent the suspect
from moving from room to room to escape the gas. Once
the gas has been deployed, allow enough time for the agent
to permeate the room. If the suspect does not emerge, it
should be assumed that he has either lost consciousness,
moved to another room, or used a chemical or gas mask. If
you have done your homework and collected the necessary
intelligence, you should know if the suspect is armed with a
gas mask. Nothing constructive is gained by firing additional
rounds into the building at this point.
Once a chemical attack is under way, the SWAT team
leader or commander should maneuver his team to gain a
more advantageous field or assault position. At this point,
it should be noted that the use of chemical munitions
should be considered a part of the operation and an iso-
lated phase during which other activities cease. Far too
often we’ve observed law enforcement officers using
chemical munitions solely as a means to end a confronta-
tion rather than as an integral part of the full operation.
Remember “gee whiz” operations? You must coordinate
your entire operation; this means having proper communi-
cations or planned operations.

Entering Multistory Structures

Another situation you may encounter is that of deploying
chemical agents in a multifamily dwelling or building. In this
case, depending upon where the suspect is, you may want
to employ chemical agents in the upper floors first (if the
suspect is on a lower floor). By doing this, you will have
effectively blocked his retreat to upper floors. Then, you
would disperse your agents as outlined above (i.e., adjoining
rooms first, etc.).
It is important not to use pyrotechnic devices in any situ-
ations where the risk of fire is unacceptable (remember

31
 SWAT BATTLE TACTICS

lf you are using chemical agents, you need a gas mask. Federal Labs
Model 6006 should do the job.

Waco?). Even some expulsion devices can cause fires.

Whenever you are using chemical agents, it is advisable to
have the fire department standing by—at a safe distance.
One of the leaders in the production of chemical agents
and weapons is Federal Laboratories (P.O. Box 305,

32
 CHEMICAL WEAPONS

ae , Round 2

RoundS
1st Floor 4s —<. ndabon beendhsSens Sarena diay Round 3

as ae 4 Round 1
Retind 7 1st Floor 1st Floor
Suspect

FUGITIVE

OFFICER 2 OFFICER 1

You should deploy chemical weapons in the surrounding rooms before

using them in the room the suspect is in in order to prevent his movement
to other rooms.

33
 SWAT BATTLE TACTICS

Saltsburg, PA 15681-0305). Although there are a number of

chemical munitions companies around, we suggest that you
order Federal’s newest catalog. It is filled with the latest and
most up-to-date munitions and weapons available.
A few more thoughts prior to closing our discussion on
chemical agents. At the start of this book, we mentioned that
no amount of high-tech gear, weapons, or equipment could
substitute for training in preparing a SWAT team. Over the
years, many police departments have gone overbouzrd in the
purchase of chemical munitions and weapons. Unless you are
a large metropolitan police department, you can get by with
the minimum amount of equipment.
In the course of training smaller police departments, we’ve
had the chance to use various types of chemical ac ents,
including tear gas grenades, foggers, and launched proje« ‘iles.
It is simply amazing how quickly a single 12-gauge tear jas
round will clear out a room full of hardened, experienced co,)s.
So, with this in mind, bigger and more isn’t necessarily better
this case. Remember, most chemical munitions have a limitec’
shelf life and must be used within their specified time frame to
be effective. No need to go overboard and purchase more than
you Can possibly use.
Although a SWAT team may be called out to serve in a
riot or crowd-control situation, it should be stressed that as
many team members as possible should be trained in the
proper use and deployment of chemical agents. The best
book on the subject of riot and crowd control is Kill or Get
Killed by Col. Rex Applegate (available from Paladin Press).
This classic text belongs in every serious law enforcement
and military library. With that recommendation, we’ll close
this chapter and let you get on with training.

34
CHEMICAL WEAPONS

Federal Laboratories has an excellent selection of CN and CS hand

grenades.

35
 SWAT BATTLE TACTICS

Smoke grenades, such as these from Federal Labs, will cover your team’s
movement.
CHEMICAL WEAPONS

With this Model 204 gas gun from Federal Labs, you can “reach out and
touch someone.”
 CHAPTER 4

HOSTAGE
NEGOTIATIONS
The police negotiator, although
oftentimes behind the scene, plays
a most important role in every
hostage situation. Life-and-death
decisions hang in the balance dur-
ing communications between the
hostage taker (HT) and the police
negotiator (PN). One wrong word or
a word spoken in anger by a nego-
tiator can cost innocent people their
lives. Stress, emotions, and physical
and mental anxiety are at their high-
est in the opening minutes of the
hostage situation. Psychologists
refer to it as the “cornered-rat syn-
drome.” Everything possible must
be done to alleviate the stress and
pressure of this condition as soon
as possible. Many times, a patrol
officer is on the scene first and is
unwillingly thrust into the position of
PN. This is but one reason every
officer should be grounded in the

39
 SWAT BATTLE TACTICS

basics of negotiations. Large metropolitan police depart-

ments will probably have a good number of trained negotia-
tors on the scene in a matter of minutes. Small or rural
departments don’t have this luxury and must depend on
whoever may be on the scene.
We strongly advocate role playing as a major part of
active PN training. However, this is not the only training rec-
ommended for officers. A good public speaking course is
helpful because it exposes an officer to speaking with and to
strangers, and it also encourages proper diction. Diction is
important, because certain words may sound alike but mean
something entirely different. A wrong word can cost a life.
When dealing with the HT, the PN will be involved primarily
in question-and-answer communications, so it is good prac-
tice to speak publicly as often as possible and to take ques-
tions from the audience. This is one reason broadcasting
courses are encouraged as part of your training. We know a
number of radio disc jockeys (or radio personalities as they
are now called), and they are trained to have an easy-going,
relaxed attitude when they are on the air. Listeners or callers
are immediately put at ease by the DJ. Think about it: this is
exactly what the PN needs to do with the HT—relieve the
pressure and stress of the situation as soon as possible.
As already mentioned, role playing is an important part of
your training. Get other officers or civilian volunteers (screen
them carefully) to play the part of the HT. Plan out the scene
in advance with your volunteers. Will the communications
between the PN and the HT take place over the phone,
through a locked door or open window, or in a vehicle? Was
a bank just robbed or a roomful of schoolchildren taken
hostage? Is the HT mentally disturbed or a barricaded sus-
pect? Take scenarios from today’s headlines or look through
your old files and play the scenes out. One note of caution:
many times officers in role playing tend to forget that this is a
training class for a life-or-death situation that may occur and

40
HOSTAGE NEGOTIATIONS

tend to get just a bit lighthearted. This is to be corrected at

once. Stress the importance of this type of training. Have the
necessary props on hand for your session, for example,
phones, doors, curtains, windows, tape recorders (be careful
here), notepads, coffee, and sandwiches. To be an effective
PN you must combine the qualities and traits of a salesman,
actor, cleric, psychologist, mother, father, brother, sister.
Spend time studying people in these roles. Observe how
they handle situations, and take plenty of notes.
The job of a PN is both mentally and physically demanding
and may go on for several hours or days. One of the traits of a
good PN is an attitude of sincerely wanting to help. Notice that
we emphasize sincerely. If the HT gets the impression that you
are only acting or that you don’t give a damn about him and
are only concerned with the hostages’ welfare, he will be sus-
picious of anything else you might say or do. Establish your
sincerity at the outset. Let the HT know you are there to help
him. \f you can’t, you will have a tough row to hoe.
Let the HT believe he is in control of the situation so he
won’t feel helpless or cornered. When an HT makes unrea-
sonable demands, don’t necessarily turn them down imme-
diately. Remember, you are trying to buy time and defuse
the situation. Establish key phrases such as, “I’ll see what |
can do,” or “I know my supervisor won't go for it, but I'll do
my best for you.”
As far as promises go—don’t make any you can't keep.
Make it clear to the HT that you are only the go-between
and anything outside of departmental policy or procedures
must be cleared by someone higher up than yourself. And
although you must come across as being flexible to a cer-
tain degree, don’t give the HT anything without getting
something in return. Bargain with him.
An often overlooked attribute for a hostage negotiator is
fluency in more than one language. In the United States,
Spanish is an excellent second language. In other parts of

41
 SWAT BATTLE TACTICS

the world, it is worthwhile to speak and understand French.

When learning another language, you should study the cus-
toms and culture of the country as well as the words. What
may mean one thing in American slang, may mean an entire-
ly different thing in another culture, even among English-
speaking countries. This amusing anecdote from a friend of
Pat’s illustrates this point. One of Pat’s American friends is
married to a lovely lady from England. One day, a delivery
person knocked on their door and tried to deliver a package
to the husband. The husband wasn’t home, and his wife
wanted the delivery person to come back the next day when
her husband would be home and knock on the door.
However, what she said was, “My husband isn’t home.
Come back tomorrow morning and knock me up.” We can
only imagine what the delivery driver must have thought. So
it is important to choose your words carefully.
In training police officers in negotiation techniques, we
have found that men and women can serve equally well in
the role of PN, with certain exceptions. First of all, it is
important to try and match the PN to the HT. One of the
problems female negotiators run into is the HT making
obscene or perverted sexual comments to them. On more
than one occasion, we’ve seen female officers go to pieces
during role playing when an actor on the other end of the
phone suggested some type of sexual fantasy or act. If you
are a female PN or plan to be one, make sure that you are
aware of signs that the situation is starting to break down or
that the HT is becoming obsessed with you. Speak with the
authority of your position and make it clear to the HT that
you are a professional and that you are there to help him.
One last point before going on is that only one PN
should communicate with the HT at a time. Don’t let the HT
play one against the other as children often do with parents.
We are all different, and the HT may be shopping for a better
deal if more than one PN is involved.

42
HOSTAGE NEGOTIATIONS

NEGOTIATION GUIDELINES

There are a number of guidelines to be followed when

dealing with an HT. Two cardinal rules are the following: (1)
Police officers or police negotiators are not traded for
hostages. (2) The PN must not expose himself to the HT.
Initial negotiations should (if at all possible) take place from
a protected position. Don’t expose yourself to gunfire or
other danger needlessly.
As mentioned earlier, you are there to help. Once lines of
communication are established with the suspect, the first
thing out of your mouth should be, “I am the police negotia-
tor. How can | help you?” By doing this, you are identifying
yourself and offering to help the suspect. At times, this is all
that is needed to get the suspect to surrender. Many HTs are
thrust into this position by sheer stupidity, bad luck, or a
plan (or no plan) gone wrong. They want assurance that the
police are not going to kill them.
If the HT is serious about surrendering, there are two
avenues of approach. The suspect can release all hostages
and then come out, or the HT can merely throw his weapons
out and come out himself, leaving the hostages inside. Of
the two, the former is preferable in case the HT has a
change of heart and gunfire erupts. Caution must be exer-
cised when “hostages” are released. Each hostage must be
suspected of being the HT. The hostages must be escorted
away from the scene ASAP, searched, detained (if not in
need of medical care), and interrogated. One point to keep
in mind is that there are no guarantees in a hostage situa-
tion. Expect the best, but plan for the worst.
lf an HT refuses to surrender, the negotiation process
must begin. You will find that most HTs will immediately start
making demands. This must be played down, and you need
to start collecting intelligence information to be used in
alternative plans. One of the best ways to do this is by

43
 SWAT BATTLE TACTICS

If a police negotiator is to meet a hostage taker face-to-face, it should be

under the watchful eye of a police sniper.

telling the HT you want to get to Know him. This will estab-
lish your sincere interest in him and his predicament, and it
will also help defuse the situation by buying time for the
hostages and for your tactical team to assess the situation.
It is amazing how stupid most criminals are—the HT may tell
you his entire family history.

