with the least amount of force in an attemptto save lives. Remember as an officer, you are not judge or jury. It is you responsibilityto preserve life and ensure a safe environment for law abiding citizens. At all times,escalation of force is dictated by the suspect. At no time should decisions be based onwhat you thought the suspect was going to do, or has already done. At no time is itlawful or morally correct to take the life of an innocent. Where escalating a situation ispredicted by a suspect’s behavior, de-escalating is totally the SWAT officer’sresponsibility.SUSPECT APPREHENSION DETECTEDIf an officer locates a hiding suspect and determines he has been detected by thesuspect, his position had been compromised. Once the officer is compromised. dynamictactics are applied to the situation. The finding officer must immediately alert his team ofthe compromise and then take control of the suspect. Officers otherwise not engaged,assist the finding officer by providing cover for the providing officer, or element leader,who orders the suspect into a secure area. Compliance on the part of the suspect iscrucial: control of the suspect must be maintained at all times. Once the suspect hascomplied, he must be secured with handcuffs.SUSPECT APPREHENSION UNDETECTEDWhen the hiding suspect is detected and the finding officer determines that he hasnot been compromised, he must alert his team. In this situation it is the element leader’sdecision whether or not the team should move forward with stealth tactics or withdynamic tactics. As in a compromised situation, officers otherwise not engaged assist thefinding officer, or element leader, who orders the suspect out into a secure area. Asalways compliance on the part of the suspect is crucial. Once the suspect has complied, hemust be secured with handcuffs.COMPLIANCEAcquiring and maintaining control of found persons, whether they are suspects,hostages, or civilians...
