1. © 2013 by Pearson Higher Education, Inc
Upper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458 • All Rights Reserved
Crisis Intervention
William Harmening
Roosevelt University
Harmening, Crisis Intervention: The Criminal Justice Response to Chaos, Mayhem, and
Disaster
Chapter 5
THE TACTICAL RESPONSE

2. © 2013 by Pearson Higher Education, Inc
Upper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458 • All Rights Reserved
5.1
5.2
5.3
To explain the role of tactical teams in the containment and de-
escalation of crisis and the historical development of S.W.A.T.
To explain the techniques for de-escalating an “active-shooter”
crisis.
To list and define police rapid deployment tactics.
CHAPTER OBJECTIVES
5.4 To list and define the various types of tactical entry.

3. To explain the role of tactical
teams in the containment and
de-escalation of crisis and the
historical development of Police
S.W.A.T.
Learning Objectives
After this lecture, you should be able to complete the following Learning Outcomes
5.1

4. 4
5.1 The Role of Tactical Teams
The Advent of S.W.A.T. (Special Weapons and Tactics)
• First used by the LAPD in the 1960s.
• The idea was to form a specially trained and armed unit to
meet the new types of tactical situations the police were forced
to confront during that era involving well-armed radical groups.
• During the 1970s the television show “S.W.A.T.” gave the
public its first exposure to this type of police unit.
• Today essentially every police department either has a tactical
unit patterned after the S.W.A.T. concept, or they have access to
one through other mucipal, state, and federal agencies.

5. 5
5.1 The Role of Tactical Teams
Modern Tactical Units
• ERT (Emergency Response Teams)
• ESU (Emergency Services Units)
• TRT (Tactical Response Teams)
Regardless of the acronym used, the duties carried out by these
teams are essentially the same:
- Hostage rescues
- High-risk arrest and search warrants
- Active shooter situations
- Resolving situations involving barricaded subjects
- Dealing with high-risk mentally ill or suicidal subjects
- Terrorist threats

6. 6
5.1 The Role of Tactical Teams
Defining a Tactical Situation
• A situation in which the use of force is likely to be
met with force.
• A situation of high-risk requiring special weapons
and tactics.
• A situation that tends to go beyond the response
capabilities of patrol officers.
• A situation involving a police response that is barely
distinguishable from a military operation.

7. To explain the techniques for de-
escalating an “active-shooter”
crisis.
Learning Objectives
After this lecture, you should be able to complete the following Learning Outcomes
5.2

8. 8
5.2 The Active Shooter
The Active Shooter
“An armed person who has used deadly force on other
persons and continues to do so while having
unrestricted access to additional victims.”
El Paso County (CO) Sheriff’s Procedure Manual (2003)

9. 9
5.2 The Active Shooter
The Active Shooter
Recent active shooter cases…
• Columbine High School (1999): 12 students and a teacher killed.
• Goleta, CA Postal facility (2006): 6 employees killed.
• Virginia Tech (2007): 32 students killed.
• Northern Illinois University (2008): 24 people shot, 5 of them fatal.
• Fort Hood, Texas (2009): 13 soldiers killed, 30 others wounded.
Since the publication of this text we have witnessed additional active shooter situations, including
the Aurora CO theater shooting (12 dead, 58 wounded) and the Sandy Hook Elementary School
shooting (26 killed, including 20 children). Both occurred in 2012.

10. 10
5.2 The Active Shooter
The Active Shooter
There was a time when the preferred tactic in this type
of situation was to set up a perimeter and wait for
S.W.A.T. The law enforcement community’s thinking
changed after Columbine.
Researchers have concluded that the faster an active
shooter is confronted by police, the greater the
probability of de-escalating the situation without the
further loss of life.
Police officers are now trained to move in quickly with
the tools they have.

11. 11
5.2 The Active Shooter
The Active Shooter
In short, the responding officers to an active shooter
situation are tasked with immediately de-escalating of
the crisis in front of them as they move toward the
shooter while simultaneously containing the area
behind them.