CIVILIAN NEGOTIATORS

Conventional wisdom was to avoid them like the plague,

but law-enforcement agencies, including the FBI, are now
beginning to rethink this position. | know, we have all seen
movies where a kindly father, reverend, cousin, wife, or

44
HOSTAGE NEGOTIATIONS

(fill in the blank) has talked a suspect into sur-

rendering. But it just doesn’t happen this way in real life. For
all you know, it may be that same person who caused the
HT to react the way he did in the first place.
More than one person has been planted in the cemetery
because of another person’s good intentions. If, for whatev-
er reason, a civilian negotiator is brought in, his intent must
be thoroughly investigated—prior to allowing any type of
communication with the HT.

DEADLINES

Avoid any kind of deadlines, which only serve to add to

the pressure and stress of a crisis. If the HT pushes for a
deadline and it arrives without compliance on your part, play
it down and remind the HT that you never agreed to any
such deadline. Additionally, give minimal attention and con-
cern to the hostages. The Israelis and Germans have a poli-
cy that the hostages’ safety is secondary, and this fact is
well known to the terrorists of the world. Americans are
more softhearted in this respect and have always shown too
much concern for the safety of the hostages. To be sure, we
are (and should be) concerned, but we don’t have to
express it openly! Many HTs—and especially terrorists—
interpret such concern as a sign of weakness and use it to
their advantage by making either real or imagined threats
against the hostages’ well-being. Play it down. Use key
phrases such as, “Is anybody hurt in there?” This is directed
at both hostages and the HT. You are honestly concerned
with everyone’s health and well-being. Honesty goes a long
way in establishing good rapport with the HT.

AVOID ADDITIONAL HOSTAGES

We believe this next point is obvious, but for those new

45
 SWAT BATTLE TACTICS

to the law enforcement field, we want to state it just the

same: Refuse any demands for additional hostages.
Under certain circumstances, face-to-face negotiations
may occur. When they do, a few guidelines are in order. We
believe, foremost, that you must make the HT “promise” not
to hurt you or point a weapon at you. This is a reasonable
demand on your part, one with which the HT should be will-
ing to comply. Make any face-to-face meeting one-on-one
and, if possible, arrange the meeting so you can be under
the protective watch of a countersniper team. Never meet
more than one HT face-to-face; otherwise, you are in jeop-
ardy of being taken hostage yourself. Attempt to leave your-
self an escape route in the event things take a bad turn.
Never turn your back on the suspect and try to maintain eye
contact. Don’t make any sudden moves that may be con-
strued as aggressive and, last, stay out of the suspect’s
immediate reach.
By following the steps outlined in this chapter, you may
come to the point where you’ll be able to give the HT orders.
However, there will also come a point where a command
decision must be made and further negotiations will only be
a cover for a tactical response. In any event, be prepared for
a long, drawn-out process.

46
HANDLING
THE MEDIA
Today, more than ever, a SWAT,
MOUT, or paramilitary team must
face the fact that sooner or later it
will have contact with the media.
With the advent of portable satellite
dishes, law enforcement and mili-
tary personnel are having to deal
with the media, like it or not.
One of the often overlooked
duties of a SWAT team call-out for
any type of emergency or crisis is
the responsibility for reporting facts
to the media. The 7 in SWAT stands
for tactics. One important tactic is
handling the media in an orderly
and effective manner.
All news reporting is slanted to
some degree. Give any news net-
work 30 minutes, and it'll make the
news fit its agenda. Many of the
weekly so-called “news maga-
zines” go out and actually “create”
the news they’re presenting to

47
 SWAT BATTLE TACTICS

viewers. Some are honestly no better than tabloids at the

grocery checkout stands. Even the best of them often will-
fully slant their reporting to a greater degree than regular
daily news programs.
How does the above relate to law enforcement? A SWAT
call-out or paramilitary operation—whether it is for a riot,
hostage situation, barricaded suspect, bombing, hijacking,
felony arrest warrant, war, or whatever—will draw media
attention from the local press and, in many situations, from
national or international media. It is important to have a work-
able plan for dealing with the media so maybe they’ll be
working for you—or at least not against you.
The news media, in all honesty, are interested in the
facts and not rumors. If your agency or unit provides the
necessary facts in a precise, timely, and accurate manner,
most media will report them. But if you do not, many will
resort to reporting any rumors they hear or the “facts” as
they see or interpret them.
The stress and pressure of a crisis can be reduced by
planning the types of information you will release in a crisis.
This must be done as a team effort, including your public
relations officer, chief of police, district attorney, command-
ing officer, or any other units or agencies involved in the cri-
sis. Because this is a team effort, you must speak with one
voice, especially when several different law enforcement
agencies are involved. This point was driven home to us
recently while watching a news conference on Cabie News
Network (CNN) about serial murders of university students in
Florida. Spokesmen for the agencies involved did not speak
with one voice, nor were the officers involved in the confer-
ence prepared to respond to such typical questions from the
media as who, what, where, when, why, and how. It made
for a very sorry news conference on the part of the law
enforcement community. Have answers to these six ques-
tions before scheduling any news conferences.

48
HANDLING THE MEDIA

Of course, common sense must dictate what informa-

tion will be released. Obviously, you never give information
that may hurt your operation. In the past, the media have
been instrumental in aiding law enforcement and military
units by positioning their cameras so as not to reveal ongo-
ing operations, investigations, etc. Keep in mind that this
was a result of developing honest, cooperative relationships
with the media before the crisis erupted.
There are no tricks involved when dealing with the media
or the public in general—just be honest and fair and remem-
ber that the public has a legitimate interest in emergencies
or life-threatening cases.
When dealing with a crisis, speed is important. Your team
must coordinate and sometimes direct public relations with
the news media. For example, say an officer is killed in the
line of duty. It is important that you work with the public rela-
tions department and the media prior to reporting the officer's
death. It would be an added trauma for the family of the slain
officer to discover the death while viewing the evening news
or to have a pool of reporters on their doorstep before being
notified of the death through official channels. Special notifi-
cations need to be given first priority in certain situations.
Prior to any news conference, a press release should be
compiled with all pertinent information and distributed to
members of the media. This will often prevent your spokes-
men from having to answer the same questions over and
over. With today’s technology, there is no excuse not to
have press releases for all members of the media.
Notifying the press in a given order of preference should
be considered as well. However, it seems that news cameras
are often on the scene as rapidly as responding officers. If it is
decided that the media is to be notified, it should be done in
this order: local radio, local TV, daily newspapers, weekly
newspapers, and then any other media. When the emergency
is of national interest, the national wire services (e.g.,

49
 SWAT BATTLE TACTICS

Associated Press) should be notified first. When an emergency

arises, it is too late to look up these phone numbers. Do it
beforehand and establish contacts in these agencies.
There is a big difference between public relations and
publicity. Public relations is the effort to inform the public
about a specific situation, event, agency, or person, and to
engender good will toward it. Publicity is merely having the
situation, event, agency, or person made known to the pub-
lic. Publicity can be either good or bad. A police officer who
kills a felon in the line of duty produces good publicity. If an
officer kills an innocent child, that means bad publicity. The
goal of your public relations effort is to generate good pub-
licity and to avoid or downplay bad publicity. Generally, a
bad situation can be made even worse by ignoring the press
or hampering their efforts. A situation can be turned into a
disaster by attempting a cover-up.
Keep an information log. It helps keep track of the ques-
tions in an emergency. It can also control rumors before they
spread or, if rumor control fails, to trace them afterward. A pub-
lic information officer should be appointed to record all the
information required in this log. A sample log is provided below.
As with any business, police department, and military or
paramilitary unit, there is an all-important chain of command
to be followed. Make sure that everyone knows and under-
stands the chain prior to any crisis or operation. This will
make referrals easier and more effective. A sample chain of
command is shown on on page 51.

INFORMATION LOG

Date | Time Subject of Inquiry Person Requesting Action Taken

or Rumor Information, Tel # or Referrals

50
HANDLING THE MEDIA

Public Relations :
Detective
Officer

Liaison

Nes

PROPER CHAIN OF COMMAND

Liaison activities should be set up wherever a contin-

gency plan calls for it. The job of the liaison should be to con-
tact appropriate local, state, county, or federal law
enforcement agencies if needed. Also, fire and rescue units
may be needed as well as such volunteer services as the Red
Cross or Salvation Army (as was the case in the fire in
Oakland, California). On long-term call-outs, hot coffee,
donuts, sandwiches, rations, or meals ready to eat (MREs)

51
 SWAT BATTLE TACTICS

are necessary. Telephone and utility companies may be need-

ed from time to time, and it is vitally important to have emer-
gency phone numbers and contacts with these agencies.
The suggestions provided in this chapter are just basic
guidelines for law enforcement, military, and paramilitary
units to follow. You must adjust and incorporate your own
policies and regulations when dealing with the media.

52
 CHAPTER 6

INFANTRY
TACTICS
The rural sheriff's department or
paramilitary unit has a different set of
circumstances and battle tactics than
the urban law enforcement or para-
military unit. Such factors as terrain,
distances involved (to engagement),
weaponry, tactical considerations,
communications (or lack thereof),
and any number of other variables
must be dealt with differently in the
case of small agencies.
Small-unit infantry tactics are
called for when dealing in open ter-
rain (such as one might encounter in
a wooded area, ranch, or farm). The
information in this chapter is geared
toward platoon- and squad-sized
paramilitary units. SWAT, MOUT, or
paramilitary teams can easily adapt
this information to suit their particu-
lar needs and training agendas.

‘This chapter first appeared as “Small Unit

Tactics” in the June 1987 issue of American
Survival Guide. Reprinted with permission.

53
 SWAT BATTLE TACTICS

With that said, sit back and enjoy a complete course in

small-unit tactics that are suitable for law enforcement and
paramilitary engagements and training exercises.
“The control of a large force is the same in principle as
the control of a few men; it is merely a question of dividing
up their numbers. Fighting with a large army under your com-
mand is nowise different from fighting with a small one. It is
merely a question of instituting signs and signals.” So wrote
the Chinese General Sun Tzu in The Art of War some 500
years before the birth of Christ.
The basic unit of an army is the rifle squad. It consists of
two fire teams and the squad leader. Each team consists of
five men, one of whom is the team leader. Although there are
eleven men in the squad, only two report to its leader and
only four report to each fire team leader. This arrangement
continues unbroken right up the ranks, normally with no
more than four to five combat leaders reporting to anyone,
including the commander in chief.
In the “triangular” organizational system favored by
armies of the past and present, three rifle squads form a pla-
toon, three rifle platoons a company, three rifle companies
an infantry battalion, three battalions an infantry regiment,
and three regiments an infantry division. In an infantry divi-
sion, all crew-served weapons—including machine guns,
mortars, armor, and artillery—are structured as separate
units for training and maintenance purposes but in actual
combat are assigned to rifle units either directly, as in the
case of machine guns, or in support, as with artillery. In spite
of all the manpower and material suddenly thrust upon the
rifle units for direction and control, each infantry leader from
squad to regiment finds he is burdened with only one or two
more persons reporting to him. Thus, the span-of-control
principle is maintained and the genius of Sun Tzu confirmed.
Armies at war maintain order of battle maps showing
dispositions and deployment of enemy forces. The smallest

54
 INFANTRY TACTICS

A PLATOON ON THE MARCH

0 0 Advance Guard
0 0 (1st Squad)
A 0 SL

100 yards

OSL v O'Pin eA
5 yards
Main OTL Oni Right Flank
Left Flank Force | 0 «— 10 yards —» 0 Guard
Guard(1st Squad) 0 Of fend cause (1st Squad)
OTL 0 0 OTL
0 0 A 0 0
0 100 yards 100 yards O
10 yards »
OSL | OTL
0
QO 3rd Squad
0
A 0

50 yards

0 Rear Guard
re) (3rd Squad)
LEGEND

PL = Platoon Leader
SL = Squad Leader
TL = Team Leader
0 = Rifleman

The platoon leader is in visual contact with his three squad leaders and thus
can issue hand commands (signals). Practice forming a line from this column
until it becomes second nature for all members. The second squad moves
to the left of the first squad while the third squad moves to the right. Flank
guards move to the center to join the first squad, as does the platoon leader.
During withdrawal, increase the rear guard to five men and reduce the
advance guard to two men. Use 10-yard spacing between columns and 5-
yard spacing between each individual.

55
 SWAT BATTLE TACTICS

PLATOON BATTLE LINE FORMATION

Battle Line
0 0.070 0 0 0. 060 0.050'0.0.010 0 0.0, 0020-0600 0 070
0 wl We SL We Se we Sion we @
0 0

2nd Squad OPE 3rd Squad

1st Squad

LEGEND

PL = Platoon Leader
SL = Squad Leader
TL = Team Leader
0 = Rifleman

tactical unit shown on such maps is the infantry battalion.

Generals need to think in broad sweeps, and infantry battal-
ions form a handy yardstick for rapid assessment.
For paramilitary purposes, our concern is small units,
namely squads and platoons. They will normally operate
alone with no supporting air, armor, or artillery and even with-
out machine guns and mortars. If we learn to handle them
well, then handling larger units should not be difficult,
because the same tactical principles apply.
What are tactics? How do tactics differ from strategy?
Our definitions, which, incidentally, don’t come from any
textbook, are as follows. Strategy is nothing more than the
overall plan, and tactics are simply the optimum use of
weapons. The Roman army used the close-ranked phalanx,
with men standing one pace apart, because their main
weapon was a 2-foot, blunt-edged stabbing sword. Modern
armies disperse their riflemen at least 5 yards apart to mini-
mize casualties. The Roman army fought hand-to-hand as a

56
INFANTRY TACTICS

standard practice, something rare for a modern army

because of the awesome firepower available.
Although weather, enemy, and terrain are important tac-
tical considerations, the weapon is the distinguishing ele-
ment and the essential cause of variations in tactics over the
course of history.
WEAPONS

Paramilitary units should be armed with parts inter-

changability and ammunition resupply firmly in mind. We
recommend that each rifleman be armed with a .223 semi-
automatic rifle, .45-caliber semiautomatic pistol, and smoke,
tear gas, and flash bang hand grenades. Team, squad, and
platoon leaders should be armed exactly as the riflemen,
and everyone must carry an entrenching tool.
Units must train to operate as independent-unit foot sol-
diers; therefore, all crew-served weapons are excluded
because of their supply and transport requirements. There
will be no support services; supplies are limited to what
each man can carry on his back. Supply caches of food,
water, medicine, and ammunition should be maintained
within the anticipated operational area of each unit.

TACTICS

We will cover three basic types of tactics: march, offen-

sive, and defensive.

March Tactics
March tactics are used in approaches to contact the
enemy, to withdraw from the enemy, or merely to range over
an area as a screening force.
Think of infantry war as a T. You move in a column and
fight in a line. Move in columns of two with each man 5
yards behind the other and each column 5 to 10 yards

57
 SWAT BATTLE TACTICS

apart. Spacing will vary depending on the terrain and time

of day. In jungles, dense woods, or nighttime operations,
spacing could be as close as 1 yard. In open country during
daylight hours, spacing could be 5 to 10 yards or even
beyond, but the greater the spacing, the harder it is to con-
trol your men.
A platoon on the march should use advance, flank, and
rear guards to protect the main force. An independently
operating squad lacks the manpower for such guards.
Instead, lead men watch the front, center men watch the
flanks, and rear men watch the rear. Never permit men to
straggle during a march. The men must be trained to keep a
moderate pace, and with 10-minute rests every hour they
should be able to march at least 10 hours a day. Guards
must be posted for protection during night encampments.
Guards should not stand or walk their posts, because this
makes them easy targets for infiltrators. Instead, they should
sit in locations offering maximum cover and concealment as
well as a good overall field of vision. Rotate guards every two
hours to minimize the tendency to fall asleep from fatigue.
If contact with the enemy is made during a march, the
unit leader must decide on one of three courses of action to
take: withdraw, attack, or defend.

RIFLE SQUAD ORGANIZATION

Squad Leader

Fire Team A Leader Fire Team B Leader

Riflemen Riflemen

58
INFANTRY TACTICS

Offensive Tactics
The rifle squad attacks using fire and movement or fire
and maneuver. One team becomes the base of fire and

FIRE AND MOVEMENT

A AB
A

|
FIRE AND MANEUVER

Solid lines indicate the direction of fire. Dotted lines indicate team move-
ment. Don’t advance the moving element too far or it will come into the
line of fire of the fire-base element.

59
 SWAT BATTLE TACTICS

remains in place while the other team moves directly forward

(movement) or attacks from the flank (maneuver).
In'movement, the fire teams take turns as fire-base and
moving elements. After moving forward, Team B stops and
becomes the fixed base of fire while Team A moves up past
them. The men move forward either by crawling or rushing
short distances, depending on enemy fire. Leapfrogging
continues until both teams are close enough to assault the
enemy position.
In maneuver, Team A remains as the fire base until Team
B’s flanking fire disrupts the enemy enough that both teams
can move in for the assault. The rifle platoon attacks in the
same way as the squad: the three squads take turns as fire-
base and moving elements, or two can remain as fire base
while the third maneuvers. Do not use double envelopment
(pincers move), because it is difficult to control and often
results in friendly forces firing on each other.
The purpose of infantry is to close with the enemy to capture
or destroy him. The unit leader makes the decision to assault
based on the enemy’s fighting condition and proximity (normally
within 50 yards). After completing the assault, either consolidate
the position by digging in or move away using march tactics.
Although daytime frontal attacks may inflict substantial casual-
ties on the attacking force, they are usually preferable to night
attacks because of the problems of control in poor visibility.
The most important factor in a successful attack is to get
the men to fire and keep them firing. Experience has shown
that this is a very difficult task to accomplish and one that
requires firm leadership.
Brig. Gen. S.L.A. Marshall, a noted military historian and
author, studied front-line warfare in World War Il and con-
cluded that only 15 percent of riflemen in action actually
fired their weapons in battle. The reason? Firing means
exposing your head or body, so most men hid their heads in
their hands and let the firing be done by others. The thought

60
INFANTRY TACTICS

that “if | don’t fire at them, they won’t fire at me” is also a
contributing factor to poor fire discipline.
Rifles should be zeroed in for 200-yard range, but you
should use aimed fire only while you are at rest and in the
prone, sitting, or kneeling positions. When moving forward

DOUBLE ENVELOPMENT

1st Squad 2nd Squad 3rd Squad

The above tactic can lead to friendly forces firing on each other and
should not be attempted by small units.

RIFLE SQUAD IN DEFENSE

Enemy

<0 ae ane

ip, 50 yds.|.§. ———————

Use 5-yard spacing between each foxhole. The foxholes at each end of the
line should be dug larger to accommodate two men in order to allow rein-
forcements from other parts of the line if necessary. Each man’s field of fire is
a wide cone to his front. Do not try to obtain interlocking fire; this is effective
only with machine guns.

61
 SWAT BATTLE TACTICS

in a standing position, as in the assault phase of the attack,

all fire should be by instinctive pointing, with rifles held at
waist'level and eyes focused on the target. No one can align
sights properly when walking rapidly, and if the men stop to
aim, the momentum of the assault will be lost.
Be sure to keep the fire-base elements firing while the
moving or maneuvering elements are in motion; such firing
tends to keep the enemy heads down, thus reducing return
fire. The hit rate of rifle fire in modern armies is estimated at
less than 5 percent, so
HAND SIGNALS
if you can get your

WW
men to fire at all—and
then to fire with some
accuracy—you will
have really achieved
something. Poor
marksmanship has Enemy in Sight Form Column

pas ctahg
plagued armies for a
long time, as evi-
denced at the Battle
of Rosebud Creek in Form Line

Montana on June 16,

1876, when U.S. Gen.
George Crook’s men
fired some 25,000
rounds and hit only 99

at
Attack Advance
Native Americans—
252 rounds per hit!

Defensive Tactics
Defend on high Stop Get Down

~~ —4
ground if possible,
but do not dig in on
the highest part of the
ground, thus silhouet- Cease-Fire Get Up

62
INFANTRY TACTICS

ting your men against the skyline. Form your main line of
resistance (MLR) on ground that gives good fields of fire as
well as an escape route for withdrawal. Ground that allows
grazing fire (fire whose trajectory is parallel to the ground),
such as a gentle slope, is better than high points that per-
mit plunging fire only (fire whose trajectory is at an angle to
the ground).
A squad should deploy on one line, with foxholes stag-
gered at both ends of the line to allow fire to both the front
and flanks. A platoon can deploy with all men on one line or
can keep one squad in reserve (dug in behind the MLR) to
be used against flank or rear attacks or to reinforce the main
line if there is a breakthrough. Because paramilitary platoons
normally operate as independent units, we recommend all
squads deploy on one line with end squads using staggered
foxholes to protect the flanks.
Do not use outposts as they will be destroyed piece-
meal. Keep all men on or behind the MLR.
When you withdraw, do so by echelon, with elements of
your force taking turns with covering fire until all troops are
withdrawn. Defensive tactics should always be viewed as a
temporary expedient by any unit operating alone. Do not
allow yourself to be pinned down; withdraw as soon as pos-
sible. After withdrawal, march tactics are reinstituted.