12. To list and define police rapid
deployment tactics.
Learning Objectives
After this lecture, you should be able to complete the following Learning Outcomes
5.3

13. 13
5.3 Rapid Deployment
The Active Shooter
In short, the responding officers to an active shooter
situation are tasked with immediately de-escalating of
the crisis in front of them as they move toward the
shooter while simultaneously containing the area
behind them.

14. 14
5.3 Rapid Deployment
Rapid Deployment Tactics
There are four objectives to an active shooter response:
• Make contact with shooter
• Rescue the injured
• Secure the perimeter
• Evacuate potential victims away from the
shooter

15. 15
5.3 Rapid Deployment
Response Team Structure and Duties
CONTACT TEAM
• Task is to enter and attempt to make contact with the shooter.
• Ideal number of officers is 4.
• They maintain a “T” or “Diamond” formation as they move toward
the sound of the gunfire. This allows for a 360-degree field of view.
• They neither enter rooms nor aid the wounded. Their only goal is to
confront and immobilize the shooter.
• As they move forward they direct people to evacuate behind them
and gather as much information as possible as they continue to move
forward swiftly.

16. 16
5.3 Rapid Deployment
Response Team Structure and Duties
RESCUE TEAM
While the CONTACT TEAM continues to move forward toward the shooter, the
RESCUE TEAM moves at a safe distance behind the CONTACT TEAM and
renders aid to the wounded and assists in the evacuation of potential victims.
Their task is to set up a safe perimeter around the rescue area, always
maintaining a vigilant eye for the shooter.

17. 17
5.3 Rapid Deployment
Response Team Structure and Duties
PERIMETER TEAM
The PERIMETER TEAM’S task is to block off and secure any potential escape
routes the shooter may attempt to use. They also keep citizens out of the
“hot” zone. Additionally, they have the task of searching the area inside the
perimeter for evidence and additional threats, such as a bomb in the shooter’s
vehicle or perhaps accomplices.

18. 18
5.3 Rapid Deployment
Response Team Structure and Duties
EVACUATION TEAM
Their task is to assist evacuees to a safe location outside the “hot” zone. As
they do, they also maintain a watchful eye for the shooter and provide cover in
the event the shooter begins shooting at the evacuees.

19. 19
5.3 Rapid Deployment
Response Team Summary
PERIMETER
TEAM
EVAUATION
TEAM
RESCUE
TEAM
CONTACT
TEAM
Active
Shooter
Confronts and
immobilizes shooter as
quickly as possible
Moves behind Contact
Team to render aid and
get people out
Leads evacuees and
wounded safely away
from hot zone
Shuts off potential
escape routes and
secures hot zone

20. To list and define the various
types of tactical entry.
Learning Objectives
After this lecture, you should be able to complete the following Learning Outcomes
5.4

21. 21
5.4 Tactical Entry
Tactical Options
When a high-risk entry becomes necessary, the operational commander can
attempt any of the following:
RUSE
The operational commander can attempt to entice the person out of the
building or to a different location inside the building through some pretense in
order to make it easier to affect an arrest, or if hostages are involved, to move
the person to a position in sight of a police sniper.
SURROUND AND CALL OUT
BREACH AND HOLD
DELIBERATE ENTRY
DYNAMIC ENTRY

22. 22
5.4 Tactical Entry
Tactical Options
When a high-risk entry becomes necessary, the operational commander can
attempt any of the following:
RUSE
SURROUND AND CALL OUT
Using this option, the police surround the location, announce their
presence, and direct the individual to walk out with their hands in plain view.
BREACH AND HOLD
DELIBERATE ENTRY
DYNAMIC ENTRY

23. 23
5.4 Tactical Entry
Tactical Options
When a high-risk entry becomes necessary, the operational commander can
attempt any of the following:
RUSE
SURROUND AND CALL OUT
BREACH AND HOLD
The team breaches an entry point, such as a door, but holds their positions
without entering. This option makes it clear to the suspect that significant
force is waiting to enter the premises. It also gives the entry team time to
methodically clear the area inside the entry point of potential threats.
DELIBERATE ENTRY
DYNAMIC ENTRY