CONCLUSION

By training in the small-unit tactics covered here your

units will improve over time. If units should merge to form
larger units, such as companies or battalions, they should
use the same tactics. The larger the unit, the more vital
communications become, either with radios or with runners,
to control and coordinate.
You will normally use offensive tactics only against an
inferior force (except for hit and run). Use defensive tactics

63
 SWAT BATTLE TACTICS

against a superior force and then withdraw. Do not counter-

attack; you risk being drawn into a trap.
To be a successful tactician, keep in mind these three
principles of war used by the French army: (1) concentration
of force, (2) liberty of action, (3) surprise. Finally, give heed to
the U.S. Army’s axiom: “A poor plan well executed is far bet-
ter than the best plan poorly executed.”
One last note: some of the best information about infantry
tactics can be found in the manual An Infantryman’s Guide to
Combat in Built-Up Areas, available from Paladin Press.

64
CLEARING
BUILDINGS
If a suspect can’t be talked into
coming out of a building and chemi-
cal munitions haven’t worked, more
than likely an entry team will have to
go in and bring the suspect out or
rescue any hostages.
At least one SWAT or MOUT
team of four to five men will be
needed, depending on the size of
the building and the number of sus-
pects. Additionally, sniper/counter-
snipers will need to be set up
outside the building as well as other
officers to apprehend any suspects
who may attempt to escape while
your entry team is inside. Prior to
attempting any building-clearing
operations, you should evacuate
adjoining buildings as well as any
structures behind and across the
street from your target. This is a
good time to put your reserve offi-
cers to work and keep Curious
onlookers at a safe distance.

65
 SWAT BATTLE TACTICS

Part of your intelligence gathering should include a city

block diagram (see sample). By plotting where your target
building is on this diagram and identifying any other nearby
buildings, you get a tactical overview of the entire area. On
the sample diagram, we have listed some of the important
intelligence information you’ll want to include. Depending
on the area and terrain, you may wish to include other infor-
mation such as alleyways, gangways, or yards. Plotting out
the area ensures that you’ll have all buildings cleared of
innocent civilians prior to any assaults. Additionally, you’ll
have an overview of any possible escape routes and have
them all covered.
Your next step prior to entry will be to collect all the
information possible about the actual building itself. Is it a
single- or multistory dwelling? Or is it a multistory depart-
ment store that occupies an entire city block or a simple
one-story warehouse? You don’t have to be an engineer or
artist to draw a sketch of the targeted building. Plain typing
paper, pencil, eraser, and ruler are all you need to plot the
floor plan of a building. Be sure to identify all doorways, win-
dows, light switches, closets, stairwells, storage rooms, and
other notable features on your diagram. You can never have
too much information on hand prior to making an entry. Our
illustration is of a typical single-story, single-family dwelling.
You may wish to include an exploded diagram as part of
your intelligence gathering. This type of diagram gives you a
more precise look at what is contained on each wall.

66
CLEARING BUILDINGS

me ¢
se ae
ae
Ss *
;Arrow to North

Scene Address Type Building

Frame, brick, etc.

Used As By
Home, type business, etc. Lessee or owner

Owner Insurance Amt. $

In fire cases = 4

Neighborhood Street Lighting

Business, residential, poor, etc.

Type Streets Type Alley

Symbols or Comments:

67
 SWAT BATTLE TACTICS

SAMPLE SKETCH OF TARGETED BUILDING

Rear Door

Bedroom Bedroom

Bathroom

Kitchen

Living Room

Dining Room

Front Door

68
CLEARING BUILDINGS

SAMPLE EXPLODED VIEW OF ROOM

C) Arrow to North

Address. Owner____________ Leasee

Room Located in Adjoining______- Used for.

Walle Se= Floop St Celling

Composition, Color Bare, Carpeted, Etc. Composition, Color

Palas AU CHONG cos ee ee oh—

Location, and if Functional Location, and if Functional

Entrance anGlexits see EE ee ee

Symbols or Comments:

69
 SWAT BATTLE TACTICS

An unusual problem: which door should be entered first?

A hospital would be a SWAT team’s worst nightmare to clear. There are

too many floors with numerous rooms, each filled with sick or injured peo-
ple whose safety must be of utmost importance.

70
CLEARING BUILDINGS

Apri, :

GHEYHELS
i

Retail stores present a lot of obstacles to teams attempting to clear them.

Racks of clothing and outdoor equipment in this military-surplus store
(above) or rows of large appliances in this furniture store (below) provide
the bad guys with a lot of places to hide.

71
 SWAT BATTLE TACTICS

SWAT team making a forced entry into a building. (Photo courtesy of

Michael’s of Oregon.)

There are a number of methods for assaulting or entering a

building. The preferred method, and the one we teach, is that a
building should be cleared from the top floor, back to front,
and then to the lower floors, back to front (if possible). Each
building will have its own particular set of circumstances, and
you may have to alter the way you will enter and clear it. Make
sure you have a plan before attempting an entry.
If your target building is in a busy metropolitan area, you
should be able to advance on it fairly easily without being

72
CLEARING BUILDINGS

SWAT members rappelling down a building. This is an advanced technique.

73
 SWAT BATTLE TACTICS

Hallways “canalize” your movements. Get through them as quickly as

possible.

74
CLEARING BUILDINGS

observed. However, if it is in a rural area or an industrial-type

park, you will want to mask your entry team’s approach with
a heavy smoke screen. Don’t be tight-fisted here; smoke
grenades are cheap insurance to cover your team’s move-
ment. Keep in mind, however, that smoke merely conceals—
it is not a cover against bullets. Make your approach as a
team: everyone should know your destination prior to mov-
ing, and you should proceed quickly and silently.
Once you have reached your target, you’ll have to make
your entry. Depending on the size and number of stories of your
targeted building, you’ll have to decide on where your point of
entry will be. If it is a simple, single-floor building, your decision
will be easy. If it is a multistory building, your decision will be
much harder. Will you need a ladder, ropes, or grappling hooks
to breach the building? In the event it is a high-rise building,
you may even have to be lifted by helicopter to the roof and
rappel your way down from there. Prior to making any entry into
your targeted building, you’ll want to have the suspect(s) occu-
pied elsewhere if possible. This is where your negotiator will
come in handy. Otherwise, you’ll have to feign some type of
distraction to draw the suspect’s attention away from the point
of entry. If all else fails, you’ll want to deploy “flash-bang”
grenades to stun the suspect, thus giving you every possible
advantage and reducing police and civilian casualties.
There are two schools of thought as how best to conduct
your room-by-room building clearing once you have made
your entry. One school contends that it should be done silently,
the other that your team should make as much noise as possi-
ble, thus alerting the suspect that you are inside and maybe
scaring him into surrendering. You must set up your own par-
ticular set of guidelines about this type of movement. We teach
the silent method but have no problem with the noise method.
If you are employing flash-bang grenades when clearing each
room, you are obviously using the noise method.

75
 SWAT BATTLE TACTICS

When entering through a door, enter on the correct side, not on the wrong
side as this fellow is.

Do not raise your gun in the “Hollywood” style when entering through a
door. If you do, the suspect.may grab it.

76
CLEARING BUILDINGS

Once your entry team is inside, you’ll want to avoid

spending much time in hallways or stairwells. They are killing
zones for the suspect, because your movement in these
areas is limited and you are “canalized.” Two men should be
used to clear a stairwell. If clearing from top to bottom, one
man should stay at the top landing while the other proceeds
down the stairs. When clearing bottom to top, one should
be stationed at the bottom while the other works his way up
to the top. When going up or down stairs, stay as close to
the wall as possible so you’re not standing dead center in
the stairwell. Additionally, when moving down a hallway,
your entire team should stay against one side of the hallway.
When you have a four-to-five-man entry team, your point-
man should lead the way while the next two to three team
members actually clear the room, followed by your rear-guard
team member. Your point man and rear-guard man are exactly
that: they protect your team’s forward and rear elements from
surprise attack. When you approach your target room, your
point man should be to one side of the doorway (always) look-
ing toward the front, and your room assault team should be to
the other side of the door, backed up by the rear-guard man
(always), looking toward the rear. Never mind what you may
have seen in the movies, where two men stand on the sides of
a door and when they enter the room they crisscross each
other. It sure looks impressive on the big screen; however, it will
get you killed in real life! Crisscrossing in front of each other not
only exposes one or both men to each other's weapons, it is
also time consuming and confusing.

PROBABLE CONCEALMENT AREAS

e Bedrooms—behind doors, inside closets or on a closet

shelf, behind or under a bed, or behind or under a dresser.
e Living rooms—behind doors, behind or under a sofa or
tables, inside fireplace or piano.

77
 SWAT BATTLE TACTICS

Keep your gun down near your waist, close to your body (above), or at the
low-ready position (below) to prevent it from being snatched.

78
CLEARING BUILDINGS

e Dining room—behind door, behind or under table or chest.

e Bathroom—behind door, inside bathtub or shower,
behind sink or toilet, inside linen closet.
e Porch—behind door, behind or under furniture.
¢ Basement—behind doors, inside storage lockers, inside
coal bin or chute, behind water heater, behind washer or
dryer, inside cardboard storage boxes.
e Attic—behind door, inside rafters, behind or under furni-
ture, inside cardboard storage boxes.
e Garage—behind, in, or under automobile, behind tool
chest, inside cardboard storage boxes.

The above will give you just a few suggestions as to where

suspects may hide. It is only limited by the person’s imagina-
tion and size. A full-grown adult can easily hide under a pile of
dirty clothes or a pile of blankets at the foot of the bed.
When entering a room, never go directly through an
open door! Enter a room at a right or left angle to the door
while crouching or, if necessary, somersaulting. When mak-
ing an entry at night, you should have your flashlight in
hand. There are a number of techniques available for using
a flashlight (e.g., Harries or FBI technique). Use whatever
technique you have been trained in. Turn on light switches
at first if possible. Don’t “throw” your flashlight into the mid-
dle of the room prior to entering. (Don’t laugh; we have
seen students perform this stupid act, only to find them-
selves without any sort of illumination because their flash-
light breaks or it is out of their reach.)
Once a room has been entered and cleared, the team
leader should announce it and mark the door or door frames
to let other teams know the room is clear. In the past, we have
used bright orange self-adhesive dots that are available from
any office supply store. They peel off easily and are easy to
spot. Other options are spray paint, white tape, or chalk.
If it can be positively verified which room a suspect is in,

79
 SWAT BATTLE TACTICS

you may elect to use flash-bang grenades prior to entering.

This will temporarily blind and confuse him and perhaps, just
perhaps, no shots will have to be fired by your team mem-
bers. If the suspect is holding hostages, you will want to be
very careful when employing any pyrotechnic devices.
Flash-bang grenades have been known to rupture eardrums.
Again, depending on the given situation, you may elect to
take the suspect out by using your sniper/countersniper or,
as some law enforcement departments refer to them, police
marksman. Taking out the suspect by this means eliminates
the high risk involved in an entry and building-clearing oper-
ation during a crisis. Of course, this isn’t always possible,
and you may well have to go in after a suspect.
Another handy device for room clearing is the chemical
light stick. You simply bend it and shake up the solution, and
you then have instant light. There are some light sticks on the
market that “burn” for approximately 30 minutes with a very
high intensity; these are the ones you’ll want to use. One rea-
son for employing artificial light is, of course, to illuminate the
room prior to entering. Another reason is that it tends to con-
fuse the suspect. He may try to retrieve the light source and
use it against you. If this is done, you know for sure that you
have a suspect in that room. Another valid reason for using
light sticks is that with them there is no chance of fire or injury
like there is with flash-bang grenades. Some brands of flash-
bang grenades have been known to have secondary “missiles”
from the grenade casing that caused serious injury.
When clearing buildings and rooms, always be on the
lookout for booby traps that may have been set. As part of
every training exercise we put on, we routinely place a
number of booby traps throughout the building. These
range from simple smoke grenades to fish line with weights
(not hooks, as a suspect or terrorist might use). We have yet
to have a team go through a building without tripping at
least one booby trap. If you have done your job and collect-

80
CLEARING BUILDINGS

ed as much intelligence as is available (e.g., weapons, sus-

pect’s training and background, building’s use), you can
limit injuries from booby traps. If during your intelligence-
gathering investigation you learn that the suspect is a for-
mer military demolition expert or highly trained terrorist, you
might well be advised to walk softly and keep a close eye
out for explosive-type booby traps.
As every SWAT call-out presents very high risks (remem-
ber, no “gee whiz” operations), it is smart to have an ambu-
lance and paramedics standing by. However, in the event an
officer is injured while clearing a building, you obviously
can’t have the paramedic crew enter the house and admin-
ister first aid. So as part of every team member’s training,
first aid is a must. Needless to say, you should have your
first-aid kit on hand and not back at the command post.
Be advised that hostage takers and terrorists have been
known to switch clothes with their hostages and even place
unloaded weapons in their hostages hands. If any person is
encountered during your building search, he must be treated
as a suspect and restrained accordingly until his identity can
be established. Also, if a hostage has spent any amount of
time with his captors, he may have been brainwashed or at
the very least become sympathetic to the hostage taker’s
plight. A sad story goes a long way in convincing someone to
cooperate with his abductor. Many hostages have taken the
side of their captors after spending time with them and listen-
ing to how bad their lives have been, or why they have to do
what they are doing. This is known as the Helsinki Syndrome.
Before closing this chapter, we want to stress training
once again. Your team should get together at least once a
month for a serious building-clearing operation. This will
involve obtaining the use of various buildings (either public
or private) for your entry training techniques. Be aware that
you will not want to use any type of smoke or incendiary-
type booby traps during these training exercises, unless you

81
 SWAT BATTLE TACTICS

are using a large vacant building and the chance of fire is

slim to none. Have the local fire department standing by in
the event of fire during your training exercises. Use your
imagination when designing booby traps. Sometimes it will
be a no-win situation for the officers, and other times the
operation will go smooth as silk. Play it both ways for real-
ism. In the past, we have used young children in the building
(playing the part of the suspect), without telling the entry
team about it. You’ll be surprised how many officers are shot
(with a blank gun) by these seemingly innocent children who
they thought were simply playing in the building. Of course,
when conducting these types of training exercises, it is
important that no firearms be allowed on team members. A
realistic substitute is the now popular paintball guns. It gets
the ol’ heart to pounding when you are shot with one of
these nonguns. It drives home the point better than anything
else we have seen or used.

82
 CHAPTER 8 ;

IT’S A BOMB!

Originally, it was not our intent

to include this particular topic in this
book. However, with the bombings
of the World Trade Center in New
York and the federal building in
Oklahoma City, we thought that we
should at least touch on the sub-
ject. Although most major metropol-
itan areas have their own explosive
ordnance departments, the small-
town police or rural sheriff's depart-
ments or paramilitary units don’t
have this luxury. So we’ll briefly
cover this subject and direct you to
the proper agency that can assist if
your SWAT or paramilitary unit is
unfortunate enough to run across a
bomb or bomb scare.
Bombs are a favorite way of
eliminating people. Every terrorist
organization in the world uses
bombs (it’s their preferred method
of assassination). It is not unheard

83
 SWAT BATTLE TACTICS

of these days to run across crude a black-powder pipe

bomb or fertilizer-diesel fuel mixture (ANFO) bomb that
some deranged person has left in a building, car, or waste-
basket, or even a high-tech bomb placed by a terrorist in a
department store. Either way, don’t touch it unless you have
been trained in explosive ordnance devices (EOD) by the
military or other similar agency. The worst thing you can do
is touch anything that even remotely looks like an explosive
device. Leave it alone, and let the experts handle it.
Most phone calls to large corporations or police depart-
ments claiming that a bomb has been planted are false
alarms. However, you must obtain as much information as
possible from the caller about the bomb threat. You should
ask when the bomb is set to go off, what type of a bomb it
is, and where it is. Never evacuate the entire building need-
lessly. This may be exactly what a terrorist wants. By evacu-
ating the entire building, you may be exposing yourself and
the occupants to an assassin’s bullet or, worse, exposing
them to the place where the bomb has actually been placed.
After a bomb threat has been received by your depart-
ment or unit, every department head involved should search
his area of responsibility. No one is better equipped to search
your office, car, or building than you. There is a preferred
method to searching, one that is used by the U.S. Secret
Service. A room should be searched (visually) from top to bot-
tom. Not all at once, mind you; the room should be divided
into three sections. The top section of the room should be
searched first, then the middle, and finally the lower portion. If
you find something out of place, don’t touch it! Notify whoev-
er is in command and get EOD personnel to check it out.
If a bomb is found, there is still no need to evacuate the
entire building. Any bomb that can be hand-carried into a
building will command a small explosive effect and will not
destroy an entire building. As a rule, a few floors above and
below the bomb and several offices to the left and right of

84
 IT’S A BOMB!

AREAS TO SEARCH IN AN AUTOMOBILE

Trunk floor, especially sides

Inside trunk above rear wheels Behind door trim

Armrests
Dashboard and
glove compartment

Inside heating and

air vent ducting

Spare wheel
under trunk

Fuel tank

In, under, or behind

the rear seats

Underneath the carpet

Under
In or underneath Wheel Battery Behind
the front seats arches headlights

Behind
Wheel hubs radiator grille

Behind front bumper

85
 SWAT BATTLE TACTICS

the bomb should be evacuated. This is especially important

if you are called to a large office building where there may be
several thousand employees. It is not feasible to move that
many people safely, and, as already mentioned, you may be
doing exactly what the caller wants: moving people toward a
bomb instead of away from it.
Though North America hasn’t been plagued by car bombs
as much as European and Middle Eastern countries have, the
threat is there. And, while an unattended briefcase bomb is
severely limited in its destructive capacity, a car or truck bomb
can be devastating.
If the maker of a suspected car bomb is available, have
him accompany you (under close guard) while you inspect
the car or truck it is implanted on. It is highly unlikely he will
want to be blown up by his own devices. However, there are
some radical terrorist groups who think nothing of dying for
their cause, so please exercise caution.
There are a good number of areas within an automobile
where a bomb can be placed (just ask U.S. Customs agents,
who search thousands of vehicles a day for drugs). The
accompanying illustration shows the most likely places a
bomb might be placed in an automobile. Study it thoroughly,
especially if you are assigned to protect a government wit-
ness or other VIP.
If an abandoned or parked car is suspected of containing
explosives, it can very well have several hundred pounds in
the trunk or, in the case of a truck, several thousand pounds
of explosives (as used against the U.S. Marines in Lebanon
several years ago to destroy their barracks and murder more
than 200 good men).
If your department or unit doesn’t have someone trained
in EOD, you can contact the nearest FBI office or military
base, and someone there can direct you to the proper per-
sonnel. Unfortunately, if you are in a rural area, an EOD team
may be several hours away, and the timing device may be

86
IT’S A BOMB!

set to detonate prior to its arrival. If this is the case, evacuate

the area, remain a safe distance away, and wait for help to
arrive. Again, don’t try to disarm the bomb yourself—this only
works in the movies! The professionals in this field will tell
you there is no safe way to disarm a bomb. The preferred
method is to remove it and detonate it at a safe location.
It is a good idea to have several of your team members
trained at one of the military or federal (FBI or BATF) schools
in order to become grounded in the basics of explosives. If
someone can’t recognize the “firing train’ of an explosive
device, he may not know what he is looking at in the first
place. The U.S. military affords you the best opportunity to
train and work with all types of explosives. Unfortunately, to
receive all the necessary training in this field, you would
need to enlist in one of the branches of the military armed
forces. This is not a viable option for most people. However,
all is not lost: you can enlist for a short hitch in the National
Guard or U.S. Army Reserve and go away to various schools
to learn this trade without giving up your law enforcement
job. Otherwise, you will want to check out the FBI and BATF
courses in explosives and attend one that suits your needs.
Either way, remember that there is no safe way to disarm a
bomb! With that said, we’ll close this mini-course on bombs.

87
 CHAPTER 9

PHYSICAL
CONDITIONING
Coauthor John McSweeney is 68
years old, but many people tell him
that he looks closer to 48. And he
moves like an athlete of 28. What’s
more, he expects to remain vigorous
and youthful right up to the end of
his days. What gives him such confi-
dence is an exercise method he
developed called Tiger Moves.
If you are chosen as a member
of a SWAT or paramilitary team, you
owe it to yourself and your fellow
team members to maintain your.
readiness. By incorporating Mc-
Sweeney’s Tiger Moves into your
daily lives, you’ll find improved
health, physical agility, and
strength. Everyone can find the 10
minutes a day it takes to exercise
using the Tiger Moves.
Pat Cascio takes no credit for
the information in this chapter. It
should be noted, however, that his

89
 SWAT BATTLE TACTICS

martial arts schools use the Tiger Moves system in all their
warm-up sessions because it is the best system available.

ANIMAL WISDOM

Many of the exercise systems used to stay in shape actu-

ally harm the body and hasten the aging process. Exercise
machines and free weights can tear muscles, wear out joints,
and damage the vascular system. Jogging, long-distance run-
ning, and aerobics can injure bones in the feet, legs, and
back. These exercises can also expend energy needlessly,
often in excess of the body’s ability to recuperate. This
overexertion eventually wears down the body, making it sus-
ceptible to infection and disease. More to the point, the wear
and tear caused by these methods can make you look older
than your years.
Tigers and other animals, however, use an exercise sys-
tem that helps them stay in top shape throughout life, does
no harm to their bodies, and keeps them young right up to
the time death takes over. Humans would do well to discard
their methods and follow the simple wisdom of tigers and
other animals who use an innate exercise system.
This is the reason McSweeney calls his exercise system
Tiger Moves. His system can produce a well-proportioned
physique resembling that of a trained boxer or gymnast as
well as great strength and good health. The movements
energize the body and fight the aging process by increasing
blood flow through the smallest capillaries, including those
located in facial skin. One move, the high reach, has cura-
tive powers and can restore an injured shoulder to its normal
range of movement.
These exercises require no gym or equipment, so they
can be done anywhere at any time. They are far superior to
weights, machines, or calisthenics, and McSweeney and his
martial arts students are living proof of their effectiveness.