24. 24
5.4 Tactical Entry
Tactical Options
When a high-risk entry becomes necessary, the operational commander can
attempt any of the following:
RUSE
SURROUND AND CALL OUT
BREACH AND HOLD
DELIBERATE ENTRY
Using this option the team breaches an entry point and immediately moves in.
They move through the location slow and methodically, clearing each area
before moving on to the next. As people are encountered they are searched
and secured before moving on.
DYNAMIC ENTRY

25. 25
5.4 Tactical Entry
Tactical Options
When a high-risk entry becomes necessary, the operational commander can
attempt any of the following:
RUSE
SURROUND AND CALL OUT
BREACH AND HOLD
DELIBERATE ENTRY
DYNAMIC ENTRY
A quick and focused entry. Like the deliberate entry, once an entry point is
breached, the team moves in immediately, but rather than moving slow and
methodically toward their objective, they instead do so as rapidly as possible.
People who do not appear to be a threat are passed by. This is the desired
entry when hostages are involved.

26. 26
5.4 Tactical Entry
Phases of a Tactical Entry
• SCOUTING PHASE
• PLANNING PHASE
• BRIEFING PHASE
• EXECUTION PHASE
• DEBRIEFING PHASE

27. 27
5.4 Tactical Entry
Tactics and Techniques
Suspect
Officer
1
2
3
4
“Slicing the Pie”
If the team breaches and
holds their positions, this is
the standard method for
clearing the area inside the
breach point. One officer
slowly moves across the
breach point away from
the structure. Done
properly, they will see a
suspect before the suspect
sees them.

28. 28
5.4 Tactical Entry
Tactical Options
123 1 2 3
“The Crisscross Entry”
Team members stack on
either side of the door and
enter by crossing each
others path and moving to
the opposite side of the
room. The officer in the first
position immediately moves
to a position of dominance
with the officer in the
second position scanning
the room for threats and
providing cover. A suspect
will almost always focus on
the first person through the
door.

29. 29
5.4 Tactical Entry
Tactical Options
“The Buttonhook Entry”
Team members stack on
both sides of the breach
point and instead of
crossing each other’s
paths, they enter by
rounding the door jam and
moving to a point of
domination on the same
side of the room. Like the
crisscross entry, having
officers on both sides of the
room allows them to
“triangulate” a suspect and
quickly immobilize them.
123 1 2 3

30. 30
5.4 Tactical Entry
Tactical Options
“The Combination Entry”
Team members stack on
the same side of the door
and alternate their entry
between crisscross and
buttonhook.
1236 5 4

31. © 2013 by Pearson Higher Education, Inc
Upper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458 • All Rights Reserved
The concept of police tactical units was developed first by the
LAPD to meet the demands of new heavily armed radical
groups. Today these units are common throughout law
enforcement.
The police response to an active shooter has evolved in recent
years. No longer do responding officers wait for a tactical unit.
Rather, they are now training to enter and de-escalate an
active shooter situation themselves.
Rapid deployment techniques involve
CONTACT, RESCUE, EVACUATION, and PERIMETER teams all
working together to secure a hot zone, shield the wounded and
other potential victims, and confront the shooter as quickly as
possible.
Depending on the structure being breached and the type of
crisis being confronted, the team can either breach and hold or
enter immediately. The can enter using a
crisscross, buttonhook, or combination entry.
CHAPTER SUMMARY
5.1
5.2
5.3
5.4

32. © 2013 by Pearson Higher Education, Inc
Upper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458 • All Rights Reserved
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. The tactical mission of the police could perhaps be better
carried out by military units. Do you believe there is a
downside to allowing the U.S. military to participate in
police tactical operations?
2. The image portrayed by police tactical units is much
different than a typical officer on the beat. Do you believe
this image has been helpful to the police mission in America
in terms of police-community relations, or has it hindered
that goal?
3. Discuss the differences in the psychological state of most
active shooters, such as those at Columbine High
School, and the tactical team members who confront
them. How does training impact the psychological state of
the tactical officers?