90
PHYSICAL CONDITIONING

GREAT TENSION

What is the Tiger Moves system? Nothing more than

stretching with great tension.
Watch the household cat when he stands up from sleep-
ing. He stretches his entire body with a tension so great that
his limbs actually quiver—nothing like a person’s yawning
stretch or a stretch to increase flexibility. Instead, the cat’s
stretch is so powerful it actually builds muscles. The tension
is the secret. The inner resistance produced by the tension
builds muscle fibers just as much as the external resistance
produced by weights or machines. Since the resistance is
perfectly controlled throughout the entire range of motion,
no harm is done to the muscles, joints, or bones.

LEARNING FROM THE ANCIENTS

The ancient martial arts masters observed the animals to

learn fighting methods, which they incorporated into their
martial arts systems. They also noted the animals’ methods
and imitated them in tension exercises.
When McSweeney began his martial arts training in 1952,
he was impressed not only with its fighting efficacy but also
with its bodybuilding power. He adopted tension exercises as
his primary exercise system, replacing the calisthenics that had
previously kept his body muscular and strong. Eventually he
altered the ancient moves, which had a limited range of move-
ment, to those that covered a full range of motion. This alter-
ation allowed complete expansion and contraction of opposing
muscle structures, and Tiger Moves was the end result.

GETTING THE BEST BENEFITS

To get the most benefit from the exercises, keep the fol-
lowing information in mind.

91
 SWAT BATTLE TACTICS

Add Aerobic Exercise

Tiger Moves keep the entire body in shape, but we recom-
mend adding a long walk or swimming at least twice a week.

Frequency
Tiger Moves should be done daily in three sets with 10
repetitions of each move per set.

Tension
The key to the system is the tension used in stretching.
Vary the amount of tension until it feels comfortable. If you
use only a small amount of tension you will maintain tone
but not build muscle. Too much tension can strain tendons
and ligaments and also cause headaches. After a few
weeks, you will know instinctively how much tension to
apply. A sufficient amount will develop the muscle fibers just
as much as weight lifting, although the Tiger Moves process
takes longer.

Breathing
Tiger Moves should be performed slowly, with great ten-
sion. Breathe using both nose and mouth, inhaling on the
way back (or up) and exhaling on the way forward (or down).

TIGER MOVES EXERCISES

The routine is composed of seven basic techniques: bar-

rel squeeze, shoulder roll, wrist twist, high reach, pull down,
stomach roll, and knee bend.

Barrel Squeeze
Stand with your left foot one pace forward. Bend your
left knee and keep your back straight. Hold your hands in
front, with your palms facing up. Bring your hands back

92
PHYSICAL CONDITIONING

slowly, using great tension, until the back muscles are fully
flexed. Hold this position for a count of one and then move
the hands forward slowly and with tension until the palms
face each other. Hold this position for a count of one and
then repeat the entire procedure. Be sure your arms remain
parallel to the floor. The shoulders should be held naturally
and not lifted. Breathe through your nose and mouth, inhal-
ing on the way back and exhaling on the way forward. Feel
the pectoral (chest) muscles working.

Shoulder Roll
Stand with your feet apart, both knees bent, and your
back straight. Start with your hands in fists and both arms
bent. Roll the shoulders back until the back muscles are
flexed and then roll them forward until your arms cross your
chest. Keep the forearms parallel to the ground and your
shoulders low, not lifted. Feel the deltoid (shoulder) muscles
working.

Wrist Twist
Stand with right foot one pace forward. Bend the right
knee and keep your back straight. Hold your arms in front,
close to your body, with fists turned in, and rotate your arms
back, turning the fists gradually until they turn out. Flex the
back muscles and rotate the arms forward to the starting
position, turning your fists gradually until they turn in com-
pletely. Keep your arms down and close to your body during
the entire movement. Feel the triceps (upper arm) working.

High Reach
Stand with your feet apart, both arms held straight up.
Reach as high as possible with one arm at a time and the
other arm moving down slightly each time. Breathe in and
out on each count.

93
 SWAT BATTLE TACTICS

Pull Down
Stand with your feet apart. With hands in fists, lift one
arm slightly above your head and pull down close to the
center line of the body using great tension. As you pull one
arm down, move the other one up. This exercise works the
inner pectorals, biceps, and forearms.

Stomach Roll
Stand with your feet apart. Press your stomach down
with great tension as you exhale. Then suck the stomach in
as far as possible as you inhale.

Knee Bend
Stand with your feet apart. Bend halfway only, since
deep knee bends harm the joints. Be sure to maintain great
tension while bending. Knee bends strengthen leg muscles
and knee joints.

MUSCLE SIZE AND STRENGTH

Working out with Tiger Moves resulted in an increase in

muscle size and strength far in excess of what calisthenics
had previously done for McSweeney, his students, and
instructors. Furthermore, McSweeney has been able to main-
tain a powerful physique through the years with only a mini-
mum effort. You can get the same results with Tiger Moves.

94
 CHAPTER 10

HAND-TO-HAND
COMBAT
Nowhere is Murphy’s Law—that
if anything can go wrong, it will go
wrong—more applicable than when
you're dealing with weapons.
Sooner or later your weapon is
going to jam or malfunction. Just
hope it doesn’t happen when you’re
in a high-stress situation. That’s why
throughout this text we have repeat-
edly admonished you not to rely on
high-tech gear or equipment. In the
event something does go awry with
your weapon, you'll need to fall
back on your own two hands and
feet to deal with the threat.
Both authors of this book are
serious martial arts students (we
call ourselves students because we
are still learning our trade and
developing and improving on time-
tested hand-to-hand combat meth-
ods). We don’t think any book deal-
ing with SWAT or paramilitary train-
ing or operations is complete with-

95
 SWAT BATTLE TACTICS

out some type of training in hand-to-hand combat. The fol-

lowing story illustrates that importance.
Two elderly gentlemen dressed in tuxedos hailed a cab
outside a posh restaurant in midtown Manhattan and direct-
ed the driver to take them to Madison Square Garden. One
passenger was Jack Dempsey, former heavyweight champi-
on of the world, and the other was the New York State box-
ing commissioner. Completely relaxed in the back of the
cab, they looked forward to attending the title fight at which
they would be honored guests.
When their taxi stopped for a red light, two hoodlums
wielding knives suddenly wrenched open both rear doors,
leaned in, and demanded money. Without hesitation,
Dempsey hit one with a left jab and the other with a right
cross, and their lights went out. Two knockouts in rapid suc-
cession for the champ, who still had knockout power at the
age of 70. Although Dempsey hadn’t fought professionally
since his mid-30s, he had never stopped training. He trained
just enough to keep his muscle structure strong and his tim-
ing sharp, so it was easy to keep working out through the
years. When the need for self-defense arose, he proved that
a fighter can still maintain his hitting power even as he ages.
Dempsey’s secret was regular training.
Self-defense is for life. It is not merely a sport you engage
in when you are young. The skills learned in the competitive
“sport” karate are useful for lifelong self-defense as long as
you continue to train regularly throughout your life.

HAND-HITTING POWER

This is easier to learn and maintain than kicking power sim-

ply because of physics. Legs are three to four times heavier
than arms, so practitioners must be cautious of the wear and
tear on knee and hip joints caused by kicking, especially high
kicking, because it can eventually weaken the body as it ages.

96
HAND-TO-HAND COMBAT

Arms are shorter and lighter than iegs so their muscles

can move hands with lightning-quick speed and minimal
wear on elbow and shoulder joints. Being able to maintain
this hand speed through the years is critical because speed
is vital to knockout hitting power.
Instead of going into great detail on martial arts training,
we will describe nine power strikes that are effective and
easy to use when the chips are down.

1. Chop to larynx, side of neck, back of neck, and brain

stem. To perform a chop, open the hand, curl the fingers
slightly, cock thumb, and bend the hand back toward the
wrist. The striking surface is the meaty section at the bot-
tom of the palm and adjacent to the wrist bone. Do not
use the side of the hand as the striking surface because it
will give upon impact and thus diminish the force of the
blow. To chop to the right side, bring the right leg for-
ward. If chopping to
the left, lead with the
left leg. Hold the
hand palm up near
your rib cage and
then swing it forward
and around in a circu-
lar motion, turning the
palm down just
before impact. Think
of cutting right
through the target
and let the hand
swing backward as
lak aseiie can. go.
Power comes from
the circular move-
John McSweeney demonstrating a chop. ment of the hand,

97
 SWAT BATTLE TACTICS

pulled by the shoulder and back muscles and augmented

by turning the waist. Move the body center toward the
direction of the chop.
To chop downward, bring the hand back, up, and
down, completing a full circle. Power comes from the
shoulder and back muscles as well as the body center,
which drops just as the hand hits the target. Start with
wide chops to develop the muscle structure, and then
work short chops with the elbow bent.

Heel palm to forehead, eye socket, base of nose, and jaw.

To execute properly, curl your fingers and bend your hand
back toward the wrist. The striking area is the base of the
palm. Unlike with the fist, which pivots on two axes, there
is no give when hitting with the heel palm, so all the force
is transferred to the target. Chamber the hand near your
waist, palm up,
and then thrust it
forward and whip
it right back, get-
ting power from
the shoulder and
back muscles.
Simultaneously,
move the body
center forward.
Be sure the strike
is straight, with no
fishtailing effect.

Leopard Palm to
the bridge of
nose, upper skull,
and jawbone. Curl Leopard Palm.
your fingers and

98
HAND-TO-HAND COMBAT

bend your hand back. The striking surface is the base of

the palm. This strike is like a chop, only in reverse. Power
comes from the circular movement of the hand, pulled by
the shoulder and back muscles and augmented by turn-
ing the waist and moving the body center down in con-
junction with the strike. The hand loops up, over, and
down, smashing right through the target. This is the same
strike as former world heavyweight boxing champion
(1952-1955) Rocky Marciano’s looping right, which was
responsible for most of his knockouts. He normally hit the
skull or jawbone and, occasionally, broke his thumb
because, as a boxer, he hit with a clenched fist.

4. Eagle’s Claw to larynx. This weapon is formed by the thumb

and index finger. Strike forward like a snake and grab the
back of the larynx, behind the thyroid cartilage. Squeeze the
two fingers
together to control
and immobilize.
Maintaining the
tight squeeze and
pulling back rapid-
ly destroy the
breathing struc-
ture and cause
almost’ instant
death. Develop
squeeze power by
opening and clos-
ing your thumb
and fingers, using
great tension, at
least 200 times
per day. Side fist.

99
 SWAT BATTLE TACTICS

D. Fingers and thumb. Poke and scratch eyeballs and grab

testicles. Poke with your thumb, index finger, or two fin-
gers. When using thumb or index-finger strikes, be sure
to support these weapons with the other fingers to avoid
injuring them. Practice fast, short, straight strikes and
then work circular strikes with the five fingers held like a
tiger’s claw. Practice opening and closing the fingers and
hand to develop grabbing strength.

Side fist to heart and jawbone. The striking surface is the

middle knuckle. Power comes from driving the hand forward
like a battering ram, using force from the shoulder and get-
ting torque as you hit. Holding the fist sideways instead of
turning it down keeps the elbow tucked in, thus maintaining
alignment of the fist, wrist, and forearm with the shoulder.
This produces a pile-driver effect, which makes this strike far
more powerful
than a boxer’s right
cross. It is Known
as the “heart-stop”
punch and can
easily break the
sternum.

Upswing to jaw-
bone. The striking
surface is the
middle knuckle,
sO be sure to
bend the hand
back on the wrist
before impact to
avoid breaking
bones on the top Looping elbow.
of the hand.

100
HAND-TO-HAND COMBAT

Power comes from the shoulder as the hand moves for-

ward, up, and back to its starting position, completing a
full circle. Moving the body center up simultaneously
with the strike adds to the power. This strike is very fast
and has triple the force of a boxer’s uppercut. It will easi-
ly break the jawbone. If you miss this target, continue the
swing to strike the pubic bone or bladder area.

8. Elbow to the jawbone, upper skull, and rib cage. This is

the body’s second most powerful natural weapon (after
the knee) and can be used to hit forward, backward, up,
and down. The forward, looping elbow strike moves for-
ward, up, over, and down, driving through the upper
skull or jawbone. The power comes from the elbow’s cir-
cular movement, augmented by the shoulder, back, and
waist turn. To gain more power, drop the body center
down and in the same direction as the elbow. This blow
can easily knock out the largest opponent.

9. Knee to the pubic bone, bladder, and testicles. Practice

driving the knee up as fast as possible and then practice
driving it forward. Keep the calf and thigh as close
together as possible to get maximum weight behind the
knee. The jumping knee is an offensive tactic with
tremendous force. Jump forward on one foot and smash
the opposite knee straight into the pubic bones. The
entire body weight moving forward adds greatly to the
power. The knee is the body’s heaviest weapon and can
easily break the weak pubic bones at their juncture or
rupture the bladder.

We believe that the above nine power strikes are the

most effective and easily learned (and maintained) self-
defense techniques for SWAT, paramilitary, or civilian use.
Traditional martial arts training is no longer geared for

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 SWAT BATTLE TACTICS

street combat. The unarmed self-defense techniques devel-

oped by the early martial artists have long since been
revamped and geared toward competition rather than real-
life threats. (Of course, there are exceptions to every rule,
and in the Appendix we'll list some martial arts schools that
provide training in knockout power as well as serious self-
defense techniques that work.)
Many martial arts schools train in a single form, relying
on techniques that are no longer viable for life-threatening
situations. For example, most karate styles train in linear
movements, kung-fu stylists train in circular movements,
and taekwon do stylists train in high kicks. The authors have
taken what they consider the best techniques from many
styles and combined them into a highly effective self-
defense system. We stress training that combines circular
and linear movements as well as knockout power. If a mar-
tial arts school is geared toward competition training, avoid
it. A SWAT call-out is not competition. It is a deadly threat,
and there’s no referee on hand to make sure all parties
involved are playing by the rules.
We believe that the following comparison best illustrates
this point. Rocky Marciano was considered the hardest hit-
ter of his time. But because his reach was only 67 inches,
the shortest of all heavyweight champions, he had to rely on
circular power (similar to Chinese kung-fu styles) to produce
results. He closed rapidly and then let loose with a barrage
of hooks, roundhouse swings, and one unconventional blow
he introduced to boxing: the looping right. Seeming to come
from nowhere, it looped up, over, and down before landing
on the opponent’s temple or jaw. This high-arcing blow was
responsible for the majority of his knockouts.
Jack Dempsey, on the other hand, specialized in linear
blows. Most of his knockouts were caused by his right
cross, but he also had the rare ability to knock someone out
with his left jab. In today’s boxing world, this would be very

102
HAND-TO-HAND COMBAT

rare, since most left jabs are merely flicks thrown with the
back of the hand. But Dempsey threw his jab with a power-
ful snap, hitting full force with the knuckles while he stepped
forward simultaneously with his left foot, adding body
momentum to the punch’s power. He called this blow his
step jab.
We don’t boast that our martial art styles are the best or
the only ones you should train in. Any instructor of armed or
unarmed self-defense techniques who makes such claims
should be avoided at all costs. We do believe that our sys-
tems provide some of the mechanics mentioned above—
knockout power and linear and circular movements—as well
as training in the Tiger Moves. This isn’t idle speculation on
our part. The time-proven (and street-proven) mechanics of
power combined with linear and circular movements is well
documented by actual street combat.
Train for hitting power now and throughout the rest of
your life; then use it properly. Gain this power and train mod-
erately on a regular basis to maintain it.
We can’t emphasize too strongly the need to prepare
and train for the worst possible scenario: your firearm mal-
functioning or jamming, your dropping it or having it taken
from you, or your missing a close shot and then being
forced to defend yourself with nothing more than your bare
hands. If you haven’t trained for these sorts of problem, you
won’t win. Your life—and perhaps that of an innocent
hostage—may depend on how you train and react to these
very real threats.

103
CONCLUSION

No single book can possibly cover

every aspect of organizing, staffing,
training, equipping, and operating a
SWAT, MOUT, or paramilitary team,
but we hope you have found the
material in this book helpful.
Earlier we talked about SWAT
teams that are nothing but “gee
whiz” operations. We sincerely hope
you heed our advice and seek the
necessary training to hone your
skills in this highly specialized field
and avoid falling into this trap. Just
reading this book—or any book for
that matter—isn’t enough. You need
to get out there and train on a regu-
lar basis.
This book is not meant to be
the final word. It is only meant to
ground you in the basics. As in
anything else, if you are not
grounded in the fundamentals, all
else is folly. Therefore, we have

105
 SWAT BATTLE TACTICS

presented some basic military training doctrines that are

easily adapted to SWAT or paramilitary operations. It would
be impossible for us to lay out the complete groundwork
and every possible training scenario. Take what we have
presented and adapt it to fit your needs, terrain, climate,
situation, personnel, and guidelines.
We strongly suggest that you purchase, read, and study
some of the military and police training books and manuals
available from Paladin Press. By doing this and constantly
adding new material to your library, you’ll soon have all the
information needed to operate as the elite SWAT and military
units do.
Finally, remember that this is all about teamwork and reg-
ular training and practice.

106
 APPENDIX :

RESOURCES

In the text, we touched briefly on

some of the firearms, equipment, gear,
and training necessary to carry out a
successful SWAT or paramilitary oper-
ation. In this section we will detail
some of the resources and equipment
available. This list is not all-inclusive,
nor is it intended to be. We’ve simply
listed the products and companies we
are familiar with and therefore feel
comfortable recommending. Most
large metropolitan police and sheriff's
departments are flooded daily with
catalogs and brochures, all seeking to
sell them new equipment. The smaller
and rural departments and paramilitary
units are usually left out in the cold
because their purchasing power isn’t
comparable to that of their larger coun-
terparts, and many companies simply
are not interested in their limited busi-
ness. All of the companies we list here
will be happy to supply your needs.

107
 SWAT BATTLE TACTICS

GUNS

Although there are numerous firearms Companies, we will

not list all of them. We will, however, inform you of some of
the better ones that are producing fine products and are will-
ing to work with you to ensure that your department or unit
will get the right weapons to carry out its assignment. You can
count on their products to see you through the hardest of
times.

Beretta U.S.A. Corp.

Beretta Drive
Accokeek, MD 20607
Semiautomatic handguns and shotguns suitable for law
enforcement and paramilitary use. Beretta produces the
Model 92 9mm semiautomatic pistol that was adopted by
the U.S. military 10 years ago to replace the Colt
Government Model .45 ACP.

Browning Firearms
Route One
Morgan, UT 84050-9749
Handguns suitable for law enforcement, self-protection,
and paramilitary use. This company produces the Browning
Hi-Power pistol in 9mm and .40 S&W caliber. At one time,
various police and military forces in more than 90 countries
used the Hi-Power.

Colt Manufacturing Company, Inc.

P.O. Box 1868
Hartford, CT 06144-1868
Colt produces revolvers, semiautomatic pistols, rifles, and
carbines suitable for law enforcement, paramilitary, military,
and self-protection needs. The AR-15 (M16 military version) is
an excellent battle rifle with parts available all over the world.

108
RESOURCES

Eagle Arms, Inc.

131 East 22nd Avenue
Coal Valley, IL 61240
Eagle Arms produces an excellent Colt AR-15 clone
semiautomatic rifle and carbine. Tight fitting and terrific
accuracy.

Glock, Inc.
P.O. Box 369
Smyrna, GA 30081
Semiautomatic pistols suitable for law enforcement, para-
military, military, and self-defense needs. Also available to law
enforcement and military only is a select-fire 9mm pistol.

Heckler & Koch, Inc.

21480 Pacific Boulevard
Sterling, VA 22170
Semiautomatic pistols, rifles, shotguns, and submachine
guns suitable for law enforcement, military, and self-protec-
tion use.

O.F. Mossberg & Sons

7 Grasso Avenue
Box 497
No. Haven, CT 06473
Pump-action and semiautomatic shotguns for law
enforcement, military, paramilitary, and self-protection use.
Terrific prices.

Novak’s .45 Shop

P.O. Box 4045
Parkersburg, WV 26104
Wayne Novak and his staff are custom gunsmiths. His
guns are in use by elite law enforcement and military units all
around the world. Highly recommended.

109
 SWAT BATTLE TACTICS

Rock Island Armory

911 West Main St.
Geneseo, IL 61254
Full-auto rifles, machine guns, and carbines suitable for
law enforcement and military use.

Smith & Wesson

2100 Roosevelt Avenue
Springfield, MA 01102
Semiautomatic pistols and revolvers of all configurations
suitable for law enforcement, military, paramilitary, self-pro-
tection, and sporting purposes.

Springfield Armory
420 West Main St.
Geneseo, IL 61254
Semiautomatic pistols for law enforcement, self-protec-
tion, and military use. Its 1911A1 and PDP line of pistols are
recommended highly.

Sturm, Ruger & Co.

Ruger Road
Prescott, AZ 86301-6105
Semiautomatic pistols, revolvers, semiautomatic rifles,
bolt-action rifles, and submachine guns all suitable for law
enforcement, paramilitary, and military use. Good prices
and quality.

Taurus International
161 NW 49th Avenue
Miami, FL 33014
Semiautomatic pistols and revolvers suitable for law
enforcement, self-protection, and military use. Extremely
good prices.

110
RESOURCES

FIREARMS AND SELF-DEFENSE TRAINING

This area is generally neglected by law enforcement

departments, which have their once or twice yearly qualifi-
cation shoot and forgo any type of regular practice. We
assume that if you are reading this book you are interested
in obtaining training beyond that offered by the police acad-
emy, your department, military, or paramilitary unit.
There are any number of big-name training schools out
there, but not all of the good instructors advertise in national
publications. They are content to work with smaller groups
of officers, civilians, and military personnel to ensure better
and more individualized training. Although this list is small
and certainly not all-inclusive, it does include some of the
better combat firearms instructors available. We don’t
believe you’ll be let down by their training courses.
Additionally, we have listed our training schools and make
no apologies because we believe we offer some of the best
close-combat firearms training around.

Academy of Self-Defense
Bradley Steiner
7407 25th Avenue, NE
Seattle, WA 98115
Personalized, one-on-one training in firearms and self-
defense techniques. Highly recommended and acclaimed by
law enforcement and special forces personnel.

Calibre Press, Inc.

666 Dundee Road
Suite 1607
Northbrook, IL 60062-2727
Specialized training seminars on all types of officer-sur-
vival techniques.

111
 SWAT BATTLE TACTICS

Combat Martial Arts Academy

Pat Gascio
P.O. Box 592
Ontario, OR 97914
Close-combat handgun training specializing in point
shooting and tactical shooting classes. Also, self-defense
classes and seminars as well as SWAT training classes.

Defense Training International, Inc.

John S. Farnam
P.O. Box 665
Niwot, CO 80544
John Farnam is considered the “dean of tactics” in
handgun, rifle, and shotgun training. His training is highly
recommended.

McSweeney’s Self-Defense School

John McSweeney
350 N. York Road
Elmhurst, IL 60126
Close-combat handgun training specializing in point
shooting and hand-to-hand combat training and SWAT tech-
niques.

John Perkins
132 High Avenue
Nyack, NY 10960
Serious combat handgun training as well as martial arts.

School of Self-Defense
Mark Bryans
22 Kijidava
Prescott, AZ 86301
For serious, no-nonsense self-defense training, Mark Bryans
is one of the instructors you’ll want to contact in the Southwest.

112
RESOURCES

United States Marksmanship Academy

James R. Jarrett
1950 W. Kristal Way
Phoenix, AZ 85027
James Jarrett was mentioned earlier in this book as a
SWAT authority. Contact him for training in handgun, rifle,
and shotgun techniques. Highly recommended.

BODY ARMOR

We hope every law enforcement officer, military, and

paramilitary member and security officer puts on his body
armor before going on duty. If you don’t, you’re running the
risk of death at the most inopportune time—now! SWAT,
MOUT, and paramilitary units will want to look into buying
body armor suitable for stopping heavy-caliber rifle and car-
bine rounds. If you don’t, you are not serious about survival
and don’t belong on this type of team.
There are a number of body armor companies around;
some produce excellent products, and some produce sub-
standard vests. The companies listed below are all produc-
ing top-notch products that you can bet your life on.

American Body Armor

85 Nassau Place
P.O. Drawer 1769
Fernandia Beach, FL 32334
Body armor.

Hovey Industries, Ltd.

2793 Fenton Road
Gloucester, Ontario, Canada K1G 3N3
Body armor and riot shields.
 SWAT BATTLE TACTICS

Point Blank Body Armor

185 Dixon Avenue
Amityville, NY 11101
Body armor.

Pro-Tech Armored Products

20 Keeler Street
Pittsfield, MA 01201
Ballistic shields.

Safariland Ltd.
3120 E. Mission Boulevard
Ontario, CA 91761
Body armor and holsters.

Second Chance Body Armor

P.O. Box 578
7919 Cameron Street
Central Lake, MI 49622
Body armor with more “saves” than any other company.

AMMUNITION

Although there are a number of good ammunition compa-

nies around, we have had the distinct pleasure of testing
and working with one company in particular:

Black Hills Ammunition

P.O. Box 3090
Rapid City, SD 57709
Black Hills is owned by Jeff Hoffman, a former law
enforcement officer himself, so he knows your needs and
produces an extensive line of high-quality ammo for all your
law enforcement, paramilitary, and self-defense needs.
The Black Hills line of .223 Remington 60-grain soft-
RESOURCES

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: * eS eres

Black Hills Ammunition is highly recommended by the authors for all your
tactical, self-defense, and target practice needs.

point ammo consistently shot into 3/4-inch groups at 100

yards in an Eagle Arms Action Master rifle. You can’t ask any
ammo to do better than that. Black Hills handgun ammo can
be counted on to get the job done as well. Drop Hoffman a
line and ask for his catalog. Large and small departmental
orders are accepted as well as individual orders.

HOLSTERS

The finest handgun in the world is useless without the

proper rig to carry it in. We have tested and evaluated a
number of holsters over the past few years and find that the
following companies produce some of the best rigs around
for special operations as well as for everyday duty and con-
cealed carry use.
 SWAT BATTLE TACTICS

The superb
Tacttical Thigh hol-
ster from Michael’s
of Oregon is the
best rig on the mar-
ket for SWAT or
paramilitary use.

116
RESOURCES

Bianchi International
100 Calle Cortez
Temecula, CA 92390
Full line of duty, off-duty, tactical, concealed carry, and
sporting holsters.

Ted Blocker Holsters

14787 SE 82nd Drive
Clackamas, OR 97015
Custom holster maker that knows your needs and has
good prices and reasonable delivery times.

Michael’s of Oregon
P.O. Box 13010
Portland, OR 97213
Full line of duty, off-duty, and sporting holsters made of
ballistic nylon or Michael’s new Mirage line made with Nytek.
Its Tactical Thigh rig is probably the best on the market.

MISCELLANEOUS GEAR AND NEEDS

While equipping your team, we hope you’ll consider

some of the following companies and products for those
miscellaneous items you’ll find you need.

Advanced Materials Laboratory, Inc.

70-90 Austin Street
Suite 205
Forest Hills, NY 11375
Tear gas delivery systems.

Brigade Quartermaster
1025 Cobb International Boulevard
Kennesaw, GA 30144-4300
A complete line of SWAT and military clothing and equipment.

117
 SWAT BATTLE TACTICS

Centex Security
Route 20, Box 516P
San Antonio, TX 78218
Complete training and sales of attack-trained dogs and
drug-detection dogs. Good prices.

Cutlery Shoppe
5461 Kendall Street
Boise, ID 83706-1248
A complete line of excellent cutlery to fill any needs.
Discount prices and free catalog.

Force Resources, Inc.

4302 Henderson Boulevard
Tampa, FL 33629
Forced-entry tools and equipment.

Gerber Legendary Blades

14200 SW 72nd Avenue
P.O. Box 23088
Portland, OR 97223
Good variety of knives that every team member should
consider.

Kigre, Inc.
100 Marshland Road
Hilton Head, SC 29928
Night vision equipment.

Kwik-Vu
P.O. 2099
Warminster, PA 18974
Telescoping mirrors that come in handy when looking
around corners, over walls, and into rooms without exposing
yourself to gunfire.
RESOURCES

Laseraim Technologies
P.O. Box 3548
Little Rock, AR 72203
This firm produces one of the smallest handgun laser
sights on the market, and it has a quick turnaround time.

Laser Products
18300 Mt. Baldy Circle
Fountain Valley, CA 92708
An extensive line of laser sights for all types of firearms.

B.E. Meyers & Co.

17525 NE 67th Court
Redmond, WA 98052
Top-notch night vision equipment.

NVEC
P.O. Box 266
Emmaus, PA 18049
Night vision equipment.

Paladin Press
P.O. Box 1307
Boulder, CO 80306
Complete library of training manuals and books for law
enforcement, security, and military personnel.

Prime Lasertech Inc.

P.O. Box 19589-498
Irvine, CA 92763
This company offers a video periscope that would be
handy for looking around corners, over walls, and into
rooms without exposing yourself to gunfire.

119
 SWAT BATTLE TACTICS

U.S. Cavalry Store

2855 Centennial Avenue
Radcliff, KY 40160-9000
Complete line of SWAT and military clothing and equip-
ment.

W.S. Darley & Co.

2000 Anson Drive
Melrose Park, IL 60160
Police supply catalog with every type of uniform and
equipment any agency can use.

As already mentioned, this list is not all-inclusive, but the

companies listed above offer quality equipment, firearms,
knives, clothing, books, and just about anything your SWAT
or paramilitary team might need. We have used their prod-
ucts and give them our highest recommendation.

120
ABOUT THE
AUTHORS
Several years ago, Pat Cascio
and John McSweeney were intro-
duced to each other by Bradley
Steiner. A strong professional and
personal relationship developed,
and they decided to combine their
experience, knowledge, and training
in the armed/unarmed fields to
teach point-shooting skills. An
exchanging of ideas, letters, and
phone calls followed. The result is
this book.
Pat Cascio has spent more
than 20 years in private and public
law enforcement work in such
capacities as private investigator,
intelligence officer, police officer,
city marshal, deputy sheriff, SWAT
instructor, K-9 handler/trainer, secu-
rity consultant, and firearms instruc-
tor/consultant.
He currently makes his living as
a firearms instructor/consultant. He

121
 SWAT BATTLE TACTICS

is a certified sixth-degree black belt in American (combat)

karate and also holds a third-degree black belt in American
kenpo karate. Cascio also operates two martial arts schools
in eastern Oregon. His military background is in infantry tac-
tics, leadership, and sniper training. He is a much-sought-
after instructor and consultant in the armed/unarmed self-
defense fields. He is the author of four books and numerous
magazine articles dealing with firearms, tactics, survival
techniques, and martial arts.
John McSweeney is a tenth-degree karate black belt
and the founder of karate in Ireland. He spent 12 years in the
U.S. armed forces, saw combat in the Korean War, and
attained the rank of captain, infantry. He also served in the
U.S. Border Patrol.
He presently teaches karate and handgun point shoot-
ing and works as a private investigator. His academic cre-
dentials include a bachelor’s degree from St. John’s
University, New York City, and a master’s degree from
Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland.
He is the author of Battleaxe—A Warrior’s Tale as well
as numerous magazine articles on martial arts, firearms,
and survival.

122
MEE EEE

SWAT Battle Tactics lays the groundwork

for police departments, paramilitary units, or
security companies to organize a SWAT or
paramilitary,unit capable of reacting to whatever
deadly confrontations that may arise. Learn
what it takes to do the following:

¢ Organize a SWAT team

* Qualify as a team member
Train and equip for urban and rural warfare
Adapt infantry tactics to civilian emergencies
Become proficient at hand-to-hand combat
Negotiate hostage releases
Handle the media

It covers material not contained in other

SWAT and paramilitary manuals. Previously, if
you wanted the information contained herein,
you had to be a member of an elite military or —
police unit.
By adapting the basic concepts described in
this book to your particular needs, you can train,
equip, and operate like the elite SWAT teams do.

A PALADIN PRESS BOOK

www.paladin-press.com

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ISBN 978-0-87364-900-1

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